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 427 Cobra replica. In fact today, if you see a Cobra replica out on the road, or on the track in the States, 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 Supercar 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 Supercar 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 Supercar 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…
Dave Smith
President/CEO
Factory Five Racing 2008
