The manufacturers of the CAV GT have secured rights to finish their car in the famous Gulf Oil Livery that became synonumous with the iconic GT40 in the late sixties with consecutive Le Mans wins in 1968 and 1969. The timing could not have been better with the 2008 Le Mans 24 hour race being the 40th anniversary of Gulf Oil's first victory at Le Mans in a GT40.
The CAV GT Gulf Oil cars will be 500 bhp versions of the car, complete with Gulf flare rear wheel arches, period BRM rims, Weber IDF carburetors, nubuck leather interior with subtle Gulf Oil logos embroidered on the seats and 5-point safety harnesses. The cars will also have special chassis plates identifying them as being officially licensed Gulf Oil Cars. Their chassis numbers will be added to a Gulf Oil CAV GT register and the history of these cars will be tracked. Owners receive an official certificate from Gulf Oil confirming that the vehicle is a licensed Gulf Oil car. The cars will be available in four different versions of the color scheme, complete with period sponsor stickers.
Engine
The CAV GT is designed to accept a Ford V8 small block. Standard power for the Gulf Oil edition includes a 347ci V8 with 500 horsepower.
Chassis
The monocoque chassis is true in spirit to the original but features superior strength and stiffness. The chassis is a tig-welded, stainless-steel structure consisting of 67 CNC punched and bent panels, welded together in a jig to ensure dimensional accuracy. It features an integral roll over bar and side impact protection bars. Every CAV GT chassis is manufactured to accept a bolt-in roll cage for racing purposes.
Front Suspension
The front suspension is comprised of tig welded A-frame wishbones and adjustable anti-roll bar linkages. Specially designed suspension geometry ensures superb handling on road and track conditions, with the benefit of bump steer adjustment. The lower wishbones are braced. The front uprights are CNC machined from aircraft-spec billet aluminum.
Rear Suspension
The rear suspension geometry consists of independent double trailing links with inverted A-frame wishbones, upper transverse links and an adustable anti-roll bar linkage coupled to cast aluminum uprights.
Springs and Dampers
The suspension is set up on competition coilovers with gas shocks with adjustable damping rates and variable spring height.
Brakes
Forged aluminum 4-piston Wilwood calipers with 300mm rotors front and rear are standard, while billet aluminum 6-piston Wilwood calipers with 300mm rotors at the front and forged aluminum 4-piston calipers at the rear are optional.
Interior
The CAV GT is designed for maximum comfort. The interior, including seats, padded dashboard, steering wheel, center console, roof lining and door linings are all covered in leather.
The ergonomically sound leather-clad adjustable seats feature original style brass grommets. Sound damping is provided by insulating foam and top grade carpeting. Additional comforts include air conditioning, increased head and legroom to accomodate anyone up to 6"4" and fully adjustable racing style pedal box. Original Smiths gauges complete with chrome bezels and Lucas switch gear recreate the experience of the 1960's design.
