What happens when the fastest land animal meets one of the slowest vehicles? At Longleat Safari Park, we got an answer—cheetahs chase it, catch it, and attempt to “devour” it.
The scene unfolded as two male cheetahs, Casey and Max, encountered a 21st-century remake of the 1960s Peel Trident, a tiny three-wheeled car, during a cat versus car test at the Wiltshire safari park.
While Casey and Max can reach up to 70 mph in mere seconds, the Peel Trident—a small, battery-powered vehicle with a bubble-like roof—struggled to keep up with even a gentle incline.
During the test, the two cheetahs clawed at the Trident’s bodywork, leaving its driver with no choice but to remain still and hope the car’s structure could withstand the cheetahs’ sharp teeth.
It quickly became clear the cheetahs were not impressed with the car’s performance and were more interested in the “strange can of cat food” that had rolled into their domain.
Adding to the bizarre experience, Casey and Max took turns inspecting the vehicle. Casey stood up on his hind legs, towering over the car and peering inside.
As the cheetahs lost interest, the driver tried to make a quick getaway, followed by Casey running alongside like a predator eyeing its prey.
In a dramatic moment, Casey made a final charge, thumping into the car and taking a quick bite at one of the tires before sauntering off.
The Peel Trident, a sibling of the 1962 Peel P50, has recently been remanufactured by Peel Engineering with backing from Dragons’ Den entrepreneur James Caan.
Although the Trident’s compact design, featuring a Perspex bubble roof, may not have impressed the cheetahs, it has attracted attention elsewhere in the park.
While wolves circled the car and zebras remained indifferent, giraffes took a distant view of the unusual sight.
Longleat’s deputy head warden, Ian Turner reassured onlookers by explaining the cheetahs’ behavior. “They were just being curious. If they wanted in, they would’ve made it happen.”
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