Sister Act

[Ian Clark]

Had to share this one with you. We are completing the reproduction of the sister car of the double Le Mans winner from the first CAV shipped after the Autofutura take-over.

Since there have been so many calls about build quality in the new cars, I'm very pleased to say the new cars are at least on par with the previous production.

This is also the first CAV to have right hand drive and right hand shift for ZF application. We've endevoured to make the shifter placement as correct as possible given the path the shift rod must pass through the monocoque. See the Technical forum for additional picture.

I can hardly wait to get them both outside! Oh yeah, we are putting #7 on CAV#84...

 

Ian,
Some guys have all the fun! I was wondering when we would see the latest from CAV Canada. Keep the pictures coming during the build, and thanks for all the help on my ZF conversion.

 

[Chris Martino]

Many worthy, intelligent, potential Canadian GT40 customers would LOVE to know how these cars make it into Canada, yours truly and to a more relavent extent, Transport Canada??? So, so many safety factors face our battered kitcar industry here in Canada that it is nice to see others do so well to conform to all of these standards.

Please, do share with all us poor Canucks who have had such a hard time of it importing these cars here. Your posts have us so excited!!!

Chris
RCR

 

[Ian Clark]

Hi Cris,

I wish you'd taken my advice before you started. There is no kitcar industry in Canada. CAV and Autofura are not in the kitcar industry. Please feel free to call me anytime, especially to meet in person. This is a big country, I'm sure there are ways we can work together.

Cheers

 

[Ron Earp]

[ QUOTE ]
CAV and Autofura are not in the kitcar industry. Please feel free to call me Cheers

[/ QUOTE ]

You canot build your own car in Canada? Are their rules that stop you from doing it? Can no CAVs be delivered as rollers in Canada?

 

[Ian Clark]

Hi Ron,

Canada is no different than other countries and our provinces which correspond with your states all operate as individual jurisdictions with their own legislation.

Needles to say, it is not easy being in the specialty car industry, ask any manufacturer, any where. Even the big boys like Ferrari, Lamborghini and smaller concerns like Lotus have to jump through hoops to get there products to market.

What has been done is determine the best way to meet all relevant laws. CAVs situation is different from MDAs' and I have offered to help RCR. Not much more I can do...

 

[Ian Clark]

Hi Pat,

Thanks. Yes, somedays I really have to pinch myself! By the way the rest of your parts should arrive today.

 

[Chris Martino]

Hi Ian,

Email can certainly come across the wrong way sometimes, especially for a smart-ass like myself. Hope my message wasn't taken the wrong way - I'll have to add a bunch of these /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif after my posts I guess.

I've done a lot of research, phone conversations, emails with a lot of people, including Transport Canada on my spare time to help educate myself as much as possible before going door-to-door to others for free-bees. I do appreciate your offer and so, I will give you a call! (or vise-versa 905-987-4775).

Now, for anyone who cares about the current way of getting a 'kitcar' into Canada read-on. Ian is correct in saying there is no such industry in Canada because for all intents and purposes, these vehicles do not meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS for short). That is the bottom line and end of story. However the Canadian government cannot stop anyone, whos rights allow any citizen to build their own car. These cars are classified as Home-built vehicles and providing they meet basic road worthiness and other standards such as day-time running lights, etc... can be registered with a special V.I.N, number. So, where does that leave anyone wanting an MDA, DRB, Tornado etc..?
Read some more!

Well, as far as I can tell you, if you want one of these (or any replica for that matter) it will go though the indignity of a complete strip down to the dreaded 'box-o-parts - and not many of them either!!

No suspension, no brakes, no fuel systems, no wipers, no engine, no transmission, no steering, no radiator...get my drift? All you can aquire are just the basics of the car which is typically body components, frame, DOT approved windscreen, light covers, some interior bits, electrial harness, gearshifter, steering wheel (in some cases where original items cannot be sourced out in Canada such as the GT40 sill tanks, filler necks, caps, 180 exhaust system, headlights etc..thankfully!!!)
So what about the rest of the car - Read on some more!

Donor parts is where you look next and is an area that I don't feel is looked into carefully enough by the feds. Lets face it, there are no off-the-shelf items like the a-arms, steering column, adaptor plates, shift linkage etc... that you'll find at your local scrap yard or Canadian Tire store. There are many that can be purchased such as the brake rotors, calipers, springs, shocks, engine, transaxle (no luck in north america for UN1 units - unless someone can steer me in the right direction), radiator, brake lines etc... This donor part thing has me fighting for more parts to be accepted by Transport Canada. The only other avenue is for the buliders to submit all the items that fall under TC scrutiny and have them verify that they do meet test requirements. Even if only a few parts/systems pass, the vehicle can LEGALLY be imported as an Incomplete Motor Vehicle, usually with suspension and steering in tact - the owner then completes the car. This method is where I currently sit with Mark at MDA and Transport Canada. As soon as the MK1 systems go through TC for test approval, we'll know better as to how much of the car can be imported here. I am hoping to get the results in the next few weeks (feds take forever) so as soon as I know anything, I will let ya all know.

I believe safety is paramount - you can't have fun when your dead right?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks Ian-

More to come...


Chris
RCR

 

[Rick]

I have to add my two-bits here as I'm in the midst of building from scratch a GT-40 here in Ottawa, Ontario.

Chris is right about import of kitcars into Canada are banned according to the RIV (Registar of Imported Vehicles) IF they are less than fifteen (15) years old.

I'm very glad that Ian has managed to bring CAVs into Ontario, though, as it sets precedence in my opinion...

Faced with not being able to bring in a kit, I kept my ears and eyes open and was very fortunate to find locally those KVA molds in a barn /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Yeah, it's a lot of work building from scratch but I have to tell you, it's worth it as far as I'm concerned. This forum and it's respective members have been excellent in providing information and/or assistance when required, I just don't know whether I would have tackled a project of this magnitude if I didn't have you guys to rely upon...

Having said that, I have to give you a call, Ian /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Best regards,

Rick

 

[Ian Clark]

Thanks Rick and Chris, I'm sure we're not alone with regards to bureaucracy here or globally. Just goes to show how passionate people are about these cars. I look forward to seeing pictures of your cars on the forum or better yet in person! PS: that is DOT glass!

 

[Gary Gibbs]

Wow! Nice low motor! Wet sump or dry? 302 or 351 block?

 

[Ian Clark]

Hi Gary, Wondering who'd pipe up about those low stacks! Here's another pic. It's a 347 crate from Ford Racing with the Australian FI system from Wayne at VeryCoolParts.com.

The engine is in the correct (lowered) position and has a highly modified Canton wet sump pan to make the clearances. Big difference from barely being able to see past the Webers on Frknfast's 392 It's all great fun though...

 

[Ron Earp]

ZF gets that thing quite low, good choice.

 

[ijvpet]

I thought it's about time I posted on this thread. I just wat to say that I am about as excited as a kid at a vintage Le Mans rally!(Well, if the kid was me). Ian has done a superb job with the whole process. He has kept me informed about CAV's situation and as the pictures show, the car is quickly becoming a reality for the kid typing this post. I very much wanted an as authentic car as possible. Ian has taken great effort to satify my criteria. Every week, I get updated pictures with expainations on what was done. These will go into a journal for the build and will stay with the car, showing it's history. So far, I have been very impressed with Ian's level of professionalism and the quailty of the build. The car is stunning and is turning out better than I expected. I am not partial to any one car maker. I like them all. But CAV has proven to me that I picked well and I hope I can be a testament to what kind of company they are. Good job Ian.