Crazy Idea #27306 - DIY Porsche Supercar?

[Wrecked944]

Factory Five has developed a tube frame mid-engine supercar kit weighing in at just 2200 lbs and priced at around $20K minus drive train. The chassis is designed to support a Corvette Motor mated to a Porsche G50 transmission. But hey, I can think of a lot of flat sixes that would mate to that G50 perfectly to create a pure Porsche drive train with maybe just a few changs to the motor mounts. Am I crazy for thinking that for $30k-$35k one can have a street legal Porsche-based beast?

Here is a link to the manufacturer...

http://www.factoryfive.com/table/ffrkits/GTM/gtmprototype.html

[doozer]

Why not throw in 993GT2 carbon bodywork and call it a day?

I would rather have Porsche'ish body over that tube frame than an F-car knockoff.


OK. I went and looked and the black one looks much better than the yellow one:

[Rufblackbird]

Wow, it looks really cool, but does remind me of the 360 Modena. I like it...with or without the Vette motor!

Under $20K? I guess the question is...why the heck not?

[Early_S_Man]

A bit too modern Italian for my tastes ... a 906 cloned body would be perfect!!!

[Dantilla]

I need to go get my Nomex suit for this, but what's wrong with the Corvette engine?

I drove a new Corvette the other day (sideways!), and 400hp in a 3200lb car is a great package. The small block Chevy is awfully inexpensive horsepower. That kind of hp and torque curves in a 2200lb package would be downright scary!

[Wrecked944]

Originally posted by doozer
OK. I went and looked and the black one looks much better than the yellow one:

PHEW!! Dayyam yes, that blackone has a much sexier front clip...

Originally posted by Dantilla
I need to go get my Nomex suit for this, but what's wrong with the Corvette engine?

Well, mainly that I already have a compelete set of metric tools!!

But seriously, since it comes as a kit, the typical pelicanhead (like me) might feel more comfortable wrenching what he/she already knows (i.e. a flat six) and the fact that it would mate perfectly to the tranny with no mods or adapters is sweet. Heck, I'd be tempted to throw in a set of 911 guages on the dash as well so nearly the whole thing could be plug and play.

I drove a new Corvette the other day (sideways!), and 400hp in a 3200lb car is a great package. The small block Chevy is awfully inexpensive horsepower. That kind of hp and torque curves in a 2200lb package would be downright scary!

True, but with just 2200 lbs and a G50 already in place, one could actually plop in a 993 3.6 with a Steve Wong chip and still be around an 8:1 hp/weight ratio with air cooled excellence and a dry sump to boot.

And hey, how else was I going to keep the thread off the OT forum?

[Rufblackbird]

IIRC newer domestic cars have metric fasteners...

[masraum]

I've seen other pictures of that car and from several angles it says "GT-40" not Ferrari. It'd be really cool with a Porsche motor or a SBC.

[Jack Olsen]

For a kit car, I think it's better looking than most. I'd like it better with round headlights, personally, but it's a pretty clean front end.

But then you walk around to the back...



...and it looks like they ran out of ideas. It looks kind of like a committee was involved.

I doubt they had a wind tunnel to test it, but weight and power can forgive a lot of sins.

[efhughes3]

Interesting idea. I think that while the front end does have "Italian overtones", there is a small resemblance kinda-sorta of GT1.

I agree with Jack about the rear end-WHAT were they thinking?

FFR has a good reputation for making quality kits. I'd love to build one of their Daytona Coupes.

[350HP930]

Originally posted by Dantilla
I drove a new Corvette the other day (sideways!), and 400hp in a 3200lb car is a great package.

I rather have 400+HP in a 2700 lb 930.

[Dantilla]

Eeeeww! That's the first time I saw the back of the car. Yuck!

The local Chevy dealer knows I'm a track junkie, and is going to call as soon as the new Z06 is available. 500hp, 100lbs lighter than the regular Corvette. Titanium rods, aluminum space frame, and a true dry sump oil system.

Apparently, Chevy has learned a thing or two from Porsche.

Hey, 350hp- What kind of torque curve does your car have? How much turbo lag? I used to own a 944 turbo, and I'm a big fan of turbos. But for autocrossing, I started winning when I got a 944S2, and got low-end torque instead of turbo lag.

No, I'm NOT going to stop autocrossing the 3.2 powered '73 911. Just curious.

[JCR]

Gawd that thing is awful! Body designed by a jobbie engineer no doubt.
Doesn't even look good in the obligatory "worm's eye view" shot.

If you're going to go through the trouble and expense of developing and making them, why not hire a real car designer?? This way, folks will not gag when they see it.

[350HP930]

Originally posted by Dantilla
Hey, 350hp- What kind of torque curve does your car have? How much turbo lag? I used to own a 944 turbo, and I'm a big fan of turbos. But for autocrossing, I started winning when I got a 944S2, and got low-end torque instead of turbo lag.

Bone stock 930s had about 420 lbs of torque at the crank. Mine dynoed at around 370 at the back wheels and even had about 200 lbs of torque starting around 2500 RPMs where the boost would start to kick in.

As far as driving a course goes, since you know what lies ahead you can lead your throttle to where lag becomes a non issue. A modified 930 doesn't have a lot of lag to worry about anyways.

In just a few years time I acquired 11 trophies for my first and second place finishes in SCCA and PCA autocrosses.

I am hoping to come back with a vengence when the car is done but my mods are likely to throw me into a much more difficult class. I guess we'll have to see if it ends up hurting my winning streak.

[Dantilla]

I was pretty successful autocrossing a few different 944s. I'm still learning how to drive a hot-rodded 911 proficiently. I hope to be very competitive this year. Thanks.

[Jim Garfield]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
But then you walk around to the back...



...and it looks like they ran out of ideas. It looks kind of like a committee was involved.

I agree, that rear end is a little bizarre looking. The window dropping below the rear deck is a design feature that hopefully we'll never see again. Where does the rainwater go?

I notice that the black mule has RI plates, where is factory five located?

[MotoSook]

I wonder what they would charge for just the guts, like this:

[Elombard]

I have been hoping they would come out with a GT40 kit that is as reasonably priced and quality as there Cobra stuff. I guess they got tired of the law suits. I like the black one alot better too, it will be interesting to see what the production car looks like.

I think it is a little misleading. $20k plus the donor car is what I believe it should say. Not to many donor C5s around. They should have beased it on a donor C4. Those can be had all day for $5K in decent running order.

I wish they would do a Gt40 based on 5.0 stuff!!

[PorscheGuy79]

You guys need to start thinking outside of the box, well actually under the hood of it. Just think how much fun that would be with a twin turbo V8 lifted from a certain Porsche SUV. Some bigger hair-dryers and some cleverly placed intercoolers and you would have your self one mean machine.

Im not so keen on the looks of the supercar but there is something about this one that presses all the right buttons:

[Wrecked944]

Originally posted by JCR
Gawd that thing is awful! Body designed by a jobbie engineer no doubt.
Doesn't even look good in the obligatory "worm's eye view" shot.

If you're going to go through the trouble and expense of developing and making them, why not hire a real car designer?? This way, folks will not gag when they see it.

LOL...you mean as opposed to this pathetic abortion (oops, I mean, timeless beauty)?