- Kit car expert Factory Five Racing has unveiled the Mk5 Roadster kit
- The Mk5 introduces a stiffer chassis that also boasts more space and support for more powertrain options
- The kit starts at $24,990, and requires an engine and transmission, plus wheels and tires
Several companies can build you a Shelby Cobra replica, but Factory Five Racing’s car is one you’ll have to build yourself.
The Wareham, Massachusetts-based company has been in the business of designing and selling car kits for 30 years, and the Cobra-inspired design—called the Roadster by Factory Five—is the most popular.
To mark its 30th anniversary, Factory Five unveiled the Mk5 Roadster earlier in January.
Founder Dave Smith said the plan was to end development of the Roadster after the Mk4 kit, which was launched in 2010. However, with the 30th anniversary in view, the Mk5 was born, staying true to the concept’s ethos of continuous product development.
Factory Five Racing Mk5 Roadster kit car
But rather than simply further updating the Mk4 (as was done with each previous generation of the Roadster), the Mk5 was designed from the ground up with a new chassis to improve performance and safety, as well as to enable a wider variety of powertrain options. The new chassis also allows taller individuals to fit, thanks to its lower floor design. The company says a person measuring 6’5″, weighing 330 pounds, and with size 14 shoes will now fit.
The new chassis features more of a spaceframe design compared to Factory Five’s previous ladder frame chassis, which was actually closer to what was used in the original Shelby Cobra. According to the company, the new chassis delivers much more stiffness with only a 13% increase in weight, as well as increased flexibility, especially in terms of suspension geometry. The aforementioned lower floor also means more space, and this is joined by a flat trunk floor that is more practical than the previous design. As with the earlier chassis, both left- and right-hand-drive configurations are supported. A hard top can also be selected.
Factory Five Racing Mk5 Roadster kit car with optional hard top
When it comes to engine options, Factory Five said the Mk5 kit is configured to accommodate multiple small-block and big-block Ford V-8 engines, as well as the latest Coyote 5.0-liter V-8. The kit also comes with an alternate drive pulley assembly, an oil filter relocation kit, and an exhaust assembly to adapt the engines and headers to suit the side-exit exhausts.
The Mk5 Roadster complete kit starts at $24,990, which is $4,000 more than the Mk4 kit. Builders will need to supply their own engine, transmission, drivetrain rear end, plus wheels and tires. The body also needs to be painted, though it comes finished in a polished dark blue gel coat. The kits are designed to be simple to assemble and include detailed instructions, and the company also provides communication channels to help builders should they get stuck.
