Purchasiong CAV Gt 40

Mort · 12-25-06, 10:38 AM

In a few months hope to have it on the road here in the Sandhills of NC.
It will join a stable of cars from SSR, Masserati Q-Portes, Ferrari's, BRX, Z cars of early 70's, SHO's and T-Bird super coupes, Prowlers, Lotus and others on this Farm.
I hope to learn a great deal from those with these GT 40's. Only wish was had I only known about this site before.
Merry Christmas and have a great New Year.
Mort

chuck smith · 12-25-06, 12:05 PM

welcome mort. where do you live?

Mort · 12-25-06, 12:45 PM

Live in Cameron, NC four miles off US # 1. One takes NC 690 towards Ft Bragg at Vass! Go five miles and Left at BP Convienence store and about two miles and left at New Covenant Community Church and you are on Horse'n Carriage lane and we are at the end of the line. Have ten guard dogs, twenty horses, five cats, 150 acres and three buildings loaded with auto toys. My wife says there are fifty that I have procured, built and resurrected over the years.
Can't wait to have the car completed at HRE. Going 351 Windsor, ZF and Fuel Injection rather than Webers.
I hope and pray my 6'3" son will fit. That was one of the major decision factors for the car.
What can you tell me about the CAV. I chose it over SPF becasue of interior space and many things standard that were options for SPF. The one draw back is Dennis (Ulthoff Racing and very nice and informative) is two hous from me and Roy Sayles is 33000 miles and Bioll andrews at HRE 600 miles.
My son in law is an istructor at NASCAR institute and Mr andrews said he would show him everything about the car when they go to check it out prior to shipping here in a few months.
Hope I made the right decision.

Mort · 12-25-06, 12:50 PM

Chuck,
Where are you located in Greenville? I used to drive through on my way to Birmingham when on Active Duty.
What can you tell me about the car. Mine is # 66 that Roy actually drove about 1,000 miles than pulled engine and gearbox to install in his new CAV. I imagine it should have all the updates and has the wide rear fenders and 17 inch wheels. His pictures of it are awesome.
There are always down sides and need to know those. Plan for it to be driven not a track car.
I have # of 240 Z's and Mazda RX 7 and Ferrari 308 GT4 for the track.

David Briggs · 12-25-06, 12:51 PM

You have made the right decision, the CAV is much improved over the original in most ways.
Dave

Mort · 12-25-06, 12:56 PM

Chuck,
If you want a Cobra, I have a friend, Floyd Harper III, who is building Cobra's (Python) in Columbia, SC. His cars are lighter, with stronger straighter fiberglass bodies. His Figerglass is a sandwidh approach using foam in between the glass. You can stand on his hood and it will not flex.

JCoop · 12-25-06, 12:57 PM

Welcome and congratulations, Mort. The CAV GT is a great machine. I know because I have one. It's older (#29) but I've upgraded it to mostly new spec. The new ones are gorgeous. You'll have a lot of fun with it. This forum is a great resource. The more you surf, you'll identify the CAV gurus, who are there and willing to help. Your 6'3" son may have to slouch a bit more and I think the newer CAVs have room for the pedals to be moved further forward. Maybe Billy at HRE can move it forward for you. He may not make it with a helmet unless you got your CAV with the Gurney Bubble.
I live 10 miles from HRE and rarely go there for support, not that he's not competent, Billy's one of the best,...just that the car doesn't require much fiddling that you can't do yourself. Next time I'm over there, I'll check out yur car.

Cheers

Mort · 12-25-06, 12:59 PM

Dave,
Glad to hear that. Mine is #66 and I did it based on my own research of five years. In reality wanted one since the late 60's.
You must know Roy personally. We had some email realtionship of about three or four weeks.
However, gave up road racing in '72 after a near death experience at VIR.

Mort · 12-25-06, 01:03 PM

Ray,
My car may not arrive in NY for about a month. They are to hold it in San Diego until ZF is ready to ship. It is not the new but #66 however, I believe with some seat mods we can make it work. I thought I could pull the seat out and sub a superformance padded seat without rails in its place for my son to fit if all else fails. I truly dislike the look of the Gurney bubble. the other choice is another Door with the bubble for him to drive when he wants to drive it.

chuck smith · 12-25-06, 01:32 PM

Mort ,I am right off of I-85 near the BMW factory as you come in from Charlotte. You will love the CAV,I hope you can make it work for 6-3. All of them are small. I have te fender flairs and deep dish wheel in back and that is one of my favorite features. I called Oltoffs and apparently the SPF MK1 cannot be had with the flairs,at least for now,and I think they add so much to the look that I cannot bare to part with mine. With the 351 yours wil be scary fast. I drive mine almost every day. I have an aluminum Kirkham 427 sideoiler equipped cobra so I do not need another one of those,in fact I need to divest myself of a car or two as I am considering purchasing a spec e30 for NASA road racing. feel free to contact me for any questions. chuck

Mort · 12-25-06, 02:11 PM

Chuck,
When I last spoke to Dennis two weeks ago he said the wide fenders were available on the Mark I.
He didn't recomend it because of tire costs. However, when you are spending $100,000 what is $360 vs $150 for a tire.
Down the line I hope to have one of their Daytona coupes.
Mort

Mort · 12-31-06, 04:16 AM

I said car was #66 ; wrong it is # 82.
Mort

Mort · 01-01-07, 09:42 PM

Cliff,
Thanks for the positive responce. It was hard to turn down Dennis Olthoff (superformance dealer) since their shop is less than two hours from my home and twenty minutes from my son in law.
However, after speaking with Roy, and the quick responce from Mr Spence in So Africa, I felt I was making the best decision.
I plan to drive the vehicle anywhere any time. I have no Garage Queens. My '85 Maserati Q-Porte with five speed manual is 98% done after an eight year restoration but I am exited driving it as the day I bought the burned car and saw in my mind what I now see in the building. The same with the CAV. I dreamed of a GT 40 in the 60's and soon will have one I can use as a daily driver or track car as desired.
You have made my day for it isn't every day I buy things site unseen and on how some one comes across on the phone.
Have a great '07 you started mine out on a dream coming true.

Mort · 01-02-07, 02:28 PM

I have read over my posts and realize I made a number of typos. The car is # 63, Mr Sayles former car, not 66 or 82. I also said I hoped to have it in about one months time after it arrives in NY.
However their are delays with getting transmissions and this may put thing off a few months before it ever gets to NY. I understood others have misinterperated the month meaning transmission. I wish they were correct but it is about a month to complete the car once Mr Andrews, at HRE, begins the process of engine and transmission installation.
For those who may have had some heart burn, I am sorry, but I can only wish for some things but have no power to make things occur before their time.
It is unfortunate that it came accross to some that my car would be ready in a month from now. No way Jose!

chuck smith · 01-02-07, 03:56 PM

it will go by fast enough. I just got back from a nice jaunt in mine. I put a new carb on and am having trouble getting it tuned but I will work it out. I am also changing over my carbs on the Kirkham 427,looks nice.

Mort · 01-02-07, 07:39 PM

Chuck,
That looks very sweet.
I have to finish a Marauder Countach that has four webers on a Chev Z3 engine. With my BRX we can't get the Carb right and are probably going to build another. On the GT40 will have fuel injection that visually looks like the four webers but is fuel injection with all the benefits.
I will have to get back to Columbia, SC and see your cars.
This weekend was busy driving the 85 Maserati 5 speed Q-Porte III.
it is fun to be able to drive and shift this 5,000 lb Italian HGWY Patrol car through corners at speed.