Cape Advanced Vehicles (Pty) Ltd

What kind of company is Cape Advanced Vehicles?

Cape Advanced Vehicles is a private boutique automotive manufacturer based in Cape Town, South Africa. It builds GT40-style restomods and limited-edition supercars in low volume, selling both turn-key cars and rollers directly to customers around the world.

Is Cape Advanced Vehicles publicly traded?

No. The company is privately held with no stock exchange listing. It is a small specialist manufacturer and does not publish financial results.

When was Cape Advanced Vehicles founded?

The company was founded in 1999 in Cape Town to produce Ford GT40 replicas. Jordi Reddy took over in 2013 and repositioned it as a restomod builder. It unveiled the GT MKII limited edition in the mid-2020s.

Who leads Cape Advanced Vehicles?

Jordi Reddy has run the company since 2013 as Director and Product Architect and chief executive. He is responsible for the restomod strategy, the stainless steel monocoque direction, and the GT MKII program.

What is Cape Advanced Vehicles' market position?

CAV is a premium niche manufacturer in the continuation and restomod segment. It competes with Superformance and specialist British GT40 builders, differentiating through its stainless monocoque, Gulf Oil license, and modern drivability focus.

Does Ford own or endorse Cape Advanced Vehicles?

No. CAV has no ownership or endorsement relationship with Ford Motor Company or Shelby American and says so explicitly in its own materials. The name references Ford Advanced Vehicles, the 1963 original GT40 manufacturer, as a tribute only.

Cape Advanced Vehicles was founded in Cape Town in 1999, during a period when South Africa hosted a small cluster of specialist vehicle builders serving export markets. The company's founding purpose was narrow: produce Ford GT40 replicas to a high standard for enthusiasts who could not buy or did not want to maintain an original multi-million-dollar race car.

Through the 2000s CAV established itself among the top tier of GT40 replica builders. It offered both roller configurations, shipped without engine and transmission for customer completion, and turn-key cars assembled fully at the factory. The formula centered on a mid-mounted Ford V8 and faithful 1960s bodywork.

In 2013 Jordi Reddy took over the company, marking the start of its modern era. Reddy redirected CAV away from strict replication and toward the restomod philosophy: preserve the GT40's proportions and spirit, but engineer the car for current expectations of reliability, comfort, and performance. The revised flagship became known as the CAV GT.

A major operational step followed in 2016, when the company relocated to its present Cape Town facility. The move consolidated design, body and component manufacturing, paintwork, and final assembly under one roof, giving CAV direct control over quality at each stage.

On the product side, the company developed its stainless steel monocoque chassis, which improved rigidity and interior space relative to traditional replica construction and allowed taller drivers to fit comfortably. Engine options settled into two tracks: a carbureted Ford small-block V8 for customers wanting period character, and the newer 5.0-liter Coyote V8 for buyers prioritizing modern drivability. CAV also secured an official license from Gulf Oil, making it the only GT40-style builder authorized to sell cars in the iconic Gulf racing livery.

In the mid-2020s the company unveiled the GT MKII, timed to the 60th anniversary of the GT40's 1-2-3 finish at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Limited to 40 cars, the MKII reframes CAV's offer from replica to boutique supercar, with updated engineering and a much more aggressive performance brief. As of 2026 the company continues to produce cars at low volume from Cape Town while taking orders internationally.