Shelby Cobras are legends of the classic world, offering performance beyond what many can comprehend. They are extremely desirable, meaning genuine examples command eye-watering prices. This has seen a growing industry of companies producing replicas, and the quality of some is pretty awful. However, Factory Five Racing, based in Wareham, Massachusetts, produces one of the best on the market. Our feature car is a kit that the seller acquired during an estate auction. It is barely started, but virtually everything required to achieve completion is included. It just needs the right person for this to happen, and one look might convince you that you’re up for the challenge.
Factory Five Racing commenced operations in 1995, initially producing high-performance aftermarket components. The company grew rapidly and is now one of the world’s largest producers of kit cars. What sets it apart from others is the extensive use of CAD and CNC technology to create parts to an extremely high standard. This car won’t be a genuine Shelby Cobra, but Factory Five’s eye for detail should ensure everything fits together perfectly. The seller located this kit in an estate sale, and to say it is unfinished is an understatement. The former owner had only managed to bolt a few suspension components to the beautiful powder-coated tubular steel frame before the project ground to a halt. The new owner must smooth away the rough edges and cut holes for items like the taillights before they consider applying the paint to the fiberglass body. The attraction there is that the car is effectively a blank canvas. It allows the new owner to select an exterior color that suits their taste, although some may pick a shade that compliments the Blue on the included APC race seats. The prefabricated aluminum sheets for the floors, transmission tunnel, and trunk pan are present, as are items like the hinges and door latches. I can’t spot parts like the bumpers and other exterior trim in the supplied photos, making that a question worth asking.
Often, these kit cars appear on the market and are little more than a body and frame. This Cobra is different because the seller includes a mouth-watering selection of mechanical components that should make this beast fly. The list starts with a fully machined Ford 302ci V8 engine block and a set of rebuilt and assembled GT40 cylinder heads. Air and fuel find their way into the V8 via a Holley dual-quad setup, with the spent gases exiting through 4-into-1 side pipes. There is also a machined crank, new pistons, and the remaining internal components to bolt the engine back together. Its power will feed through a five-speed Tremec transmission to a Posi rear end, with the new owner able to choose which final drive ratio they will prefer. The steering rack and coil-over front suspension are partially installed, and the rear suspension components are included. There are other items I haven’t listed, but there is no doubt this car will slam its occupants back in their seats when the driver floors the gas.
The seller listed this 1965 Shelby Cobra Replica Kit here on eBay in Los Angeles, California. It has generated plenty of interest, with twenty-seven bids pushing the price beyond the reserve to $10,100. Factory Five Racing kits enjoy a reputation for quality, and the included mechanical components promise an exhilarating driving experience when this beast finally hits the road. It will take dedication, and I know we have Barn Finds readers who possess that trait. Are you one of them?
The one and only hottest kit car out there. Hope the seller gets what he looking to get. What ever it is it’s worth it!
Why are all the really GREAT toys so far away?
Factory 5 and ERA are the only kits to look at. My Dad and I built one back in ’99. He put a 427 side oiler in it, side pipes, etc. The thing was a monster. My mother wouldn’t ride in it so he sold it. Ugh.
I was thinking: the seller’s significant other must be jumping for joy at the thought of this leaving the property.
Wow! And I’m out of garage space. I can only hear my long-suffering Bride, “How many disfunctional two seaters do you need”?
That is great! I hope somebody buys it who understands the work ahead of him, and can finish it and do it justice. Unlike some kit cars, if done right it will be fantastic.
I believe there are lots of kit cars out there that have never been finished and can be had at really bargain prices. Some guys never really get started on them, and after a decade or so the ol’ wifey says, “Get that stuff out of the garage or else.”
Even Ol’ Shel was aware of the quality kits that Factory Five was putting out. He sued them several times, and lost.
Well, he succeeded in having them stop using the names Cobra, Daytona, etc and now they are known as Roadster.