Busy month. I’ve been off the board for some time. Not able to (conveniently) connect while in Africa.
Not that a recreation can match the original – with GT40 originals in the upper seven figure stratosphere – reality dictates acquisition.
Well, I took delivery of my CAV GT. A re-creation of the 1969 Rodriguez/Oliver car. What a beauty. Superb craftsmanship. Exquisite detail. Extraordinary attention to detail and flawless execution. Hats off to the CAV team. They did an incredible job.
Obviously for this audience the question is “How does it compare to the GT?”
Sadly there is no comparison. While they may have come form the same gene pool in theory – the old GT40 is a bit behind in the engineering department. But it was never built as a “consumer” car. My GT40 is true to the original in so many ways – it’s got all the same flaws I’m sure. It’s not to say I don’t like it – I do, I absolutely love it - but it’s different. Very different from the Ford GT. And so it should be. 40 years separates them. We need to remember and respect that.
How is it? Raw, (did I saw raw?) visceral, aural – Gold’s Gym Work out – but I like getting sweaty sometimes! Something like the old AC Cobras. The one thing the GT40 has all over the GT is in the braking department. The Wilwood 3-pot calipers will have your eyeballs hanging off the mirror if you are not careful.
The car is very responsive in every way. I did manage about 6 laps at the Killarney Circuit in Cape Town. (See Tiff Nidal’s video) The car handled superbly. Crisp, with lots of feed-back. Old school 15 inch wheels with fat high profile tires do not improve the handling. I did not get on it all that hard as we only had 300 miles on the brand new motor. But at 450 bhp it packs a whollop. The car weighs 2,400 lbs but feels a bit heavier. Probably due to the non-power steering.
Part of the drive to my house is about 20 miles long with 116 turns along the way. Drop off to the ocean below varies from 50 to 800 feet. An exciting ride. I just know my “personal best” time will be broken come February when I next visit. Here are a few photos of the car. Enjoy. I did!!
Gordo.
Not that a recreation can match the original – with GT40 originals in the upper seven figure stratosphere – reality dictates acquisition.
Well, I took delivery of my CAV GT. A re-creation of the 1969 Rodriguez/Oliver car. What a beauty. Superb craftsmanship. Exquisite detail. Extraordinary attention to detail and flawless execution. Hats off to the CAV team. They did an incredible job.
Obviously for this audience the question is “How does it compare to the GT?”
Sadly there is no comparison. While they may have come form the same gene pool in theory – the old GT40 is a bit behind in the engineering department. But it was never built as a “consumer” car. My GT40 is true to the original in so many ways – it’s got all the same flaws I’m sure. It’s not to say I don’t like it – I do, I absolutely love it - but it’s different. Very different from the Ford GT. And so it should be. 40 years separates them. We need to remember and respect that.
How is it? Raw, (did I saw raw?) visceral, aural – Gold’s Gym Work out – but I like getting sweaty sometimes! Something like the old AC Cobras. The one thing the GT40 has all over the GT is in the braking department. The Wilwood 3-pot calipers will have your eyeballs hanging off the mirror if you are not careful.
The car is very responsive in every way. I did manage about 6 laps at the Killarney Circuit in Cape Town. (See Tiff Nidal’s video) The car handled superbly. Crisp, with lots of feed-back. Old school 15 inch wheels with fat high profile tires do not improve the handling. I did not get on it all that hard as we only had 300 miles on the brand new motor. But at 450 bhp it packs a whollop. The car weighs 2,400 lbs but feels a bit heavier. Probably due to the non-power steering.
Part of the drive to my house is about 20 miles long with 116 turns along the way. Drop off to the ocean below varies from 50 to 800 feet. An exciting ride. I just know my “personal best” time will be broken come February when I next visit. Here are a few photos of the car. Enjoy. I did!!
Gordo.
