Thread: tour of Factory 5

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My friend Mark is a member of the local Model A club and they were holding their first get-together of the season. Since he didn't get his car together in time he asked if we could take mine? Of course I said yes! So we met the club at a restaurant about 20 miles from here and then traveled to the Factory 5 Racing facility in Wareham, MA. About 14 or 15 miles more.

Here's some pics, I thought some might enjoy.
Pretty self explanatory.. so I won't bother adding descriptions, ask any questions, I'll be glad to answer.

And here is some from the factory

And one more set.. just because.

Thanks for sharing Mike! A Cobra kit car is on my wish list. I don't know if I'll ever pursue it though. They're kind of small to sit in. Still an awesome looking car though! By the way, nice picture of your car.

Hah! You can actually see my car in there?!?!? LOL..
It was a bit of a surprise when Mark asked me to drive us up there in my coupe.. it was the dirtiest / dustiest thing in the parking lot.. and everyone gave me grief about it too!

I kept saying it was a "barn find" and I didn't want to wash off the "Patina"!

The Factory 5 car is a bit stretched so I'd bet you'll fit. Getting in and out isn't much fun though.. ( at least for me and my belly )

It was a good time and I'm glad we went. But it was a chore to be stuck in the line-up of Model A's going 35 / 40 when the speed limit was posted @ 50.... The guy in front of us was in his fully restored express truck ( more like a woody really) and I would fall way back and then come zooming up... When we got to our destination he let me know that he wasn't happy that I was doing that.. I said he should've learned to use 3rd gear! He said he was in 3rd gear... I said real Model A's can do 50.... what was wrong with his!?!?

Of course it was all in fun! And we all had a good laugh! I kept saying don't worry I know my car is plastic with the usual small block chevy.. and I'm ok with that!

You know.. when the day comes.. place your order with F5 and when it's ready for delivery, I can slap it on my trailer for delivery. I'll use a couple weeks of vacation and take a ride. Now of course this is a limited time offer.. so hurry up and place your order!

I was seriously debating doing a FF Cobra vs the '33, until I was at a show where a guy had a newly built FF Cobra for sale. I tried to get into it and just about got stuck because he didn't bother to tell me the "trick" for anyone over 6' - both feet in the car, arms down for support and slide in like a foot into a loafer. Getting out is much the same, lifting and sliding to get your feed to a point of support, then step out. I passed on any discussion of price.

If I were looking today I'd look at Factory Five, but I'd also look close at ERA. The ERA owner built one of theirs with an original Shelby 427 side by side for reference, and the "kit" is very, very difficult to identify. A nephew of mine purchased that ERA car a year or two back.

Having owned several FFR's (17 roadsters, plus their original, silver, prototype Spyder) as well as more than a few ERA's (4-427's + a 1 of 1, 4.6L 4V Mod motor powered-289FIA that Bob and Peter at ERA said they would never build another one), both can be built for those taller than six feet, or size 13 shoes.


Also, just as an FYI, the FFR is not stretched, still built on a 90" wheelbase, just like the ERA. Tricks for taller folks are the drop foot boxes, competition seats (less padding, lower backs to get closer to the rear bulkhead), as well as pedal assemblies than can be mounted further forward..

Bill S.

PS: Next time you are at FFR and run in to Dave Smith (enthusiastic owner of the company), ask him where MrMustangs Slabside Cobra is

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Bill S.

PS: Next time you are at FFR and run in to Dave Smith (enthusiastic owner of the company), ask him where MrMustangs Slabside Cobra is

They have a big show coming in June I think.. we were talking about going over and checking it out.

If I remember and I meet him.. I'll try to remember to deliver your sentiment!

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Having owned several FFR's (17 roadsters, plus their original, silver, prototype Spyder) as well as more than a few ERA's (4-427's + a 1 of 1, 4.6L 4V Mod motor powered-289FIA that Bob and Peter at ERA said they would never build another one), both can be built for those taller than six feet, or size 13 shoes.


Also, just as an FYI, the FFR is not stretched, still built on a 90" wheelbase, just like the ERA. Tricks for taller folks are the drop foot boxes, competition seats (less padding, lower backs to get closer to the rear bulkhead), as well as pedal assemblies than can be mounted further forward..

Bill S.

PS: Next time you are at FFR and run in to Dave Smith (enthusiastic owner of the company), ask him where MrMustangs Slabside Cobra is

If I ever get to this point, I'll try to remember this info. I almost sold my Corvette 2 summers ago and I was going to order a roller but the deal fell through.

Originally Posted by mrmustang

...both can be built for those taller than six feet, or size 13 shoes.
Also, just as an FYI, the FFR is not stretched, still built on a 90" wheelbase, just like the ERA. Tricks for taller folks are the drop foot boxes, competition seats (less padding, lower backs to get closer to the rear bulkhead), as well as pedal assemblies than can be mounted further forward..

That's interesting, considering that about five years ago I contacted the Smith brothers via their "Contact Us" on the website and asked if their FFR was suitable for a guy 6'3", relatively slim build and I got zero response. They never even acknowledged the question. That's about the time that I tried to climb into one without grease and a big shoehorn, and decided that a '33 coupe was a better idea....

Originally Posted by rspears

I tried to get into it and just about got stuck because he didn't bother to tell me the "trick" for anyone over 6' - both feet in the car, arms down for support and slide in like a foot into a loafer. Getting out is much the same, lifting and sliding to get your feed to a point of support, then step out.

You don't 'get into it'; you 'put it on'.

As you say: similar to sliding your foot into a loafer.

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Also, just as an FYI, the FFR is not stretched, still built on a 90" wheelbase, just like the ERA. Tricks for taller folks are the drop foot boxes, competition seats (less padding, lower backs to get closer to the rear bulkhead), as well as pedal assemblies than can be mounted further forward...

Ours is not built with the dropped foot boxes, but yep; slim competition seats and pedal assemblies mounted well forward...

And I fit...90 kg and just over 6 ft.

Originally Posted by 34_40

They have a big show coming in June I think.. we were talking about going over and checking it out.

If I remember and I meet him.. I'll try to remember to deliver your sentiment!

Yes, their annual open house, I used to be famous there for my pranking of Dave Smith before the FIA came out. One year I had roughly 200+ people with signs on their windshields "Dave, where is MrMustangs 289FIA", another year I filled his office (pre-Easter) with stuffed rabbits (then donated to a Childrens hospital) as a warning from "Da Bunnies" (inside joke). Another year I walked around Dave every time I saw him on property in my best rainman impersonation "Dave, Dave, where is my 289FIA Dave. Dave, I'm a very good driver, Dave, Dave", well, you get the idea of course when he finally brought out the FIA, I was in the middle of shutting down my business and moving 700 miles southwards (among other family first type matters). He has not yet let me live down the fact I did not buy the 1st one.....

Originally Posted by johnboy

Ours is not built with the dropped foot boxes, but yep; slim competition seats and pedal assemblies mounted well forward...

And I fit...90 kg and just over 6 ft.

Is your car a FFR MK 1, MK 1.5, or an early MK 2 before the drop footbox became standard? If you tell me your FFR number, I can tell you which variation you have.

Originally Posted by rspears

That's interesting, considering that about five years ago I contacted the Smith brothers via their "Contact Us" on the website and asked if their FFR was suitable for a guy 6'3", relatively slim build and I got zero response. They never even acknowledged the question. That's about the time that I tried to climb into one without grease and a big shoehorn, and decided that a '33 coupe was a better idea....

They had a year or so where their customer service (email wise) was not the greatest. With roughly 250-500 emails a day (A DAY!!!!) asking such questions, and only one or two people two answer them (not their full time job description) was not as efficient as it could have been. Picking up the phone and asking to speak to one of their customer support or engineers would have gotten you an answer on the spot. Same goes with asking the question at one of the three larger Cobra forums (clubcobra, ffcars, factoryfiveforum) would have gotten you the same, in multiple options.

Bill S.

Ours is not FFR; it's a New Zealand kit by Graham Berry, build No. 64, so it's one of his very early ones, and has been on the road better than twenty years.

Originally Posted by johnboy

Ours is not FFR; it's a New Zealand kit by Graham Berry, build No. 64, so it's one of his very early ones, and has been on the road better than twenty years.

C'mon jb, if someone happens upon your Cobra today they'll be talking about the "Barn Find of the Century". It was on the road twenty years ago, but how many years back did you park it now.....