Factory Five Racing Type 65

[Oh Haha]

http://www.factoryfive.com/coupehome.html

I met a guy tonight at a local cruise night who just finished building one of these. WOW!!

He has a mild small block 302 but what a neat car. He told me he has a Cobra replica as well with over 500 RWHP. I have seen it around town but not been close enough to check it out.

I would have to really think about NOT getting one of these someday. I don't think I would trade in the ol' SC to do it but...

He gave me a DVD and it was very well done. Production wasn;t the greatest but it had a ton of detailed bits on chassis and safety components as well as tons of racing footage.


They have a new model now using late model Corvette running gear. It looks like a cross between a Saleen S7 and a Carrera GT, though.

EDIT: Sorry, this should be in the OT forum.

[BeyGon]

I would rather have a Beck Spyder or a kit Speedster, more class and more fun.

[oregonmon]

My dad is about 2-3 weeks from finishing his Factory Five Cobra. I saw it a couple of weeks ago and have heard it run. My younger brother went for a preliminary ride with my dad and he said he actually got a bit scared of how violent the thing was.
The color turned out great, it's a Lexus blue. Used a donor Stang, rebuilt some and replaced most.
I can't wait for it to be finished.

I will probably catch heat for this but I've seen Superformance Cobra kits and they don't seem to equal the quality or style or Factory Five.

[88-diamondblue]

The coupe is at the top of my list of possible projects. They are extremely well designed and with the right engine are faster than a scalded cat. 0-60 timed in the low 4 sec range and with top end at around 180. Other thoughts are a 87-89 stripped tub with a 993 3.6 with a SC for around 400-425 on the track. Both would cost about the same but the allure of the Daytona Coupe is attractive.

[ManaMan]

I rode shotgun in my friends Factory Five Cobra on the AutoX track. The acceleration and g-force handling was something I hadn't experienced before. Acceleration was similar, but his Cobra handled the corners far better....better grip and hardly any body sway, even with the full harness seat setup, I felt like I was being tossed around like a rag doll....roller coaster ride on rails.

Your dad is pretty cool for building one in my book.

[88-diamondblue]

Forgot to add the picture

[Dutchie]

please stop posting pics i want one bad

[sammyg2]

Ever check out the kit car classifieds? I get a kick out of all the cobra kit car guys, every one of em says he gets 500 hp out of a 351. Funny thing is, Carroll Shelby could only get 300 hp out of the 289s he built for racing! That's why he had to build the 427.
Fords don't make real horsepower. (flame on).

[kaisen]

500 horses out of a 427 is fairly easy.

[Oh Haha]

The owner of this FFR 65 is going to bring his Cobra to the next cruise night.
He told me he has a supercharger with about 14 pounds of boost right now. I think he said it was a Paxton. I don't find it too hard to imagain 500 RWHP from a blown small block. The car is beautiful but I have never heard or witnessed it run.

[Tervuren]

FFR does not build a good cobra replica, but what they do build, is an excellent well designed track car for the street that bears a strong resemblance to a cobra. I love it, want one. I'd build a 302 with lightweight rods and pistons, short stroke, and cam profiles for a very high redline.

[Dutchie]

Wayne i,m 6.2 you think i would fit in that car ? one of the best looking American cars for me !

[steve185]

My friend has the Factory Five Daytona coupe, it's a well put together kit. It has a 302 which is plenty of HP. I have driven the car several times, it handles great.
It's also for sale ( he wnts the GT 40 kit ). It was the first completed Daytona kit in Canada.
Here are a few pics.

[sammyg2]

LOL. you are saying that a factory five kit is better than a superformance kit?
that's a good one.
I've spent alot of time researching these cars, I've spent more time in the driver's seat of a cobra kit car than some folks who own them.

A book called "The Complete Guide to Cobra Replicas" dedicates an entire chapter to telling the readers how bad the factory five kit really is.

Unless they have gotten incredibly better they are the worst kit made. Do the door hinges still wear out and flop around after a few months?
Do the bumper jacks still end about 1" from the gas tank, ensuring a puncture and fuel leak and fire if rear-ended at even low speeds?
Is the fiberglass in some places still only 1/8" thick?
Do they still use old parts from a POS ford mustang II (pinto) that were never designed for the types of force put on them by one of these kits?

There is a reason the factory 5 kits are worth $30k or less when finished and the superformance kits are worth $50k when finished.

[MMARSH]

Originally posted by sammyg2
LOL. you are saying that a factory five kit is better than a superformance kit?
that's a good one.
I've spent alot of time researching these cars, I've spent more time in the driver's seat of a cobra kit car than some folks who own them.

Do they still use old parts from a POS ford mustang II (pinto) that were never designed for the types of force put on them by one of these kits?

That last statement alone would indicate that you either didn't do very good research or shouldn't believe everything you read. The FFR has never used ford mustang II anything. Ever. I think you were told this in another post, but for some reason you still continue to post that BS. It tends to make me think you have a problem with FFR.

If you've spent any time in a well built FFR, you would know that they are a very good kit. Is a Superformance better? Apples to Oranges. The Superfomance comes complete, less engine built by the Superformance factory. A FFR like every home built car is somewhat subject to the builder. If you build the car with all donar parts it's going to be alot different then had you built it with brand new parts. FFR sells more kits then any other replica maker. The quality of the kit itself is very good, The ability of the builder may not be.

A couple of notes. There is no other cobra replica that has done more track time then a FFR. THey have been more sucessful at the annual run and guns then any other make. Thats a fact.

The late Dick Smith, Who won more races the anyone in a real Cobra and set a land speed record in his real Cobra, owned an FFR.

[1fastredsc]

Take a peak at the FFR GTM, i'm still orgasming from that one.

[CJFusco]

Not to hijack the thread, but has there been any word on Beck's 904 replica kits?

[sammyg2]

The mustang 5.0 uses front suspension derived from (and nearly identical in may ways) the mustang II suspension. The mustang II suspension was a knock off of the pinto suspension. The 5.0 suspension is similar in design and strength to that of the pinto.

I dopn't have a problem with factory five racing. I have a problem with how they advertise and present the quality of their kits.
I almost bought one in 2000. I was ready to pull the trigger but a copy of the complete guide to cobra replicas arrived. i could not believe what I had read.
Then I went to the house of cobras (too many times) and talked to just aout everyone there. They all said the same thing, if you want a mustang (or pinto) then buy a mustang, but don't call it a cobra.
You wanna talk about snobs, talk to a hard core cobra enthusiast. They will look down their noses at the FFR kit. The house of cobras sells more finished (used) replica cobras and just about anyone around.

The only thing I hold against FFR is that they told me their kit was as good as anyones. They told me their kit was as safe and anyones. They told me their quality was a good as anyones, or better. I almost believed them and would have been very disappointed if I had gone through with the purchase and found out the truth. Do they make fun cars? yep. Are they as good as SPR? Nope. Not even in the same league. They don't even look like real cobras anywhere near as much as an SPR does.

Is a FFR kit good for racing? Sure, why not. With enough mods. Is it light? yep, lighter than the competition but not for the good reasons. Lighter because of thin fiberglass. Lighter because of less metal in key places.

I would like to have a FFR cobra if the price was right, but I would never present it as near as good as a superformance car.

[Usmellgass2?]

I think folks need to back off and be a little more objective about these cars. If somebody wants a accurate replica then by an original and fab a replica to match. You will get 60's tech and performance. If you want a solid lightweight sports car with really cool retro styling, and performance that will smoke damn near anything that you will find at any club race you need something like a FFR. If you want to be a self appointed elitist brand snob spend a **** load on a Ferrari.
personally I would be thrilled to have a Mod 65 from FFR. I think the performance would be hard to beat and the styling would be very very cool..

[onlycafe]

i heard that chuck beck is training people in pennsylvania to do the 904.
i saw his own at the hershey show, just stunning. i think he is running a 3.6 in the one i saw. moves right along. sounds good too.