- South African-built GT40 successor packs 800 hp from supercharged Audi V8.
- Buyers can choose manual, single-clutch, or dual-clutch transmission options.
- Just 40 anniversary examples celebrate Ford’s legendary Le Mans triumph.
Most GT40 replicas spend their lives trying to recreate the magic of the 1960s as faithfully as possible. Cape Advanced Vehicles has been building cars like that since 1999, but now, 223 examples later, it’s taking Ford’s Ferrari beater into a new, high-tech, and German dimension.
To mark the 60th anniversary of Ford’s famous Le Mans domination, the South African company has unveiled the GT MkII, a machine it describes as a spiritual successor to the GT40 rather than a traditional replica. Rather than being based on a Ford, it appears to be based on an Audi R8.
Related: A $2.5 Million Ford GT Met A Parking Lot Van And Lost
The famous blue and orange Gulf-style livery helps mentally link the new car to the original GT40, as do design cues like the round rear lights and the dual air intakes on each flank, plus the two snorkels on the rear deck.
CVA
But almost every detail has been reimagined, from the lighting and aerodynamics to the significantly larger dimensions. The result – which looks great at the front and awkward at the rear – is a car that looks kind of familiar but is in no way what we might consider a continuation model. CVA itself says it’s “fully embracing the ‘restomod’ philosophy.”
AWD Traction, Modern Driver Tech
Modifying an R8 donor rather than chasing period authenticity means the GT MkII has a modern aluminum and carbon-fiber structure complete with all-wheel drive, electronic driver aids, active aerodynamics, and up-to-date safety systems.
Power comes from the donor R8’s 4.2-liter Audi V8, but fitted with twin centrifugal superchargers. The result is 789 hp (800 PS) delivered at 7,800 rpm, accompanied by 649 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque and a 9,000 rpm redline. Those are numbers that wouldn’t look out of place on an OEM supercar and would seriously shame an original GT40.
True 200 MPH Performance
Performance is predictably supercar-strong. CAV claims a zero to 62 mph (100 kmh) time of 3.0 seconds and a top speed of 204 mph (330 kmh). KW three-way adjustable dampers, Brembo brakes, and an Inconel exhaust system help ensure the car has the hardware to both make and tame the headline figures.
A six-speed automated gearbox comes standard, while buyers can also opt for a dual-clutch setup. More importantly, CAV will happily sell you a proper manual transmission. In 2026, that might be enough to get enthusiasts reaching for their wallets before they’ve even seen the price. Production of the launch 60th Anniversary Edition will be limited to just 40 examples, at an undisclosed price.
For a company that’s spent nearly three decades building GT40-inspired machines, the GT MkII represents something very different. Maybe too different. It’s an ambitious project, but also a brave one, because the GT40 link is now slimmer than the gap between the 1-2-3 finishing Ford supercars in France 60 years ago. Would you take a new GT40 MkII over one of CVA’s original-style GT40 builds, which are now being phased out?
