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Cape 'GT40s' elite livery rights

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The Cape Town based manufacturers of the CAV GT, Auto Futura have secured the exclusive rights to finish their car in the famous Gulf Oil Livery.

The Gulf Oil colours became synonymous with the iconic GT40 in the late sixties with consecutive Le Mans wins in 1968 and '69 Company directors Jean Fourie and John Spence said they were proud to announce the recent signing of an Agreement with the Gulf Oil International Group.

The timing could hardly be better with the 2008 Le Mans 24 hour race being the 40th anniversary of Gulf Oils first victory at Le Mans in a GT40.

Exclusivity

This agreement licenses them as the only manufacturer of a GT40 recreation to officially distribute their car in the full Gulf Oil livery.

After the 1968 & 1969 victories of the J.W.A.Gulf team, the GT40 would forever be remembered as the powder blue car with an orange stripe that humbled Ferrari at Le Mans.

These two classic Le Mans victories, along with Steve McQueen's brilliant 1970 film titled 'Le Mans', made the Gulf Oil logo and colour scheme an icon of motor racing.

CAV GT Gulf Oil Cars will be 372kW versions, complete with Gulf flare rear wheel arches, exquisite period BRM rims, snorting Weber IDF carburetors, a nubuck leather interior with subtle Gulf Oil logos embroidered on the seats and 5 point safety harnesses.

Special chassis plates identifying these as being officially licensed Gulf Oil Cars will add to their bespoke nature. Their chassis numbers will be added to a Gulf Oil CAV GT register and the history of these cars will be tracked.

Owners will receive an official certificate from Gulf Oil confirming their car as a licensed Gulf Oil car.

Cars will be available in four different variations of the colour scheme, complete with period sponsor stickers to assure an air of retro authenticity. A range of CAV GT Gulf Oil clothing and sports gear is also planned.

The Gulf Oil brand has never been stronger and is as relevant today as it was in the sixties. "The association is a good one for both companies," comments John Spence. "Where ever we take one of our cars it attracts a crowd.

It is incredible how a car designed over 40 years ago can still stir the emotions so strongly. It is however, the cars in Gulf colours, which attract the most attention."

Recently, a retired Le Mans driver commented how driving the CAV GT was like being in a time machine.

The grin on his face told the story of a time in his life he remembered fondly, a time before paddle-shift transmissions and the plethora of electronic driver aids thrown at us in modern cars.

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