Factory Five Subaru based kit car

[g00se]

Hope this isnt a repost but for those who are semi disappointed with the FT-86 constant price shifting.
What's New

Based on tough Subaru WRX running gear, Factory Five's next car has been in development for almost a year. With a space frame designed and tested on SolidWorks software, this single donor car will sell for $9,900. We will use our 15 years of accumulated design and manufacturing skills to deliver a "world car" that can be COMPLETED for less than $15,000.

• Single Donor Subaru WRX Running Gear
  
• Factory Five Space Frame Chassis, 95" Wheel Base
  
• Mid-Engine, Rear Wheel Drive Configuration
  
• Target weight - 1,800 lbs.
  
• Two Seater Roadster
  
• No Paint, Gel Coat Panels
  
• Target Kit Price: $9,900
  
• Target Vehicle Completion Cost Under $15,000
  
• Design Partners: SolidWorks Software, Grassroots
  Motorsports Magazine

Automobile Magazine wrote the following:

"Have you ever wondered what would happen if you stuffed a Subaru WRX motor into something that's mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, and weighs less than 2,000 lbs.? Because that's the next Factory Five car - a two-seater built around inexpensive and indestructible Subaru running gear. The styling isn't finalized, but I'm imaging something that looks like Lancia Stratos. And if you don't break into a creepy serial-killer smile every time you imagine an affordable, WRX-based Stratos, then you are some kind of weirdo. The car's new wheelbase is locked in at 95" which is a little longer then an Exige."

Ezra Dyer, Automobile Magazine

The concept itself looks like the attack that was based on the accord but that's not a bad thing.. along with an ej257+1800 lbs sounds pretty awesome to me.

<--may just get rid of the LS1 swap in progress..

[HyperTek]

woah nice.. I been liking factoryfive's kit cars, I want the MK4 myself * i think its a pretty good Cobra replica that you can build up that has options like IRS etc* .. and the latest GTM aint too bad either, i can see it having potential.

I want their MK4

[h2v7]

i dont understand can i get a pix

[soreballz]

^ The design isn't finalized yet.

[TheWolf]

Kit cars strike again.

Essentially they take a subie motor and tranny. block off the outputshaft to the rear diff. Drive subie on the FWD diff... install in back of kit car. Someone made a 962 porsche clone that used this setup for a racing series that never happened. diaso or something like that made it.

The issue is LSD's for the diff's.. and I don't think anyone has ever described a WRX transmission as "indestructable". I've heard the term.. "as fragile as glass".

I think it's a great idea, and factory 5 has a great rep, I don't think the average person here knows how much of a PITA they are to title and insure. On a personal note, I think something like this and make a factory "spec" drift class where all the spares are based around one "car". ie. Buy this chassis and a wrecked wrx and then compete in a spec series instead of retarded 9000hp 75 degree angle matches based around super expensive and hard to fix modern car chassis.

[S14DB]

I saw this a month ago, I guess you got the new email today? I wouldn't abandon any plans you have now. Unless they are way down the road.

Hopefully it will go better then his brothers Jetta sawzall fest.

I'm looking forward to the development as I would like to build something smaller than the GTM. The low CG of a boxer engine is a nice bonus.


http://www.factoryfive.com/whatsnew/.../infotext.html

Originally Posted by TheWolf

Kit cars strike again.

Essentially they take a subie motor and tranny. block off the outputshaft to the rear diff. Drive subie on the FWD diff... install in back of kit car. Someone made a 962 porsche clone that used this setup for a racing series that never happened. diaso or something like that made it.

The issue is LSD's for the diff's.. and I don't think anyone has ever described a WRX transmission as "indestructable". I've heard the term.. "as fragile as glass".

I think it's a great idea, and factory 5 has a great rep, I don't think the average person here knows how much of a PITA they are to title and insure. On a personal note, I think something like this and make a factory "spec" drift class where all the spares are based around one "car". ie. Buy this chassis and a wrecked wrx and then compete in a spec series instead of retarded 9000hp 75 degree angle matches based around super expensive and hard to fix modern car chassis.

This is still very early in the design phase. They are now taking design idea ala Local Motors. I am sure they will address these issues when they get to that point in the development.

They had problems with the G50 Transmission in the GTM kit and now Mendeola makes a upgraded unit.

Titling isn't that hard. DMV Registration for Custom Built Cars - DMV Guide I'm sure Insurance is only a pain because you usually have to go trough a specialty insurance company. Little more work but not a PITA.

[Infamax]

Originally Posted by HyperTek

woah nice.. I been liking factoryfive's kit cars, I want the MK4 myself * i think its a pretty good Cobra replica that you can build up that has options like IRS etc* .. and the latest GTM aint too bad either, i can see it having potential.

I want their MK4

There's a body shop, in the town I live in, that's always working on Cobra replica kit cars. It's always nice passing by and looking at the cars.

[TheWolf]

Originally Posted by S14DB

They had problems with the G50 Transmission in the GTM kit and now Mendeola makes a upgraded unit.

Anyone who's been around cars for a while, knows you can't take a used 80's porsche transmission, flip it upside down, reroute some oil and drill a new breather and call it ok to stick behind a ls1. No one wants to put a beefy porsche turbo gearbox with lsd behind one because those cost real money.

Reminds me of people using lt1's and audi 5000 transaxles.. sure it will work... for a while..

Some people think honda/dsm people are the cheapest, or nissan s13 guys are the cheapest.. no kit car guys are the cheapest by far. Give them a parts list with 20k in stuff on it and they'll pull the cheapest crappiest parts and bodge something together with 3k in real out. I'd say 20% of kit cars get built.. and only 10% would make it farther than 50 miles.. only 5% you'd want to ride in for more than 50 miles..


Thanks for the link.. been kicking around building a toyota 20v black top powered super 7...

[WanganRunner]

This is pretty cool and I'm glad they're doing it.

"Indestructible" my ass though. That 5MT, even in it's newest incarnations, is still made of glass.

[codyace]

We've had two GTM's come through the shop for PA's Enhanced Inspection process...certianly neet looking...but it's really tough to get over the 'kit' feel of them. They sure hauled ass, both were LS6 powered/Porsche transaxle setups.

[codyace]

Originally Posted by WanganRunner

This is pretty cool and I'm glad they're doing it.

"Indestructible" my ass though. That 5MT, even in it's newest incarnations, is still made of glass.

'Rally Inspired, not Rally Tough'

[blueshark123]

Damn i like this idea alot. Especially its made by someone like them. Thats my future goal to build my favorite car/shelby

[g00se]

Yeah, for a while I couldn't pass a 5.0 mustang without thinking about building a cobra rep =/..

[0100]

Originally Posted by S14DB

I saw this a month ago, I guess you got the new email today? I wouldn't abandon any plans you have now. Unless they are way down the road.


I'm looking forward to the development as I would like to build something smaller than the GTM. The low CG of a boxer engine is a nice bonus.

Yeah I saw this in the Automobile mag back in January, and I am very very excited about this. I just hope they don't fuck up the body styling. I really wanted to like the GTM, and it's specs are great for the price, but the body looks like a kit car (fiberglass body hanging on a tube frame chassis). They have some great partners on this project and over 15 years of experience in this, so I really hope they can make this into a sharp looking beast of a track day car.

The concept drawing is amazing.



They have stated they like the 918 style.



If they come out with a sexy body this thing is going to be massive!

They have a body design competition going on right now until June so if you guys have some skill, you should submit some stuff. Unfortunately I don't see this ready, until this time next year.

They are only 60min from me too!

[HyperTek]

any links to that contest besides being just saying it will be done by grassroots? hope they have online submissions and not requiring to buy the mag. nevermind
http://www.factoryfive.com/whatsnew/...esigncomp.html

[0100]

Some entries:

[S14DB]

Originally Posted by TheWolf

Some people think honda/dsm people are the cheapest, or nissan s13 guys are the cheapest.. no kit car guys are the cheapest by far. Give them a parts list with 20k in stuff on it and they'll pull the cheapest crappiest parts and bodge something together with 3k in real out. I'd say 20% of kit cars get built.. and only 10% would make it farther than 50 miles.. only 5% you'd want to ride in for more than 50 miles...

Yeah, I have been shopping kits for a while. So, many people look at me like I am nuts when I want to buy new (OEM replacement) parts instead of pulling them off a 5-20yr old donor car. Knowing the average owner the parts are probably shot off the donor.

Originally Posted by TheWolf

Thanks for the link.. been kicking around building a toyota 20v black top powered super 7...

Great thing about FL is if you can't title it as a kit car, You can title it as a assembly of parts. As long as the Kit comes with a Origin of Manufacture and a bill of sale from the kit company it shouldn't be any problems registering it as a Kit Car.

Originally Posted by WanganRunner

This is pretty cool and I'm glad they're doing it.

"Indestructible" my ass though. That 5MT, even in it's newest incarnations, is still made of glass.

Nothing a some parts from PPG can't fix.

[HAWAII]

i wish it is easy to register a kit car in CA =( .

[g00se]

Specially Constructed Vehicles- Emission Control
What is the Specially Constructed Vehicle Emission Control Program?
Existing law requires most 1976 and newer model year vehicles to pass an emissions control inspection (smog check) prior to original registration, transfer of ownership, and every second annual renewal. Since Specially Constructed Vehicles (SPCNS) are homemade and do not have a manufacturer-assigned model year, they must be taken to a Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) Referee Station for the original inspection. Upon completion of the inspection, the referee will affix a tamper-resistant label to the vehicle and issue a certificate that establishes the model-year for future inspection purposes.
Per California Vehicle Code §4750.1, the first 500 program applicants in each calendar year may choose whether the inspection is based on the model-year of the engine used in the vehicle or the vehicle model-year. If the engine or the vehicle does not sufficiently resemble one previously manufactured, the referee will assign 1960 as the model-year.
After the first 500 vehicles have been registered in any calendar year, all others will be assigned the same model-year as the calendar year in which the application is submitted.
Previously registered vehicles may be included as one of the first 500 applicants in a calendar year and apply for a different model-year determination.
What is an SPCNS Certificate of Sequence? An SPCNS Certificate of Sequence identifies a vehicle as one for which the owner may choose emission control inspection based on the model-year of the engine used in the vehicle or the vehicle model-year. The certificate is issued by DMV Headquarters and will be mailed 7-10 working days after the application is accepted by your local DMV. The certificate must be presented to the BAR Referee Station at the time of inspection.
Per statute, only 500 certificates can be issued in a calendar year. Once the yearly allotment has been issued, applicants must wait until the following year to apply for a certificate.
SPCNS Certificates of Sequence cannot be transferred to a different vehicle or reissued in someone else's name. The seller of a vehicle must provide the buyer with the SPCNS Certificate of Sequence along with the bill of sale and any additional registration documents. In addition, fees deposited in one year cannot be held over for the next year's allocation of certificates.
Note: Due to the limited number of SPCNS Certificates of Sequence available, you may wish to submit your application for registration in person at a local DMV office.

From Specially Constructed Vehicles Emission Control getting a sb100 is not that bad, but standing in front of the DMV at 5:00 am to get one right after New Years kind of blows..

its really easy for cobra reps, the smog reqs subaru (818) kit will probably follow the wrx so just get a catted DP and you should be good

[onehundredoctane]

I know that with their GTM kit car, a lot of the Corvette stuff bolts right on. Which would be nice if they do the same with the Subaru based car. Just swapping the drivetrain, suspension, brakes, wheels and tires would be a lot easier than sourcing all the stuff in pieces, that crap adds up quick.

[S14DB]

What's New

[Schassis707]

That porsche looks like it has a ghia front for a second

[exitspeed]

Those pics make me realize how much i suck at car renderings.

[tac 1]

I was just watching about F5 on speed channel last week. Wished they would make something jdm based cars, then bam! I'm excited!

[0100]

Was waiting for this thread to get bumped.

I asked Xabier (week 2 winner) to do his car in white with black wheels, and lower it, as his first colored drawing was sitting too 4x4 for my liking.

Shit is perfect. I also think it's the most realistic for FF to build within it's price point for this car. Some of the concept drawing are awesome but would be far too expensive to produce.







^Loving the old school feel this car has.

Some other sketches.

[Gnnr]

I don't understand how some of the designers confused Porsche 918 for Lamborghini. That red one above looks like a Noble.

[Zakk]

Originally Posted by Gnnr

I don't understand how some of the designers confused Porsche 918 for Lamborghini. That red one above looks like a Noble.

No reason to turn down a $15k Lamborghini either though :P

[HyperTek]

I think detachable bumpers would be cool so F5 could always release different aero packages, allow potential minor updates, or even open customers up to fiberglassing their own creations

[0100]

Originally Posted by Gnnr

I don't understand how some of the designers confused Porsche 918 for Lamborghini. That red one above looks like a Noble.

Sorry should have been more clear. They stated they liked the 918 style, but the designers are free to come up with whatever concept they like, for this contest. The only parameters they have is chassis dimensions like WB, etc. Even that they stated they may change if an unbelievable design comes up, which causes some changes to the chassis.

[WanganRunner]

I think I'd prefer this as an open-wheel car, but I like the MR/roadster layout.