Cape Advanced VehiclesThe Ford GT40 is easily one of the greatest sports cars ever made. Debuting in 1964, it stunned Ferrari with a 1-2-3 finish at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours, and it instantly catapulted it to legendary status. Ford brought the GT moniker back with a supercar in the 2000s, before reviving it again in 2016 with a new racer and supercar, one that won at Le Mans on its debut.That twin-turbocharged V6 monster is now no longer with us. However, it looks like there is a successor on the way, as a new GT40 is set to land very soon. But there is a catch. This car isn't being built by Ford, but instead it is being built by Cape Advanced Vehicles (CAV), a South African company with big ambitions.The company isn't new to the Blue Oval's most famous product. In fact, it is most famous for continuation-quality GT40s but has been working on a project with the imaginative codename 'Special Project,' something it has been working on since the tail end of 2024.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis new car, as seen in teaser images, is unquestionably inspired by the GT40, and hints at the 60th anniversary of that famous Le Mans win only make it even more obvious. So for those hoping to get a new GT40, it looks like your prayers have been answered.What We Know About the Cav Ford GT40 SuccessorCAV, known for its high-quality GT40 recreations, is now working on an all-new mid-engine supercar, and this is not a replica of the GT40. But it's heavily inspired by the racer, and it's clear the company sees this as the Ford's true successor. The most obvious nod to the GT40 is the four vertical taillights, mounted on a very GT40-esque rear end.Along the side of the car, we can see light blue paint with a gold 60 on the door, a direct nod to the cars that took 1-2-3 at Le Mans in 1966. "The GT40 competed in the wild for just six years. That brief period was our purest inspiration, and it has led us to continue manufacturing the MkI GT40 for 27 years!" said CAV on Instagram."After four generations of refinement, and more than a quarter-century of experience, it is time for a successor – Engineered by CAV!" added the company. Under the hood, power is expected to come from a big V8 engine, and it will produce at least 500hp. But forced induction could see that figure rise to 800hp in total. Other nods to the original car include the rear deck air intakes, as seen on the MK II GT40 that also won Le Mans.Why Is Cav Producing a Ford GT40 Successor?Cape Advanced VehiclesHaving spent nearly 30 years producing its continuation GT40s, the company clearly decided to take things up another gear. The fact that 2026 marks 60 years since that famous first Le Mans victory makes this a highly appropriate time to launch the new car. In fact, the launch date is slated for June 18th, marking exactly 60 years since the famous 1-2-3 finish at the French endurance race.AdvertisementAdvertisementBeyond that, it would just be very cool to actually have a new GT40 in any capacity. It is one of the most iconic cars the Blue Oval ever produced, and its two successors are seen as some of the best supercars of the 21st century. We don't know if Ford will ever bring the GT back for a third generation. But if it doesn't, then CAV looks set to produce something just as good to continue the legacy of one of the world's greatest supercars.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don’t miss what’s coming next.
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