Tomorrow, I will be releasing information regarding our efforts that began in 2018 to design a front engine supercar. At SEMA this year, we showed the chassis with a 750 HP V12LS engine, but we did not show the body. The all carbon fiber body is due to be completed in the first few months of 2020, and many people have been asking about what it looks like, especially after seeing a video and a web post that I had done a year ago showing a white bodied car called the GTF.
The crew and I have discussed at length the future of the GTM, and as of now, I am considering a final edition GTM BUT I am also considering keeping the GTM in production concurrently with this new car that will be built on a modified Type 65 Coupe chassis. I will post an update on our website by the end of the day tomorrow, and if you follow our Facebook page, we will be doing a Facebook Live broadcast from Factory Five discussing this new car.
If I have a vote, I will vote to keep the GTM. I believe it's an important part of Factory Five's history.
Remember it's their first attempt at doing their own design work, not a flat out replica, which stretched the company to new heights which brought us to what FFR is today.
Just a thought.
Ron
"May you be in heaven a full half hour before the Devil knows you're dead"
Great to see you on the forum here, Dave! Very much looking forward to seeing what you guys have come up with for the GTF.....or does it have an official name yet? Curious if you will also be offering this with fiberglass body for less $$$ or if they are all going to be CF?
I would (of course) also like to see the GTM live on for a few more years (since that has been 95% of the basis of my business) and am also looking forward to building this new model for owners who don't want to tackle the build on their own. Can you tell us when you think this new kit will be available for sale?
Shane Vacek
VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC www.vraptorspeedworks.com
Turn-key GTM, SL-C & Ultima GTR Built to Your Specs!
Offering a full line of GTM Upgrades and Custom Parts
I watched the GTM be born of Factory Five’s own design (remember the yellow one with the ducktail spoiler!). It would be sad to see it go away completely. Instead you could turn the R&D attention to making a revived generation of the GTM once the GTF/F9 is well underway. Let the sales of the new GTF/F9 dictate the direction of the future GTM.
Build 1: Mk3 Roadster #5125. Sold 11/08/2014. Build 2: Mk4 Roadster #7750. Sold 04/10/2017. Build Thread Build 3: Mk4 Roadster 20th Anniversary #8674. Sold 09/07/2020. Build Thread and Video. Build 4: Gen 3 Type 65 Coupe #59. Gen 3 Coyote. Legal 03/04/2020. Build Thread and Video Build 5: 35 Hot Rod Truck #138. LS3 and 4L65E auto. Rcvd 01/05/2021. Legal 04/20/2023. Build Thread. Sold 11/9/2023.
I look forward to seeing what FFR has been working so diligently on the last 18 months or so! I have really liked what we have seen so far on the project, and just know the full reveal will be amazing when it comes!
As far as the GTM, I will offer no advice. I trust Dave and the gang will do whatever they feel is the right thing to do regarding that platform.
Getting rid of a mid-engine option would be a shame, especially with a race team backing the product (albeit a modified car).
Version #3 GTM might be a roll cage, glass, aluminum panels, and a FG shell. A large majority of buyers
swap interior finishing, gauges, lighting, etc. Maybe offer interior fiberglass with or without vinyl skin?
It was great to see you and the gang at SEMA. I think the F9 will be a hit; can't wait to see the Carbon body!
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The feedback from you guys weighs heavily as you all are at the center of the community. I swear it is a challenge to balance the demands of the business and manage new products against the backdrop of competing priorities (as I type this I can hear the construction of the new building and new solar array and in the office next door Sandra is working hard on the new accounting and operations computer system!). It has always been a chess game for sure as I have always used cash flow to invest back into the company. This strategy has been limiting because I want to do all of the above. But constraints, I've found, build good discipline and better decisions.. The Daytona convertible/Spyder GT has always been on my mind and a drawing of it is on my office wall so someday I'd like to circle back to that. The GTF project, now called the F9 (9th design and 9 liter V12) and F9R project existed for two reasons.. The first was to invest in and develop the full digital shaping ability of the company from computer screen to mold plug and shape output. That has been mostly successful and we've learned a TON and the process is maybe 75% complete. When the F9 body arrives and actually fits and is paint free clear coated carbon.. then I will be crowing about the process being complete. Right now we are still waiting on output but have made plug ready shapes and essentially refined our own process to reduce mold making time, and time from concept to part. The other reason was less business focused and definitely not connected as closely to profit, and that is I want to make an all-original design that will be part of an iconic company story many years from now. Basically, like many of us, I was drawing cars in third grade and now I want to make my own. This hubris has been the demise of many in the car industry and I am using those case studies and lessons to temper my impatience and drive the design goals of the car. It was the reason why I cut up the GTF concept car as it was not good enough. Now a year later I am waiting to hear your thoughts on the latest shape and configuration. The two big goals are that the shape must be exotic supercar/hypercar and the bodywork issue has to be put to bed with Carbon Fiber that does not include bodywork being required. Both goals we've not delivered on to date.
I'm also going to weigh the feedback a bit less as one thing I've learned thru all these shaping years is that drawings and renderings even photos never capture the proportion and presence of a car. Even though VR and digital design has come a long way, the real-life full-size car is the only way to actually make a go-no go decision. no exceptions, so regardless of the feedback, I will make the final call about whether this new F9 and F9R ever become reality when the actual body arrives, is mounted on the chassis and is complete as a prototype. And while I really am in love with the design up to now, my love for the company and the purity of the design goals is more and this car has got to measure up. We'll see. More to come later today and we'll do the facebook live broadcast at maybe 330 pm. EST
Last edited by Dave Smith; 12-10-2019 at 09:24 AM.
Sooo.....does this mean we are going to get a sneak peek at the body shape of the F9 later today?
No doubt you have a lot going on right now! I'm always glad to see "small business" growing and thriving!....not sure if you still qualify as a "small business" or not! IMO, you are headed in the right direction here. The appeal of replicas and old cars is great, but the idea of an original and modern design that you can build yourself (with the performance that matches the appearance) is....again, IMO....the right direction to be heading in. As with you, I remember getting in trouble in elementary school for sketching out cars while I was supposed to be paying attention to whatever the teacher was trying to teach us. What I'm doing now for a living is what I've always wanted to do.....build cars. My biggest issue with getting into this business was that..... at the time I was looking to getting my feet wet and taking the leap to head down this road.... I really wasn't too excited about the kits available. Like you, I was looking for something new and fresh....and 97% of what was available were designs from the 60's or "exotic" cars from the 80's.....like poorly executed Fiero rebodies. When I "took the plunge".....investing my own money into my own future.......the GTM was still just a concept and still had the "duck's butt". I ended up buying a K-1 Attack kit. At the time, it was really the only thing out there that was a new, modern looking design with the kit being fairly affordable and donor being extremely affordable. By the time that car was completed, the GTM was being released....which was exactly the type of car I had always envisioned building....a great looking car with real performance potential. And the rest is history. I have either built or finished or worked on 33 different GTMs to date. Very much looking forward to what you've come up with for the F9!
Shane Vacek
VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC www.vraptorspeedworks.com
Turn-key GTM, SL-C & Ultima GTR Built to Your Specs!
Offering a full line of GTM Upgrades and Custom Parts
Great stuff, Dave! I'm on my 3rd FFR kit and don't plan to kick the habit any time soon! What's your greatest inspiration for this new car? Aston Martin Vulcan? Could we be seeing a new PDG car out west soon?
LOL! I think your rear spoiler will look great. OTOH, I had not kept track of the GTM at all while I was building the Attack, and was VERY happy to see that they had changed the rear of the GTM once I got to looking for my next project!
Shane Vacek
VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC www.vraptorspeedworks.com
Turn-key GTM, SL-C & Ultima GTR Built to Your Specs!
Offering a full line of GTM Upgrades and Custom Parts
In my mind, the GTM was always the mid-engine Corvette that should have been, but wasn't available to buy. Now that you can go down to the local dealership and "get one off the rack", I don't see the point in continuing that product line. OTOH, the F9 sounds VERY INTERESTING! Good luck on the new venture! Keith HR#894
After just watching the Facebook Live update from Dave and crew, Wow.....you guys are nailing it! Very impressed with what I saw there. I have zero suggestions or complaints.....just keep doing what you're doing with the F9. Spectacular!
Shane Vacek
VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC www.vraptorspeedworks.com
Turn-key GTM, SL-C & Ultima GTR Built to Your Specs!
Offering a full line of GTM Upgrades and Custom Parts
O...M...G... I'm embarrassed to stand up from behind my desk IYKWIMAITYD That is one fine looking automobile!
Sorry I missed the broadcast, had a doctor's appointment that I couldn't miss. I don't do FB anyway. Thanks to Mr. Hodgkins for posting the photos, along with everything else he does for the forums.
So, when do the specs and glamour shots get posted on the website for the world to see?
Keith
Last edited by progmgr1; 12-10-2019 at 08:19 PM.
Reason: fixed typo
Beautiful lines. Probably going to get some Vette folks looking at this vs. the C8!
Get some Mustang people when Ford brings the Mach E online and alienates their fan base...
FFR #8833 289 FIA 3-link
1965 289, TKO600 from Forte's Parts Connection
Body and Paint by Mike's Auto Restoration
Picked up 3/5/2016, First start 4/22/2017, MA legal 7/11/2018
Build Thread http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...FIA-build-8833
"Insanity is contagious" - Joseph Heller
The front looks interesting in that the design lends itself to being able to adjust front downforce. The quad exhaust out the back could be a problem. Doors have been a problem in the past, the current design may also present challenges. For example, when the door window is lowered, it looks like it may interfere with the door skin.
Perfect build to use the first wrecked '20 GT500 as a donor...
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I like it so far but I agree completely with Dave, need to have a fully built car finished so that you can do a full walk around and get real world angles. Its the only real way to properly get a feel for a car. I have seen lots of cars in pictures that I thought were pretty nice and when I saw them in real life I was disappointed.
While at SEMA I spent some time checking out the diffuser area. Getting an ideal angle will be easier with this underbody design. The frame allows the leading edge of the diffuser to start further under the car compared to the GTM. Obviously the closer you move the downforce to the center of gravity of the car the easier it will be to balance.
As you can see from the rendering, quite a bit of thought was dedicated to aero in general. There is nothing better than free downforce.
XTF #2
build start date June 19 2023
GTM # 344
Build Start December 2010
First track day April 2013
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Originally Posted by VRaptor SpeedWorks, LLC
That is one fine looking automobile!
