Factory Five Or "super Car Kits"

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?
15 Year Member
Dec 19, 2010
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Ok, Not that I have the time to do this.. but my dream from an early age was to own an AC Cobra replica; until 2005 or thereabouts when the Ford GT was (re)introduced. For a fleeting moment I thought that one day, that car would be in my grasp. I look at the 250k+ prices of them now in complete despair. SO- I considered, like the cobra replica, a kit. I don't see any reproductions or kits of the GT or GT 40 available, there is still a website out there still up.. ERA I believe, but no longer producing. Nothing else to be seen that is remotely feasible.. Very frustrating. I am absolutely enamored with the idea of a mid engine super car, specifically Ford powered. Now, that said, Factory Five offers the GTM supercar, but you basically have to buy a parts Corvette C5, a porsche transaxle and you wind up with a really fast rearranged vette.. ugh. Projected build cost at 50k also.. Seems like a lot of work to wind up with something so close to a vette. I looked for a moment at the type 65 FF coupe. beautiful car, but front engine.. uses mustang parts.. why not just stick with a mustang, I thought. It's somewhat exotic, but not a far cry from what I'm used to really. Again, this isn't something I have time for in the next five years.. just looking down the road.

Anyone ever look into this, or consider it?
 
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I have never fully priced it out, but I have always been fainted with the concept of an all out light weight brute like the cobra replicas. Of course I feel like now they are so available that they are not as different as they use to be. B that being said, I very rarely seen one driving around.

Joe
 
I don't think FF actually made a GT40. That was Superformance, I believe.

However, I would personally choose the 65 Coupe. I don't believe I've seen one finished in person.

Wonder how the fitment would be with a coyote in the GTM?
 
No, FF did not make the GT 40. There have been other companies, ERA as stated, not sure if superformance still does.. or if the price is reasonable. I've seen complete cars for 125k+ though.. not exactly attainable to a peon like me.

Edit: Not sure why FF doesn't make one though.
 
No, FF did not make the GT 40. There have been other companies, ERA as stated, not sure if superformance still does.. or if the price is reasonable. I've seen complete cars for 125k+ though.. not exactly attainable to a peon like me.

Edit: Not sure why FF doesn't make one though.
More than likely I would think they wanted to be different and offered the GTM instead. GTM seems to be a bad little machine.

Wonder if you could pick up a roller for an inexpensive price.
 
I am biased toward Superformance. Might have something to do with the fact that I have assembled 15 of them along with 5 Shelby continuation Cobras. Of the Superformance cars, 12 were Cobras, 2 were Daytona Coupes and one GT-40. When comparing the build quality of a Factory Five to a Superformance car the difference is quite remarkable. On their own, the FF looks good enough until you park a Superformance next to it, then it is like WOW, what a POS the FF is. The only other Cobra kit car that had near the quality of a Superformance car was a Backdraft car, and they use the BMW chassis on them. Build quality is the main reason for the huge disparity in price. At around $60K for a rolling chassis a Superformance car is just going to have better stuff. A FF car is great for the beginner/entry level type and for the $ may have more bang for the buck depending on how it is equipped. It is hard to beat a $30K Roush built EFI 427 Windsor putting out over 550HP in a 2,600lb Cobra tho. And yes the Roush engine comes with a warranty.
 
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I am biased toward Superformance. Might have something to do with the fact that I have assembled 15 of them along with 5 Shelby continuation Cobras. Of the Superformance cars, 12 were Cobras, 2 were Daytona Coupes and one GT-40. When comparing the build quality of a Factory Five to a Superformance car the difference is quite remarkable. On their own, the FF looks good enough until you park a Superformance next to it, then it is like WOW, what a POS the FF is. The only other Cobra kit car that had near the quality of a Superformance car was a Backdraft car, and they use the BMW chassis on them. Build quality is the main reason for the huge disparity in price. At around $60K for a rolling chassis a Superformance car is just going to have better stuff. A FF car is great for the beginner/entry level type and for the $ may have more bang for the buck depending on how it is equipped. It is hard to beat a $30K Roush built EFI 427 Windsor putting out over 550HP in a 2,600lb Cobra tho. And yes the Roush engine comes with a warranty.

Any pics? Man I'd love to see that GT40!
 
Any pics? Man I'd love to see that GT40!
That one was done about 4 years ago. Black with white stripes, EFI Roush 427 Windsor with the true 180* exhaust headers. That thing was the most wicked sounding SBF I have ever heard. Don't have any pic's unfortunately. But driving that car just made you look for reasons to go up and down through the gearbox it sounded so badass. Those cars are built for top end. The 5 speed transaxle is set up with 3rd being 1:1 and 4th and 5th being overdrives. It does have a 4.10:1 gear ratio inside the transaxle though. And with a standing wet weight of about 2,200 lbs minus driver, with 550 plus HP on tap, the power to weight ratio is like 4 lbs per HP, so it flat out got it done. Not the greatest at rear visibility, but when you are passing everything on the road, you don't look behind you much, except for the occasional glance for the red and blues lol.
 
That one was done about 4 years ago. Black with white stripes, EFI Roush 427 Windsor with the true 180* exhaust headers. That thing was the most wicked sounding SBF I have ever heard. Don't have any pic's unfortunately. But driving that car just made you look for reasons to go up and down through the gearbox it sounded so badass. Those cars are built for top end. The 5 speed transaxle is set up with 3rd being 1:1 and 4th and 5th being overdrives. It does have a 4.10:1 gear ratio inside the transaxle though. And with a standing wet weight of about 2,200 lbs minus driver, with 550 plus HP on tap, the power to weight ratio is like 4 lbs per HP, so it flat out got it done. Not the greatest at rear visibility, but when you are passing everything on the road, you don't look behind you much, except for the occasional glance for the red and blues lol.


THAT is what I'm talking about. I want one. Badly.
 
If you've ever seen a FF kit car vs. a Superperformance car side by side, you'd make the decision in about 2 seconds. The FF cars that I have seen are "budget friendly" and require a lot more body work compared to the Superperformance ones. The overal quality of the fiberglass, welds, and structure are vastly different IMO.
 
Not my cup of tea, and just to share for your own consideration, here is why.

I have known a decent number of people through my years that built a kit car, and then never drove it. Take the amount of time you will actually drive it and multiply it by 100 for how long it will take to put together. Kit cars squeak, they brake, they leak in water, and when it really gets down to it, they aren't practical. Especially a kit Cobra which has no roof. How often do you go somewhere and leave the car unattended for any period of time. Can't really do that very often. Personally, I'd rather spend my time working on a real car that I will actually drive.

Kurt
 
I want the 33 ff racing makes....
Something bad.
I have seen one in person he used an kit for ac and everything...
Independent rear, tko600, supercharged 5.4
Cherry red with the teardrop fenders and side pipes......:drool:
I'm only 26 so there is still time...
 
I want the 33 ff racing makes....
Something bad.
I have seen one in person he used an kit for ac and everything...
Independent rear, tko600, supercharged 5.4
Cherry red with the teardrop fenders and side pipes......:drool:
I'm only 26 so there is still time...

Ive built a few of those, mainly of plastic that were designed for a scale that would fit my slot cars. Great body style
 
How about a 3rd alternative? If you fit inside, a Monster Miata can fit a SBF or SBC under the hood with minimal modifications. And there are removeable hard tops for unfriendly neighborhoods.
That combo is true to the original idea, but with better engineering than British cars started with.
 
Well, honestly the focus shifted from AC Cobra to Ford GT/ GT40 kit. The reason being: 1) a timeless beauty, imho much more desirable than the simple Cobra.. my opinion, I know.. and 2) mid engine supercar layout that lends itself to high speed handling better than a front engine featherweight..
 
I want the 33 ff racing makes....
Something bad.
I have seen one in person he used an kit for ac and everything...
Independent rear, tko600, supercharged 5.4
Cherry red with the teardrop fenders and side pipes......:drool:
I'm only 26 so there is still time...
We've got a 33 FF kit car in the shop as we speak and to be completely honest I'm less than impressed... The frame is hoakey the fiberglass is just ok and nothing really looks to be top quality. Maybe I'm just too particular but for the kind of money they want for these kits and the work involved, I'll keep searching for a steel bodied real deal 33