1966 CAV GT Ford GT40
This 1966 GT40 replica is built by CAV- or Cape Advanced Vehicles- in South Africa. Produced in the early 2000s, the GT40 is finished in Metallic silver and has recently undergone a comprehensive rebuild while under the care of the consignor. After purchasing the car in 2021, numerous upgrades were carried out to the vehicle, to both improve its looks, and make it a far better performer. On the exterior, the paint remained the same color, but the GT40 received black stripes down the lower sills, and a new set of BRM-style knock off wheels with black centers and silver knock-offs, makes the car look far more authentic than the larger wheels typically found on GT40 recreations.
Under the skin is where this GT40 received the most attention though, starting with its stout 427ci V8 sitting out back. The engine received a complete rebuild by Ron Shaver Racing, who completely stripped the engine down, keeping only the aluminum block, crankshaft and rods. AFR aluminum heads were installed, as was a Weber EFI fuel injection. This injection system looks like the quad-twin choke Weber carburetors that would have been found on the original GT40s thanks to their velocity stacks up top, but has all of the benefits of modern fuel injection from a performance and reliability standpoint. A Comp Cam hydraulic roller camshaft was installed, and now this engine pulls strong all the way past 6,000 rpm. Dyno results show this lightweight GT40 producing 584 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 544 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm, which is run through a 5-speed manual transaxle which was rebuilt by specialists RBT and benefits from a McLeod Street Extreme Clutch. Puyallup based J&L Fabrication rebuilt the fuel system with new fuel cells and fuel safe bag tanks, and now this car runs flawlessly on standard 91 octane pump gas. The suspension was rebuilt with new QA-1 shocks, while all new brakes with high performance PBR brake calipers and fresh lines have been added.
The interior of the GT40 features two seats with the infamous metal eyelets, which were first installed in the GT40 race cars to theoretically provide some ventilation during endurance racing. These have now become a required stylistic element in any GT40 recreation, and are on full display here, although the seats themselves are made of memory foam and wrapped in leather with Alcantara centers. This GT40 was built with a left hand drive, center shift specification, making it more accessible than the original race car's right hand drive, sill shift setup. Settle into the cabin and you are greeted by a 3-spoke leather wrapped aluminum steering wheel, that frames a large tachometer, and a speedometer that sits just at the edge of your peripheral vision off to the right. Given the GT40s side windows have an opening just large enough to hand toll through, it is crucial that any recreation is fitted with air conditioning- which is present on this example and keeps the cabin nice and cool on even the hottest days. A new electrical system keeps this car reliable and, as a safety precaution if you plan to hit the track, a full, new fire suppression system has been installed.
If you were to set your sights on an original GT40, you wouldn't be able to touch one for less than a few million dollars. At that rate, every drive becomes a stressful experience, and you won't want to truly experience the car doing what it does best. This CAV GT40 is the natural alternative, offered at a fraction of the price of the original, but thanks to the recent work, has even more performance, as well as a host of features that make it a far more pleasant place to spend your time. If you are truly committed to driving excitement, the GT40 is a car that you absolutely need to own and experience, and this one is ready to go.
Key Features
- 427ci Ford V8
- Aluminum Block
- AFR Aluminum Heads
- Weber EFI Injection w/Velocity Stacks
- Comp Cam Hydraulic Roller Cam
- 5-Speed ZF Transaxle
- Rebuilt by RBT
- Mcleod Street Extreme Clutch
- Air Conditioning
- New Electrical System
- QA-1 Shocks
- PBR Brake Calipers
- New Brake Lines
- Upgraded Steering Rack
- CAV Memory Foam Seats
- Leather and Alcantara Covers
- New Fire Suppression System
For more information on this 1966 CAV Ford GT40 or any of our 100+ High-Performance, Exotic and Special Interest cars always in stock, contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales consultants or always feel free to drop by our 40,000+ sq ft of Indoor Showrooms in Bellevue, WA - Home to a Most Exciting Inventory of Luxury, Exotic, High Performance and Collectible Automobiles. With 200+ Always On Site, Nobody Has What We Have!