4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Amphibious Wheeled Military Vehicles, Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY) and Knowledge Base
tezz55
G-Private First Class
G-Private First Class
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:07 pm
Location:

4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by tezz55 » Tue Nov 24, 2009 2:28 pm

Hi folks
Am desperate to know if anyone can help me find and buy an Aqua Cheetah 4 x 4 amphibious, in any condition please? Have had numerous DUKW's,a lot of fun with them,now need a small project ,so please drop me a line direct to me here thanks.
tezz5gilcomau@yahoo.com
Please send photos if you have them of any found for proof it exists heheheheh.,.,
thanks guys
Terry Kelly
Brisbane
AustraliPS
The DUKW's had less than 440 miles on them when purchased b y me,and all came 100% complete with every spare on them,including side fenders/bumpers.


User avatar
acmack
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2181
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:11 pm
Location: Holden Massachusetts USA
Contact:

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by acmack » Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:06 pm

Didn't an early issue of (MVCC) Army Motors have an article about the Aqua Cheetah and show a survivor in collector hands in the U.S.? David
Any other spacecraft or missile owners out there?
60' M422 538
65' Apollo BP CM A-36
60' Gemini BP CM MSC312

User avatar
Steve Greenberg
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4809
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 7:11 pm
Location: Wilsonville, Or.

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Steve Greenberg » Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:49 pm

Hello,
The only known Aqua Cheeta in the US belongs to Dan Janquitto (Beachwood Canvas). It is not for sale...I have tired to but it from him for many years!
Steve 8)
42 M3A1 Stuart Light Tank
44 GMC 2 1/2 Ton Amphibian Truck (DUKW)

Jim Gilmore
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1662
Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2002 6:56 am
Location:

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Jim Gilmore » Thu Nov 26, 2009 10:18 am

I will have to look in my files but...I believe one was sent to England during WW II.

Jim Gilmore

Jim Thorpe, PA.

User avatar
acmack
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2181
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 4:11 pm
Location: Holden Massachusetts USA
Contact:

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by acmack » Thu Nov 26, 2009 5:16 pm

I don't recall seeing it at an MV show. Has Dan ever had it out for a show? David
Any other spacecraft or missile owners out there?
60' M422 538
65' Apollo BP CM A-36
60' Gemini BP CM MSC312

User avatar
Steve Greenberg
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4809
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 7:11 pm
Location: Wilsonville, Or.

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Steve Greenberg » Thu Nov 26, 2009 5:42 pm

David,
Dan's is not restored and it is was all apart when I saw it several years ago.
Steve 8)
42 M3A1 Stuart Light Tank
44 GMC 2 1/2 Ton Amphibian Truck (DUKW)

User avatar
Gordon_M
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1840
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:32 am
Location: central and north east Scotland, depending on the day

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Gordon_M » Sat Nov 28, 2009 6:15 am

Well Jim and Steve have it pretty well covered.

I think I can confirm that one was sent to the UK for evaluation, don't know which type it was (early / late Mercury or Dodge engine, with or without raised bow section) but photos exist of it on harbour trials in England. It isn't that likely that it survived or it would have surfaced by now, and it could have been sent back to the US (shipping capacity FROM the UK to the US was in no great demand, not like the other direction)

The other thing I remember about them is that either one or two of the originals was parked up at Aberdeen Proving Ground on display, then junked (sigh) Given the number made might not have been in double figures the single known survivor is quite lucky, even if it is in bits.

Talking of rare amphibians and Dodges, I heard mention in one conversation about the Cheetah that a later, similar one was tried as an adaptation of the 6 x 6 Dodge chassis? Presumably it was slower, heavier, and even less use than a Cheetah.

DUKWs, stick with DUKWs, great things, best amphibian ever, no question.
Gordon

1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer

User avatar
David Welch
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 586
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2002 6:00 pm
Location: Sheridan Montana

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by David Welch » Sun Dec 20, 2009 8:35 pm

Image
M29C 7195 Sold dwelchl@aol.com
Dukw 353-22096 Sold
GPA 1359 (matching numbers)
GPA 7865 ( matching numbers)
GPA 6030 (engine 11177)
GPA 3891 ( V 6)
[url]www.gpadukw. com[/url

User avatar
Gordon_M
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1840
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:32 am
Location: central and north east Scotland, depending on the day

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Gordon_M » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:40 am

Thanks for that pic David. You can pretty much see how the front end works just from that one shot. Got any other images of it?
Gordon

1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer

Craig Johnson
G-Major
G-Major
Posts: 940
Joined: Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:38 pm
Location: Arizona
Contact:

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Craig Johnson » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:09 am

Thought I had a couple more. Cant seem to find them right now. This was on EBAY so its not mine.

Image
Image
Image
Craig..The newcomer Johnson

MVPA 3642
My website
http://www.handcartz.com
Own a bunch of hand carts
http://handcartz.smugmug.com/gallery/509020/

Always buying anything for the U.S. Army Hand Cart. Parts, manuals, accessories. Even the smallest screw.

User avatar
Gordon_M
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1840
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:32 am
Location: central and north east Scotland, depending on the day

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Gordon_M » Mon Dec 21, 2009 7:17 am

Thanks, can't have too many reference shots.

That looks like one with the low bow - without the welded section raising it up. I seem to remember that they started off with Mercury engines and low bows, then the bows got raised either before or after they went to Dodge engines?
Gordon

1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer

Ernie Baals
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4387
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:27 am
Location: Southern New Jersey

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Ernie Baals » Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:11 pm

Hi
Dan bought it off member Ted Bromage. When ted bought it he drove it into his yard
The wheels are chain driven from the axel, and it has coil spring suspension, you can see the housings for the springs in the picture.
Dan had factory films of them. it is great. they were built on a succession of chassis, the first used a flat head V8. then they went through t202, up to the T214 chassis. If i remember correctly they made 13.
Ernie
Rip Dad 1/22/24 to 12/21/11
I will always love and miss you.
Ernie Baals MVPA 104C and 3104, AACA, SJC MVPA

Fathom the hypocrisy of a Government
that requires every citizen to prove
they are insured……but not everyone
must prove they are a citizen”

User avatar
Gordon_M
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1840
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:32 am
Location: central and north east Scotland, depending on the day

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Gordon_M » Sat Dec 26, 2009 1:27 am

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day, Ernie.

Was it on one of those films that there was a 6 x 6 trial version in the background? That sounds vaguely familiar?

Never heard anything else about them apart from that one reference. Does it tally with your memories that two were at the Aberdeen Proving Ground and were cut up too?

Gordon

(no amphibians left at all now, just a bunch of road, rail, and snow stuff)
Gordon

1941 Highway Trailer K-38
1944 Iron Fireman T-36 Snow Tractor
1986 Nolan Road/Rail trailer

Ernie Baals
G-Lieutenant General
G-Lieutenant General
Posts: 4387
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 9:27 am
Location: Southern New Jersey

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Ernie Baals » Sat Dec 26, 2009 4:14 pm

Hi Gordon
I think you aare correct abou the 6x6 in the background, but it has been almost 25 years (and lots of beers :) ) since i saw the film. I had never heard of the 2 at Aberdeen, but it does make sense.

Ernie
Rip Dad 1/22/24 to 12/21/11
I will always love and miss you.
Ernie Baals MVPA 104C and 3104, AACA, SJC MVPA

Fathom the hypocrisy of a Government
that requires every citizen to prove
they are insured……but not everyone
must prove they are a citizen”

Ian Grieve
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 39
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:18 am
Location: Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia

Re: 4 x 4 Aqua Cheetah amphibious

Post by Ian Grieve » Fri Jan 01, 2010 2:59 am

Gentlemen

Had typed a story and lost it all just before posting. I think it timed out. Will try again, but a little abbreviated.

Pilot # 1 Aqua Cheetah was first water tested on the Niagara River at Grand Island Bridge, Buffalo, on May 27, 1941 (photo above).

The photo of Pilot # 1 at Fort Belvoir on June 6, 1941, probably shows Roger Hofheins in the passengers seat, although I am not certain of this.

Eleven XAC-2 Aqua Cheetahs were provided to the US Services, plus another to the British. Eleven of the XAC-2’s were modified to XAC-3 specification, ie ½ to ¾ ton configuration. Another Aqua Cheetah, XAC-3 (with ribs along the side, # 14 Aqua Cheetah and final) was provided which often displayed US XC-8330, however was USA 7012104. This is the vehicle on the other posting at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts.

Dan Janquito’s Aqua Cheetah, XAC-2, is USA 2078618. It was great to crawl all over it in year 2000 at Beachwood.

Correspondence of May 2, 1945 from HQ ASF declared surplus for disposal the following;
** ½ & ¾ ton, 4x4, Amphibian, XAC-2, 1942, Amphibian – USA 245392 to USA 245397 = 6 vehicles.
** ½ & ¾ ton, 4x4, Amphibian, XAC-2, 1942, Amphibian – USA 2078614 to USA 2078618 = 5 vehicles.
** ½ & ¾ ton, 4x4, Amphibian, XAC-2 (Should be XAC-3), 1942, Amphibian – USA 7012104 = 1 vehicle.
TOTAL = 12 vehicles.

These 12 vehicles, plus one XAC-2 to GB that was purchased by the British, plus Pilot # 1 that was probably never owned by the services as it was developed at Hofheins expense = TOTAL 14 vehicles.

It must be that the 2 vehicles that remained at Aberdeen Proving Ground until 1950 were not sold in 1945.

I picked up some great footage last year of the British Aqua Cheetah under test at Hayling Island, Portsmouth. The footage was dated 31 August, 1943, and included GPA, DUKW and Terrapin.

Ian Grieve

PS..........Happy New Year to All


Post Reply

Return to “Amphibian, DUKW, GPA and other wheeled amphibian”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 33 guests