Photo gallery for GTM Supercar by Factory Five

The GTM Supercar from Factory Five Racing was inspired by the sleek lines and good looks of the Ferrari.

The GTM (an acronym for Grand Touring Mid-Engine) was tested in the military wind tunnel at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.  The aerodynamic information gathered during that test determined how the GTM Supercar would look as well as work.

Engineering

The GTM Supercar has a composite body shell and 1.5 inch steel tube frame chassis, including its six-point roll cage.  Sections of the floor are fabricated with square tubing to ensure easy attachment of aluminum panels.  It is designed as a mid-engine, V8 vehicle.

This component kit is delivered with all parts needed to build a GTM Supercar, with the exception of the running gear and production parts from a 1997 to 2004 GM-Corvette C5.  Also, the transaxle is a Porsche unit.  Most of these parts can be purchased as new from GM or gleaned from a donor Corvette.  The major Corvette parts include the engine, front and rear control arms, suspension/brakes, and fuel tanks.

The Factory Five GTM has a 101 inch wheelbase, with the overall length of the car measuring in at 171.5 inches.  The track is about 1.5 inches narrower at the front than at the rear, and the front-to-rear weight distribution is set at 42/58%.

Air conditioning and power windows are not a part of the standard component kit, but are available as a separate option.

Impressions

The Factory Five Racing GTM Supercar is designed to comfortably seat a driver up to 6’3” who weighs no more than 275 pounds.  Factory Five states that an average builder with basic automotive skills can complete this component car in approximately 250 to 300 hours.

What Will It Cost?

In 2004, David Smith, co-owner of Factory Five Racing, officially announced the new GTM Supercar project, stating that the company’s goal was to create an affordable supercar.

According to pricing information from the Factory Five Racing website, the Ferrari-inspired GTM Supercar component kit from Factory Five Racing is priced at $19,900.  FFR estimates that the total build cost, including the cost of the component car kit, Chevrolet parts, wheels, tires, paint and Porsche transaxle, will run between $35,000 and $40,000.

The GTM’s closest competitor is currently the U.K.-based Ultima GTR.  Both cars are built from component car kits, both use a mid-engine Chevrolet V-8 engine and Porsche G50 transaxle, and their weights are approximately the same.  Unlike the GTM Supercar, the Ultima GTR can be purchased in a component kit form or as a rolling chassis without an engine.

Currently, Factory Five produces four component car kits:  The GTM Supercar based on the Ferrari, the Type 65 Coupe inspired by the 1965 Daytona Coupe, and the Mark III Roadster inspired by the Shelby Cobra.  Factory Five also offers the Challenge Model, a professional racing version of their Mark III Roadster.