Scott Harvey and his Pet Project, Cheetah

"Goggles Pizzano" (gogglespizzano) 02/16/2018 at 10:49 • Filed to: Scott Harvey, Cheetah, Dodge, Dodge Aspen, Aspen, 4WD Aspen, Rally

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Those front wheels. The first time I saw the opening photo my thoughts drifted to a first-gen Oldsmobile Toronado engine and drivetrain stuffed into a smaller and lighter Dodge Aspen. After digging a little deeper I learned it’s far from that simple, and much more clever.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! started in 1953 when he drove a MG TD while studying Mechanical Engineering at UCLA. In the late 50's he joined the Chrysler Group yet entered a Mercedes 300D in the 1961 Shell 4000 Trans-Canada Rally. Finished 7th overall too. In 1963 he placed 5th in the Shell 4000 with the help of his co-driver Bob Mollman in a beautifully prepared Chrysler 300J (pictured above).

He would eventually run a team of 3 Barracudas. It was during this time he started sharing his signature phrase with the team, “Crash, burn, win”. By 1975 he was employed as a senior engineer with Chrysler in their prototype development department. Story goes, he wanted to bring more attention to Chrysler through rally events, but maybe he just wanted to win in a unique and most wonderful way.

Since 1972 Harvey had visions of building a light, powerful, 4WD rally car with an independent front suspension. He’d considered modifying a Dodge Colt but ultimately decided it wasn’t feasible. Then, in a twist of fate, he located a Dodge Aspen with heavy front end damage.

In 1976 Harvey acquired the Aspen and proceeded to design and build a new front end from 1¾-inch chrome moly tubing. Considerable thought went into the design. The engine was moved a full 18 inches rearward compared to stock.

Wanting to support customers racing their new compact car, Chrysler ran a special parts program for the Aspen. Through the Chrysler SP-1 catalog almost anything could be had. Harvey ordering a full roll cage and modified it to create more structural rigidity.

The engine was also courtesy of the SP-1 catalog in the form of a 360ci V8. W-2 heads, a Holley 4-barrel carb, an aluminum Holley intake manifold, and 2-inch headers helped produce around 300hp in its original form.

Power was sent through a 727 3-speed TorqueFlite with B&M valving to a New Process 203 full-time transfer case containing a Ferguson viscous coupling.

From there power was sent to a FWD Toronado open differential with 3.54:1 gearing and into Toronado axles and hubs. Most of the Toronado suspension was used albeit modified to fit. Shocks were also from the Chrysler SP-1 catalog.

At the rear was a 8¾ Chrysler limited slip differential sporting 3.55:1 gears.

Great attention was paid to weight savings. A fiberglass hood, fenders, and bumpers helped contributed to the car weighing in at 3200lbs.

Photo left is a wheel adapter that would allow Harvey to carry only one spare wheel on-board.

He named his 4WD creation the Cheetah.

Scott Harvey didn’t enter the car in every Rally he could find. He is quoted as saying “It would cost too much to fix if I break it”. He regularly ran a Dodge Colt. Below is a list of rallies entered, all of which were with his co-driver Randy Graves.

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, SCCA Pro Rally- DNF

Olympus Rally, NARRA - DNF

Susquehannock Trail Pro Rally, SCCA Pro Rally - DNF

Happiness is Sunrise, NARRA - 1st

Sunriser 400 Forest Rally, SCCA Pro Rally- 2nd

Press-on-Regardless Rally, SCCA Pro Rally - DNF

1978

MWAC 20 Stages Rally, NARRA - 1st

Northern Lights Rally, NARRA - 3rd

Press-on-Regardless Rally, SCCA Pro Rally - DNF

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

MWAC 20 Stages Rally, NARRA - DNF

Press-on-Regardless Rally, SCCA Pro Rally - 2nd

Sno*Drift Rally, SCCA Pro Rally - 3rd

1980

Press-on-Regardless Rally, SCCA Pro Rally- DNF

1981

Budweiser Press-on-Regardless, SCCA Pro Rally - 6th

You might be thinking there are a lot of DNFs in that list and you’d be right, but the only DNF related to the 4WD system was their first race (the transfer case gave up the ghost). When they did finish, they finished very well.

In the top right corner of the photo above you’ll see that a turbo was added at some point in the cars life. Given Scott Harvey’s creativity, engineering know-how, and access to Dodge resources, the engine must have made a healthy dose of power. I could find no reference to the turbo anywhere on the web. This leads me to believe it was added for their last race...

In 1982 the two took the Cheetah to Pikes Peak.

They finished the race with a time of 14:45.00, second only to an Audi Quattro in the Pro Rally Class.

Where’s the car today? It’s thought to still be in a collector’s garage in Kearney Nebraska.

This photo was taken at the 2007 Gorman Ridge Rally. He took 2nd place in the Production GT Class with his Eagle Talon. He was 77 years old.

Where ever you are Mr. Harvey, “Crash, burn, win.”

Except where noted, all photos are from co-driver !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Race results: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Goggles Pizzano 02/16/2018 at 11:05

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This is good oppo :)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Goggles Pizzano 02/16/2018 at 11:14

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4wd, American muscle-rally car. Amazing.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Goggles Pizzano 02/16/2018 at 11:25

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This is excelent writing, hats of to you! It good seeing somebody else dove into the history of rallying too for the embiggening challenge.

He sounds like an interesting guy, who definitely doesn’t seem to have been fully trapped in the Chrysler world, judging by his use of a Benz and the GM parts of the Cheeta.

That car looks like it must have been a beast with those modification.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 02/16/2018 at 11:28

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This car sounds like something you could dream up, haha.

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Goggles Pizzano 02/16/2018 at 11:30

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Badass

Goggles Pizzano > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 02/16/2018 at 11:36

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Thanks Man. :-)x

Goggles Pizzano > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 02/16/2018 at 11:41

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Thank you very much. Enjoyed writing it. Thanks to HammerheadFistpunch for coming up with the Embiggen Day idea. It was great motivation.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer 02/16/2018 at 11:47

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I did note the similarities between this and my Baja B idea ;)

Now if only I could somehow wrangle Nanjing or whoever owns the ghost of MG at the moment into backing it...

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Goggles Pizzano 02/16/2018 at 11:52

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Yeah, it is a great motivation! I had the same with writing my DAF article, it was such a joy writing, and knowing people were going to appreciate good content.

BradD81 > Goggles Pizzano 03/12/2018 at 12:55

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Awesome piece about an awesome car/builder. His son Scott Jr. still campaigns one of his original Dodge Colts in rally events today, a ‘74 coupe and is quite active in the vintage Colt community (there is one, and its awesome, haha.) Here is a link to some info on that car. http://winktimber.com/vintagerally/cars/harvcolt.htm

Scott at Team Harco > Goggles Pizzano 03/22/2018 at 13:19

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Wow! Thank you for putting this together. Very nice work.

Regarding the turbo - I can confirm it was installed specifically for Pikes Peak.

Scott Jr.

Goggles Pizzano > Scott at Team Harco 03/26/2018 at 13:55

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Thank you very much! It was a joy to write.

Randy Graves > Goggles Pizzano 05/31/2018 at 13:50

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I enjoyed reading this very much! That black&white photo of Cheetah at Pikes Peak was one I located just last year! I had been searching for a photo of us racing up Pikes Peak for 35 years, and the photographer, John Rettie, turns out to live just 2 miles from me!

Randy Graves > Goggles Pizzano 05/31/2018 at 13:58

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I should add another link (or two) directly to my rally history collections on Flickr. My Scott Harvey Collection is at

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rwgraves/collections/72157651914305422/

and my special stage rally collection is at

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rwgraves/collections/72157640780076274/

Goggles Pizzano > Randy Graves 06/01/2018 at 13:09

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Thank you very much! I regret not finding a way to include more of your story. And thank you for putting together and keeping the photo record of your adventures.

Randy Graves > Goggles Pizzano 08/15/2018 at 14:56

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Scott Harvey was inducted into the Mopar Hall of Fame on July 14, 2018, in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, during the Chrysler Nationals show at Carlisle.  (I was invited along for the ride, also.) Some photos are at

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rwgraves/sets/72157695629653272/

Goggles Pizzano > Randy Graves 08/22/2018 at 10:53

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T his is great news, and a big congratulations to you too !

Thank you for thinking of this post again. It would be nice if you’d consider posting on Oppositelock sometime. It’s a great online community. A place where car people can share anything; n ews, funny anecdotes, ask for and give car repair advice and tell stories. I’m sure you have great stories to tell...

Already having an account, you’re half way there. To receive authorship all you need to do is reply here:

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/step-right-up-and-get-your-authorship-here