The GTM is Factory Five’s enter into the world of supercars. It is undoubtedly their most complex car and in many ways sets a new standard in the component car market. For about $20,000 and the price of a donor C5 Corvette the lucky owner will have a car that just as fast and handles as well was exotic cars that cost well over $100,000. According to Factor Five, the GTM is faster 0-60 mph than a Ferrari Enzo, a Porsche GT, a Saleen Twin Turbo S7, a Ford GT, and a Lamborghini Mucielago! In addition, with stock Corvette brakes, the GTM slows to a stop from 70 mph in only 166 feet. This beats mighty $157,000 Ford GT. Car and Driver measured a phenomenal 1.05 lateral G on street DOT tires and comes with KONI adjustable coilovers. To put that in context, the Ferrari Enzo is the only car that matched the Factory GTM. This is the car for the secret road racer on a budget.
| GTM (LS6) Build Cost Sheet |
| |
| Kit Price: |
|
| Base kit price |
$19,900 |
| Seat track |
$69 |
| |
|
| Donor Corvette: |
|
| 2001 Corvette Z06 24,000 miles |
$10,500 |
| Replacement radiator |
$160 |
| Replacement front upper control arm |
$157 |
| Replacement front lower control arm |
$208 |
| |
|
| Drivetrain: |
|
| 1991 Porsche 911 transaxle w/ starter |
$2,400 |
| Replacement clutch |
$380 |
| CV joints |
$80 |
| |
|
| Exterior: |
|
| Paint Job |
$7,000 |
| Wheels |
$900 |
| Tires |
$875 |
| |
|
| Interior: |
|
| Stereo |
$280 |
| Speakers |
$135 |
| |
|
| Total: |
$43,044.00 |
About Factory Five Racing
Factory Five Racing was founded in 1995 David and Mark Smith. Since 1995, the business has grown from a start-up business in a small garage to become the world’s largest manufacturer of component car kits. Factory Five Racing currently produces five kits: the Factory Five Mark 3 (Mk3), the Factory Five GTM, the Factory Five Type 65 Coupe, the Factory Five Challenge and the Factory Five '33 Ford.
The GTM Story
From: Dave Smith / CEO & President of Factory Five
I want to tell you about how this car came to be.
For more than ten years we have lead the component car industry with our famous Mk3 Roadster. In fact today, if you see a AC replica out on the road, or on the track, it is most likely a Factory Five. While the satisfaction of that accomplishment is tremendous, we yearned for more.
The risks of an all-new design were daunting. My brother Mark questioned the path, citing Tucker, Bricklin, DeLorean, Vector, and others for whom their reach exceeded their small company's grasp. Hubris could be our undoing; the resources to accomplish our goal could bankrupt us. Stay the safe path, build another replica, forget about the Supercar dream. This was the advice of comfortable people. But we didn’t listen.
We designed the GTM because we wanted to. We wanted to build this car when we were in fourth grade drawing pictures of Supercars while Mrs. Johnson was droning on about long division. We designed the GTM as a direct challenge to people like Ferrari dealers, who with manicured fingernails and straight faces charge people a premium to be on a waiting list, to join an exclusive club of unfriendly people who rarely drive their cars. We designed the GTM out of real pride, patriotism, and conceit. We wanted to show the world what we were truly capable of and we wanted to build a car that would kick everyone else’s arse.
Over the years as investment grew to many times the original estimate and complexity spawned even more complexity, the wisdom of the venture seemed folly. But where regular companies, driven by accountants, would shy from such challenges, our guys held firm. At the most difficult times our team was lifted and inspired by our very passionate customers whose loyalty, honest feedback and enthusiasm are unmatched in any company I’ve ever known.
Honed by years of hands-on engineering, matured by many seasons of competitive racing, and enabled by the latest CAD technology, we forged ahead into the unknown weeks, months and years.
And so the car was born. Within five years, production had commenced on what has become the most significant step forward for Factory Five in our history. Quite simply our best work. What hubris and love indeed would end up leading us to develop this remarkable car!
How good is it?...
It was designed to run with the very fastest supercars on the planet and it does just that and more! But you are asking the wrong guy. I can only see the car as a parent sees his child. How good is it? The world will surely be the judge of that which those of us close to the project already know.
For now though, I can answer to that fourth grade boy drawing pictures of cars in class the question, “Where do all those precious dreams lead?” Let me show you…
THMotorsports talked to Technical Support Specialist, Dan Golub and here's what he had to say:
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For the longest time kit cars have been considered "fake" and undesireable to a certain extent. Many women attempt to buy the "fake" Fendy & Gucci brands but when the real designer afficianado comes around, the fun is up. But ,kit cars have recently been elevated to a whole new level and with the addition of Factory Five Racing's GTM Supercar, the "kit car" will never be the same.
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