The Mission of the Mk5: Revolution More than Evolution
I am extremely proud to have the honor of introducing you to the newest addition to the Factory Five Racing line-up of World Class "Build-it-Yourself" sportscars, trucks, and vintage replicas... The Mk5 Roadster!
30 years ago, I moved from Huntington Beach, California to New England (cue the song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys) to start what would become Factory Five Racing with my brother in a small three car garage. It was January 1995. Our humble beginnings got a jump start when, then editor of Kit Car Magazine, Steve Temple, would visit our Dartmouth, Massachusetts shop, test drive, and review our prototype in an article titled "Horse Traders". Steve was hugely impressed with the performance and value of our innovative "Single Donor Mustang" based Cobra replica.
Steve's predictions came true and that Mk1 version of our Cobra replica would put Factory Five Racing on the automotive map, and start a remarkable journey that has only accelerated over three decades of epic adventures. In that time we've built and shipped more than 16,000 vehicles kits, set world records, earned countless awards, been featured on more than 30 magazine covers, raised more than 3 million dollars for charities, and our growing company has served as the hub around which customers have built a community unlike ANY other in motorsports! Amazing cars that are built-not-bought in partnership with our customers over 30 years!
In the history of the company, there have been eleven (11) vehicle kits that we have designed, engineered and sold. There have also been three (3) prototypes that have not made it thru the development process. But it has been the Cobra, revised through four major changes, that has always been our best seller and our first love... AND the car that most people associate with the company.
The last revision of the car was in 2010, when we launched the most heavily revised and improved iteration, the Mk4 Roadster. I fully intended to make the Mk4 our last and best version, so you can imagine the dismay on Director of R&D engineer Jim Schenck's face when I began talking about a Mk5 version that we might launch as a way to kick off our 30th Anniversary. I had asked Jim to come up with a total redesign of our Mk4, and I added some completely unreasonable design goals that would take the world's best engineered, best selling, and best performing Cobra replica even higher. The Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, and Mk4 were, at each revision, an evolution of the Cobra concept... I told Jim that I wanted a revolution, not just an evolution of the design. Honestly, it was an almost impossible ask. True to his talent and loyalty, Jim began working on the concept of the Mk5 way back in 2017 concurrent with the launch of the Gen 3 Daytona Coupe. The critical question to be answered was whether customers would buy a replica without a vintage style chassis IF the new design could deliver massive improvements in interior space, strength, safety, and performance. The answer on the Coupe was a resounding yes, and that result gave the Mk5 project the green light.
For me, there was a bigger question. Why? The Mk4 is a great car, and the returns to the company of the Mk5 project wouldn't likely equal the investments. There were other competing car projects and new product designs like the F9, the new XTF Trucks, and others awaiting release that promised far greater profits. If investors and bean counters ran the company, the Mk5 would likely not exist. But they don't, and I do, and I get to determine the balance of what I WANT to do vs. What I HAVE to do, without the pressure of investors clamoring for returns. I gave the Mk5 the go ahead because 30 years ago this replica began a story that has since outrun the modest Mk1, but never forgotten it. The company has always been committed to the concept of continuous product improvement, or simply stated, doing something better every day. That has guided us since 1995, and the returns are sometimes impossible to measure, but the results speak for themselves.
I hope you like what we've done with the Mk5. The changes and improvements have required an increase in price to $24,990, but we are keeping our proven Mk4 in production priced at $20,990. In the truest sense we are continuing a tradition that began in the 1960s and continues to this day. Oh yeah, and if you are a big guy who has always wanted a Cobra replica but has never fit, now you do and I can promise you the Mk5 will have been worth the wait.
Allow me to introduce you to the all-new Factory Five Mk5.
Dave Smith
President
Overview
The Factory Five Mk5 Roadster: Some Evolution, More Revolution
Each successive version of this design has made the car faster, stronger, safer, and easier to build. When we launched the Mk4 version in 2010, it was intended to be, as I described, "One last bite at the apple," and so the changes to the Mk4 were the most dramatic of all versions to that date.
Today, as we kick-off our 30 year anniversary, we are entering production on an all-new generation of our Roadster, the Mk5. Many of the changes are profoundly revolutionary that take the design to unmatched heights, while some of the changes are evolutionary that simply improve existing parts and designs. Check out the changes by category below. You can also learn a lot about what comes with the new Mk5 by simply scrolling through the order form.
Click the image above and move your mouse to spin the Mk5 Chassis around 360 degrees.
All-New Revolutionary Mk5 Chassis
We didn't simply make the Mk5 chassis a bit stronger than the Mk4, we made it 4 times stronger! We also didn't make the Mk5 chassis with a bit more interior space than the Mk4, we made it HUGE. To do this required a completely new modern spaceframe design, and we decided to keep the vintage 4" round tube ladder frame in production on the venerable Mk4.
The revolutionary Factory Five Mk5 Roadster chassis actually began life back in 2017 with the design of the new Gen 3 Type 65 Coupe. We invested tremendously in the engineering of the Gen 3 Coupe chassis design beyond what Coupe sales would justify hoping that the chassis could serve multiple purposes such as a longer wheelbase modern supercar (F9) and a similar design shorter wheelbase modern chassis for what has become the Mk5.
- Yes, you will fit! The Mk5 Chassis incorporates a massive cockpit that will finally allow a 6'5", 330 lbs. driver with size 14 shoes to fit comfortably in the cockpit! This was only possible by designing an all-new modern spaceframe and leaving the 1960s 4" round tube replica frame behind. The Mk4 Roadster, Mk4 289 USRRC/FIA, and Mk4-R Challenge Car remain in production with the beautiful vintage 4" round tube frame.
- Its wicked strong! The Mk5 Chassis is more than 17 times stronger in torsional rigidity than the original legendary 427 Cobra of the 1960s. The Mk5 chassis weighs 13% more (55 lbs.) than the Mk4 chassis, but it delivers an impressive 400% increase in rigidity.
- Finally, luggage space! The Mk5 chassis includes a dropped trunk floor for the largest usable trunk space ever.
- Stronger one-piece door frames and DOT-safe side impact door latches! Safer and stronger door design that just happens to be an awful lot easier to assemble and mount.
- Authentic rollbar design made more authentic! It seems like a small detail, but we increased the rearward cant angle by three (3) additional degrees. And since the cockpit floor is now 2.5" lower, we were able to lower the height of the rollbar by 2", making it look better while adding an effective 0.5 inch of height relative to the drive. It looks better too.
Factory Five Director of R&D Jim Schenck describes the design and engineering of the revolutionary Mk5 Roadster chassis.
Same 427 Shape, Best Composite Body Ever!
While the Mk5 Roadster is truly a revolutionary design, the changes that we have made to the composite bodies are closer to evolutionary, but they are every bit as important.
No one disputes that bodywork and painting are one of the biggest challenges in building a Factory Five. Paint shops have been charging more and more for labor, and paint/chemical prices have skyrocketed in recent years.
The goals of the Mk5 composite body were to keep the beautiful original CSX-derived 427 shape of the Mk4, but dramatically reduce man hours in bodywork, and upgrade to the best resins and gel-coats.
Mk5 beta builder Jeff Kleiner reports that the Mk5 body requires a jaw-dropping 60% minimum reduction in bodywork! Jeff has painted over 60 Factory Five Mk4 Roadsters. Not only was Jeff selected as a Mk5 test-beta builder, he also consulted on modest mold-plug shape changes to perfect the Mk4 original 427 molds.
The Mk5 composite body uses an upgraded UV-stable dark blue gel-coat. While the composite body deserves a paint job, the new gel-coat looks better in the meantime, and results in lower quotes from body shops based on the higher quality appearance.
Factory Five Mk5 beta builder and master painter Jeff Kleiner was part of the door interface and mold plug development team. Jeff's input ensured perfect mold panel alignment and leading door edge to dash cowl interface fitment.
One of the many reasons behind the increased price for the Mk5 is the reduced cycles that molds will be used for. This means expensive molds will be replaced more than twice as often in the production process to make sure seams and gaps between mold panels remains tight and results in reduced bodywork requirements.
Forged Aluminum Control Arms & Improved Suspension
We made changes to the Mk5 spindles and chassis/frame mounts to make the car handle even better. For example, there are two front lower control arm mount holes on the chassis that enable race vs. street ride height and suspension changes.
Perhaps the biggest change in the suspension is that we have changed the tubular front lower control arms to forged aluminum! Outback, the premium independent rear suspension. comes with forged upper and lower control arms! The photo below is the independent rear suspension upper control arm in forged aluminum with bushings, sleeves, and threaded rod end receiver.
Optional Removable Hard Top
It was Dave Smith's personal belief that there was not ANY removable 427 Cobra hard top on the market that was beautiful. The problem lies in the fact that all current aftermarket removable hard tops use the existing British slide-in windshield. Additionally, safe roll bar height requires the line of the hard top to go up and then down from the windshield to clear the roll bar. Beautiful Italian and vintage short wheelbase coupe designs have a eligant, continuous radius.
The solution to this problem was complex, but by leaving the 4" round tube vintage frame behind, Factory Five engineering was able to lower the cockpit height by 2.5". That enabled the roll bar to come down 2", and finally gave enough clearance for a beautiful radius top while at the same time actually providing 0.5" more roll bar height with respect to the driver. The final touch was added by incorporating the windshield into the hard top design meaning you have to remove the slide-in roadster windshield before installing the hard top which has its own glass windshield. Small details like quarter windows for visibility, Ferrari 275 GTB-inspired side vents, fixed rear glass, and a revised trunk deliver an absolutely revolutionary Cobra hard top that delivers real four season drivability!
New Running Gear Option
The Mk5 Roadster can use the same engines as the Mk4 - 289/302, 351W and derivatives, 390/427FE, 4.6L SOHC & DOHC, 5.0L Coyote Modular V8, and the LS series. We're are excited to add the 7.3L Godzilla to the engine options for the Mk5! Check out the video with Jim discussing the fitment of the Godzilla.
The Mk5 Cockpit: Will I Fit?
Jim talks with Mark Dougherty about the increased interior space of the Mk5 Roadster. Mark (6'5", 330 lbs, size 14 shoe), gets in to show how much room he has while sitting in the driver's seat.
Other New Options for the Mk5 Roadster
The crew has been listening to customer feedback, and have been working on adding other new options with the introduction of the Mk5 Roadster. One of them is a new brake booster assembly, and Jim shares some of the development process for the new option in the video below. We will add more details to the following options and changes in the next week or so, but the new Mk5 comes with all of these additional changes, features, and upgrades.
- Self cancelling turn-signals (Mk5 only)
- More authentic angled roll bars (Mk5 only)
- High-end double-adjustable shocks
- Wipers with updated motor and linkage (Mk5 only)
- New HVAC
- Choice of seat harnesses
- Optional Carbon Fiber Hood Scoop
- Improved convex side mirrors
- Power brakes options
- Vintage design LED headlights
- Quieter stainless steel side pipes
- Anchored floormats
- Soft lip 17" Halibrand Wheels
More Mk5 Roadster Specifications
Suspension
- Front Suspension type: Independent double arm
- Rear Suspension type: Solid rear axle 4-link, 3-link with panhard bar, or IRS
- Shock-Springs: KONI coil-over with ride height adjustability
- Steering: Manual or power assisted rack and pinion
- Brakes: Vented 11/11.65 disc f/r
- Wheels: Vintage or modern 15”, 17”, or 18” diameter
- Tires: Common sizes are 245 series front/315 series rear
Vehicle
- Weight: 2,250 lbs.
- Weight Distribution F/R: 46.9/53.1 (percent)
- Wheelbase: 90 inches
- Overall Length: 158 inches
- Front Track: 58.5 inches
- Rear Track: 58.5 inches
- Overall Height: 48.0 inches
- Overall Width: 70.5 inches
- Ground Clearance: 4.5 inches
- Fuel Capacity: 15 gallons
Construction
- Layout: Front/mid engine RWD Roadster
- Frame: Space frame with integral backbone
- Roll Bar: 3-point, structurally mounted 1.5” DOM Tubing
- Sub-Structure: Aluminum paneling riveted and bonded to frame
- Restraint System: 5-point harness
Mk5 Roadster Photo Galleries
Mk5 Development
PowerNation's TV Show "Engine Power"
Testing the Prototype Mk5
In a first for Factory Five, we invitied Pat Topolinski and Frankie Forman for PowerNation's TV show "Engine Power" to visit Factory Five in the middle of our prototype testing of the new Mk5 Roadster about six months before the car would be released to production. Watch the episode below to get an inside look at the way in which the crew at Factory Five develops new products.
Over the years we have expanded our chassis kit to include factory-new parts as well. Our Mk5 complete kit delivers to you… well, a complete kit. The only additional things you’ll need are your own engine/transmission/rear end, wheels/tires, and paint.
Mk5 Roadster Debut
On January 18th, 2025, the crew at Factory Five hosted a "reveal" party at the company's headquarters. Watch the event on YouTube clicking on the video to the left.