Discussion
Wow. That design is finally coalescing into something exciting. For a long time I didn't go for it, but now!
For those who arn't familar with the car:
Its the upcoming GTM Mulsanne from Factory Five in the US. Mid engine corvette v8 with a g50 transmission.
more info at:
www.factoryfive.com/table/ffrkits/GTM/update505.html
more pics at:
www.factoryfive.com/table/ffrkits/GTM/updatepics505.html
For those who arn't familar with the car:
Its the upcoming GTM Mulsanne from Factory Five in the US. Mid engine corvette v8 with a g50 transmission.
more info at:
www.factoryfive.com/table/ffrkits/GTM/update505.html
more pics at:
www.factoryfive.com/table/ffrkits/GTM/updatepics505.html
Just returned from the Carlisle Kit Car show, and saw the car in person. It's really good looking in person. Needs a lot of cosmetic touching-up, but with the kit starting at $19,900 US, it's much better value than the Ultima. That's for the frame and body. Add C5 Corvette suspension, engine, a Porsche gearbox, some wheels, and a few other things, and you're ready to go.
I look forward to meeting up with one on the road (course) in my GTR. Could be a good contest. But, I think I know what the outcome would be...another kill for the GTR.
The GTM is not bad, but not as much to my liking... Bulbus and long in front. The inset doors look choppy (a la Viper). The interior is nicely done. A totally uneducated guess..it looks like the Cd might be higher. $20k kit and $10k in Corvette parts + engine/trans. Prolly close to $50k (or more) when done. For that, I could have one very sweet C5.
The Ultima GTR looks (and performs) more like a street-legal P2 car. The GTM looks a little more civilized. I wonder if the Factory5 chassis can pull 1.17 G on the 200' skid pad with a Vette suspension?
Also, FWIW, the weight figures on the Ultima website are for the GTR with an iron small block. It weighs about 100 lbs. less when assembled with an aluminum LSx or SBC engine.
-- Scott
New GTR owner
(could you guess?)
The GTM is not bad, but not as much to my liking... Bulbus and long in front. The inset doors look choppy (a la Viper). The interior is nicely done. A totally uneducated guess..it looks like the Cd might be higher. $20k kit and $10k in Corvette parts + engine/trans. Prolly close to $50k (or more) when done. For that, I could have one very sweet C5.
The Ultima GTR looks (and performs) more like a street-legal P2 car. The GTM looks a little more civilized. I wonder if the Factory5 chassis can pull 1.17 G on the 200' skid pad with a Vette suspension?
Also, FWIW, the weight figures on the Ultima website are for the GTR with an iron small block. It weighs about 100 lbs. less when assembled with an aluminum LSx or SBC engine.
-- Scott
New GTR owner
(could you guess?)
I havent seen one in the flesh... some of the angles it looks great, others cr@p.... actually, upon reflection none of the professional shots look cr@p - I guess the guy knew which angles to photograph it from!!
EXTERIOR:
Wheel arches dont look right, they dont really hug the wheel profile, and look a bit big at the front.
Some angles it looks too low and long.
The front opening needs a grille.... you can see the front wheels through it
Side scoops look cool
exhaust looks cool
INTERIOR:
Looks like a kit car made from a Corvette donor.I dont like the centre console with the gearstick on top.....too wide and chunky, looks like its there to cover a big gearbox - which it obviously isnt.
ENGINE
nice..wish Ted had the LS as a fully sorted option... I would have thought that there is a future in that.
.... otherwise... good to see some new talent trying to copy the GTR
, but you know, it's still just a "kitcar"..... made from a "donor car"... you know... "a replica" .... haha ....
EXTERIOR:
Wheel arches dont look right, they dont really hug the wheel profile, and look a bit big at the front.
Some angles it looks too low and long.
The front opening needs a grille.... you can see the front wheels through it
Side scoops look cool
exhaust looks cool
INTERIOR:
Looks like a kit car made from a Corvette donor.I dont like the centre console with the gearstick on top.....too wide and chunky, looks like its there to cover a big gearbox - which it obviously isnt.
ENGINE
nice..wish Ted had the LS as a fully sorted option... I would have thought that there is a future in that.
.... otherwise... good to see some new talent trying to copy the GTR
, but you know, it's still just a "kitcar"..... made from a "donor car"... you know... "a replica" .... haha .... As with most things in the automotive world, the up front cost is only part of it. What you also buy with an Ultima is a well-sorted factory support system who sound like they have been a brilliant help to all you builders. They also have a fully integrated design where it sounds like this thing is going to require mountains of time trying to bring various parts from different sources together in a decent package. The Ultima has some niggles as is- I think a brand new design that requires donor cars may be infinitely more trouble!
Doesn't look half bad though. Will they do factory builds?
Doesn't look half bad though. Will they do factory builds?
I agree with htsd, if you have a vehicle that has been produced "ground up" like the Ultima, and you have any problems, then the information that the company is going to have will be immense and beneficial. But when you get "most" of the parts from a manufacturer, and the rest from another place (donor car) it throws in a LOT of variables.
Ultima gets my vote...
Ultima gets my vote...
My reaction - I agree with Joe T that it looks like something made from pieces of three different cars.
The GTM certainly looks like a GT-40 at the front (the headlight cover lines are almost identical), a Dodge Viper around the mid-section (indented doors and rear brake vents), and some sort of convertible at the back.
Here are my questions:
- why is the front so voluminous? From the photos, its not obvious that the engine is in the back.
- why is the dry weight so low, when the car has movable windows and what looks like quite a lot of extras in the cockpit, which must weigh something. I can only suspect that the chassis is a bit on the weak side. The Ultima GTR has nothing extra from a weight standpoint, so unless they are shipping carbon fibre (which they are not), there is something fishy here.
- the body looks like one entire section? I'd be curious to hear how people deal with that.
Two other observations:
- to me, the rear wing looks out of place. The photos of the car without the wing look way better.
- the rear view mirrors are pretty low down on the car - does that represent a visibility issue?
With all that said, I absolutely love that there is another kit car out there to build. My full support to all that go ahead and build this car. You will love the process of building a super car. Its one of the most rewarding projects that you can do.
And then when you are done, you can build an Ultima
The GTM certainly looks like a GT-40 at the front (the headlight cover lines are almost identical), a Dodge Viper around the mid-section (indented doors and rear brake vents), and some sort of convertible at the back.
Here are my questions:
- why is the front so voluminous? From the photos, its not obvious that the engine is in the back.
- why is the dry weight so low, when the car has movable windows and what looks like quite a lot of extras in the cockpit, which must weigh something. I can only suspect that the chassis is a bit on the weak side. The Ultima GTR has nothing extra from a weight standpoint, so unless they are shipping carbon fibre (which they are not), there is something fishy here.
- the body looks like one entire section? I'd be curious to hear how people deal with that.
Two other observations:
- to me, the rear wing looks out of place. The photos of the car without the wing look way better.
- the rear view mirrors are pretty low down on the car - does that represent a visibility issue?
With all that said, I absolutely love that there is another kit car out there to build. My full support to all that go ahead and build this car. You will love the process of building a super car. Its one of the most rewarding projects that you can do.
And then when you are done, you can build an Ultima
I will definately agree that the front section of the car is too voluminous. The low front section of the Ultima makes for a nice view out and for an attractive car. It looks like the factory also has considered other options for the front of the car.
www.factoryfive.com/table/ffrkits/GTM/gtmtestingsession.htm
It seems odd that the front of the car was not mad to match the rear with an appropriate drop between the fenders.
However, if this car handles as well as the Ultima and is well made it will mean a serious decrease in the number of GTRs that travel to the USA. No importation hassles, new fuel injected motor and lots of inexpensive parts. I have friends with Cobra replicas made by Factory Five and the body work was a pain, otherwise it is a well made, easily assembled kit. I have not seen the GTM yet. Hopefully it will be as well enginered as the Cobra they sell.
Another option not considered on the website is the possibility of fitting the LS7, 505 HP and 26 MPG on the highway. $12,500 fully assembled by the factory.
Finally the US "kit car" makers are moving away from replicas.
Ken
www.factoryfive.com/table/ffrkits/GTM/gtmtestingsession.htm
It seems odd that the front of the car was not mad to match the rear with an appropriate drop between the fenders.
However, if this car handles as well as the Ultima and is well made it will mean a serious decrease in the number of GTRs that travel to the USA. No importation hassles, new fuel injected motor and lots of inexpensive parts. I have friends with Cobra replicas made by Factory Five and the body work was a pain, otherwise it is a well made, easily assembled kit. I have not seen the GTM yet. Hopefully it will be as well enginered as the Cobra they sell.
Another option not considered on the website is the possibility of fitting the LS7, 505 HP and 26 MPG on the highway. $12,500 fully assembled by the factory.
Finally the US "kit car" makers are moving away from replicas.
Ken
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