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1966 CAV GT news, pictures, and information | ||
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History of the GT40
The GT40 story is a tale of triumph. It is the embodiment of a dream to create a winner, the thoroughbred of endurance racing cars. Henry Ford II was the man whose vision steered the course of Ford racing car history into as yet unchartered territory. By 1963 Henry II had wanted to revive the Ford image and had hoped to acquire Ferrari for ten million dollars to realize his ambition of creating a winner at Le Mans under the Ford badge. Having witnessed Ferrari's unbeaten record on the famous 24-hour endurance circuit, Henry II was determined to develop a champion of his own. But Enzo Ferrari refused a deal.
And so, wîth the weight of the Ford Empire behind him and the tenacity to continue undaunted, Henry II looked to alternatives. Ford Advanced Vehicles was created wîth the sole purpose of designing and developing a supreme racing car that would speed to victory at Le Mans.
The project that would birth the GT40 was ushered in under the auspices of Eric Broadley in the Únited Kingdom. The first prototype, complete wîth a mid-mounted Ford V8 engine and monocoque chassis was finished by 1964. Its name was attributed to its elevation, 40 inches from the ground at its highest point.
The Greatest Story of Motor Racing
But it was a few years before Ford would taste victory. Some further development was needed to improve the directional stability, suspension and aerodynamics, although its potential at the outset was obvious.
This potential was finally realized in 1966 after much blood, sweat and tears. On June 18 - not one, not two - but three GT40s sped over the finishing line at Le Mans, aggressively beating Ferrari.
Ford sped to victory every year after that until 1969. And wîth it, one of the greatest stories of motor racing was told.
Not only is the GT40 a great lòòking car, it has the spirit of a giant. In the hearts and minds of spectators witnessing its first victory at Le Mans and for the generations that came after, an icon was born.
CAV
Únder previous management, the company was known as Cape Advanced Vehicles. It is now referred to only as CAV. The CAV GT has a 3-month manufacturing cycle from the time the chassis has been made, to the point at which it is signed off as a complete car ready for shipment.
the CAV GT has a 3-month manufacturing cycle from the time the chassis has been made, to the point at which it is signed off as a complete car ready for shipment.
Pleasure and Pride
takes time and dedication to build a CAV GT. Six hundred man-hours is devoted to the development of each vehicle from the construction of the chassis to the time it leaves our factory.Our committed team shares a vision to manufacture a quality product that will provide pleasure and pride to its owners. In addition to our staff based at Westlake, Cape Town, we employ subcontractors who share our work ethic and exacting standards. ( posted on conceptcarz.com)
To achieve the quality we strive for in every CAV GT each step of the manufacturing process is meticulously planned. Our extensive R&D has enabled us to create enhancements to the CAV GT for improved road and track performance.
The Perfect Body
The foundation of the CAV GT begins wîth the stainless steel monocoque chassis. Each chassis is tig welded on a jig to maintain its structural design integrity and cleaned and sealed prior to its placement in the assembly site.The life of each CAV GT is ushered in when the chassis plate is fitted and its identity takes form. Its development then progresses to the bodyfitting stage at which point its vinylester body will be placed over the chassis nucleus. Vinyelester is stronger and more stable than conventional polyester resin.
The perfect body is created through a specialist shaping and spraying process that is subcontracted to a team dedicated solely to this outcome. The body is baked several times so that it is cured and stable before a final spray painting. The whole process takes 200 man-hours before it is ready to leave the paint shop. On its return to our factory, the body panels are removed and carefully stored.
Immaculate Construction
At this stage the assembly team will construct the vehicle from its component parts. The suspension, braking, cooling, fuel and electrical systems are fixed, tested, and re-checked. Interior finishes are added and the custom-made seats fitted. Stored body panels are re-fitted, adjusted and the windscreens bonded into place. The vehicle is polished and tested one last time before it is ready for shipping.
On average, two cars can be shipped in standard 20-foot containers placed on specially designed frames. These secure the cars for their journey across the oceans to ensure they arrive at their destinations in the immaculate condition they left our factory.Source - CAV
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