Factory Five keeps teasing us this pictures like this! To see more pics of Factory Five post of A Day in the Life at Factory Five see link
https://www.factoryfive.com/whats-ne...-factory-five/
818 Hard Top Tease.JPG
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Factory Five keeps teasing us this pictures like this! To see more pics of Factory Five post of A Day in the Life at Factory Five see link
https://www.factoryfive.com/whats-ne...-factory-five/
818 Hard Top Tease.JPG
Hmmm, following the shape of the humps but at a steeper angle. Still no way to tell if it's one piece or two. Still hoping for a new engine cover with a targa top.
Last edited by flynntuna; 10-02-2014 at 12:33 PM.
I'm just glad this has gone from talk, to evidence of it being actually worked on.
2011 Subaru Forester - the DD - uber rare 5spd manual
1990 Miata - Track Rat, autocrossing cheap POS - love it
2018 Factory 5 Racing 818 Hardtop Coupe - preapproved by the wife
I get the feeling they always wanted a hard top but needed to focus on other things as they rolled it out. Also, I can't get over how the hard top makes the car heavier.
Last edited by Bob_n_Cincy; 10-03-2014 at 01:43 AM.
818S #22 Candy Blue Frame, Front Gas Tank, 2.5L Turbo, Rear radiator, Shortened Transmission, Wookiee Compatible, Console mounted MR2 Shifter, Custom ECU panel, AWIC soon
My Son Michael's Turbo ICE Build X22 http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...rts-818S-Build
My Electric Supercar Build X21 (on hold until winter) http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...e-Build-Thread
weight is weight.
Then we rename it to "Project 867.5309"
2011 Subaru Forester - the DD - uber rare 5spd manual
1990 Miata - Track Rat, autocrossing cheap POS - love it
2018 Factory 5 Racing 818 Hardtop Coupe - preapproved by the wife
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
Fill it with helium, that makes it lighter.
Or you need to dispense with niceties and be conscientious of what you do. Forgo style for form. Don't like the lightest wheels on the market? Too bad. lol. I don't think many of us want to really do that.
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818S #22 Candy Blue Frame, Front Gas Tank, 2.5L Turbo, Rear radiator, Shortened Transmission, Wookiee Compatible, Console mounted MR2 Shifter, Custom ECU panel, AWIC soon
My Son Michael's Turbo ICE Build X22 http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...rts-818S-Build
My Electric Supercar Build X21 (on hold until winter) http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...e-Build-Thread
Nice catch
http://diabgroup.com
From the part showing in the tease photo just as Dave indicated the shape is staying faithful to Vman's design. Notice how the hardtop ends far back on the deck just like shown in the profile.
818s SV Coupe MU.JPGFactory Five 818 hardtop shaping tease.jpg
Here is a rear view of a similar top from Vman's Vantage design
Vantage%20Targa%20Rear2%20sm.jpg
Great job Factory Five!
Dropping two sail pillars and a large piece of clear material to look thru will add weight. But it will also have you out on the road when it's raining, and all the roadsters have gone home.
At 42F on a blustery November day, you won't have much other competition. A roof is for those who brave the elements, not a fair weather track and show car. ; )
So, what would you prefer buzzing the rev limiter in top gear on the Mulsanne straight at 4:30 am, when any precipitation is a driving rain, a hardtop, or an open roadster with face shield? The answer is, what's the best wiper motor setup?
http://www.barcboys.com/Images/65Seb...naRain2Web.jpg <------ Your hardtop here.
that photo is fake, right?
The lower edge and shadow look photoshopped
I think they photoshopped that shape over it to keep the actual shape secret.
Yes, that is what the caption on Factory Five's website indicates:
"John, our master shaper, works on the 818 hard top. Image blacked out to keep Jim happy"
https://www.factoryfive.com/whats-ne...-factory-five/
SO how can someone claim it is staying faithful to Vman's design???
You can see that the hard top ends closer to the rear end than the current engine cover does. That part is visible just under the masked area. That's the only claim that FFR-ADV was making about staying faithful to the design.
We all look forward to seeing more of the hardtop, but I expect Factory Five wants to get the design mature before putting it in front of us. The best we can do at this time is cheer Jim and John's efforts on our behalf.
BTW I do not think it will have a huge weight penalty since it looks like this will replace the rear deck and the humps are replaced, so the majority of new fiberglass is over our heads. Other more significant weight might be in windows if they are power windows like was used on the 33 Ford. If the windows are like the 65 coupe with racing slides they should be pretty light. If anyone knows the weight of the 33 hardtop, that would be a good estimate less the weight of the panels which we will lose. Vman's rear window is close to vertical behind the roll bar and would be the lightest.
For me a hardtop is the key to being able to use my 818 much more. Vman's design lines are classic and I wish the team my best as they make it real for us. Go John and Jim!!!
Remember Dave had high praise for Xabier's design, and Rodney's was popular too.
Both had images with tops that I'm having trouble finding.
Too bad the 818 does not look as special as the red or black...
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
FFR Daytona Type 65 Coupe
67 427 Cobra
57' Belair
72 Pinto Wagon ,306" 1/4 miler
34 5 window coupe Ford
2003 Mustang GT
99' ZX9
85 Goldwing
All toys still in the Scuderia!
Every Saint has a past..................every sinner a future
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They wouldn't let me sneak up there while i was touring the factory, but i was told it is their own design. Maybe some cues from vmans, but probably not completely the same. I really want to know window options. Plastic windows on the coupe are ok, because they had plastic windows on race cars. Modern cars need windows.
__________________________________________________ _____________
That man is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose__________________________________________________ _____________
Personally I think that FFR have done the 818 community a huge favour by the way the have approached the 818 project. They have engineered a fantastic chassis around a versatile power plant. By all accounts it handles extremely well and can be almost any horsepower that you wish to dial up. I race the New Zealand Targa and there are STi's that are 550bhp albeit a little fragile. So when it comes to the body, it is plain and functional. This provides scope for community members to design and develop replacement panels to change the look of the car.
FFR have proven to be responsive to the 818 communities requests for ongoing improvement with such things as the billet shifter and soft top and shortly with their hard top. But as a community we shouldn't feel limited by what FFR have developed and should be showing a little innovation ourselves. There is now over 250 kits sold which means that there are now 250 (plus probably another 100 or so more with their kits on order) potential customers for something that is sexy cool and value for money that is developed by one or more of the 818 community. There are only a few mounting points for the existing body which means that someone could conceivably design a complete new body and slip it onto the 818 chassis. I think that because the out-of-the-box 818 has a rather plain body it provides each of us the opportunity to do something ourselves to make our cars standout rather than each of us having a clone.
I think FFR's attention to chassis design and this communities innovation around body design will make this car a winner and give it substantial longevity. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Well said and I agree. I (Also living in NZ) am waiting for a functional hard top before I commit to purchasing. I LOVE the look of the 818 from the front wheels back but have really struggled to enjoy the aesthetic at the front end. I could innovate a new front look with some good friends here in chch but would rather wait and see if FFR do another body shape.
The timing of my build allows me to wait.
__________________________________________________ _____________
That man is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose__________________________________________________ _____________
The problem with different body shapes is they have impact on other parts. Headlights, wheel well aluminum panels are the ones I can think of that are OEM FFR. Of course all the mods one has done may be impacted too, but that's the owner's responsibility.
Frank
818 chassis #181 powered by a '93 VW VR6 Turbo GT3582R
Go-karted Aug 5, 2016 - Then May 19+21, 2017
Tracked May 27/July 26, 2017
Build time before being driveable on Sep 27, 2019: over 6000h
Build Completed Winter 2021
Originally I had the same opinion however has anyone been to FFR HQ to see the 1/4 scale models of these cars? I have and they were both dorky and comical at the same time. Rodney's design (which I loved) looked like a Manx Dune buggy! Totally unlivable and dis-proportional. At first I was disappointed too with the final product but only because I had visions of impractical designs like these making the production line. They were concepts and that's it. With that said, I'm looking forward to some refinements to the design for sure. Dave has mentioned he'd like to rework the front of the car but it's selling really well right now so.....what would you do?
I only brought those concept drawings to highlight the possible engine cover shapes.
I agree with you about those concept drawings, they weren't practical in real life. The current 818 design is growing on me, and as most everyone has said it looks much better in person. The only part I'd change is the front bumper shape around the radiator opening, though wonders can be done with paint.
While the concept drawings weren't practical, that was all we had to go on for a long time. People got attached to those concepts and many were disappointed when the final car didn't look exactly like what they fell in love with. I like what the final car looks like but I am definitely excited to see where it goes with the possibility of some changes down the road.
i cant wait to see a real top
im all in !!!!!!!
kerry
I Agree with indiana818 I'm all in as well! I hope when they release the hard top they also come out with AC/Heat for the 818 & Power windows.
818S #22 Candy Blue Frame, Front Gas Tank, 2.5L Turbo, Rear radiator, Shortened Transmission, Wookiee Compatible, Console mounted MR2 Shifter, Custom ECU panel, AWIC soon
My Son Michael's Turbo ICE Build X22 http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...rts-818S-Build
My Electric Supercar Build X21 (on hold until winter) http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...e-Build-Thread
Last I heard the design will be a little different than VMAN's. IT's only going as far as the front deck engine cover and around the humps so you can still use the trunk (to check tranny oil?) . They had considered the full GT design like pictured above however it would require an entirely new rear deck. I guess we'll see!
IMHO that suggests a fusion of Xabier's design and Vmans, at least that's what I'm hoping for