FFR 818... coming soon!

[Payman]

First of four 1/4 scale models done. Molds will be scaled up from this:

[SVT666]

That's hot.  Please tell me you're getting one.

[Payman]

That's hot.  Please tell me you're getting one.

I'm a FFR forum member, and I AM following this very closely...

[2o6]

Looks pretty good.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I'm a FFR forum member, and I AM following this very closely...

Translation.....NO, the wife won't let me.

[Payman]

Translation.....NO, the wife won't let me.

Wife agreed to me having a $40,000 budget to buy myself a car, from the pension money.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Wife agreed to me having a $40,000 budget to buy myself a car, from the pension money.

Mmmhmm

[Payman]

Mmmhmm

I know, I know. Means nothing until it's in my driveway...

[FlatBlackCaddy]

40K huh, sounds good.

A small nimble mid engined track car would be nice, hope you don't have to wait too long for the FFR car.

Me, I'd take 30K buy a lotus and spend the rest on parts and tires.

[SVT666]

I would just get a new 5.0L or a slightly used GT500

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I would just get a new 5.0L or a slightly used GT500

That's great, but the elise is a spitting image in form and function for what he wants. Just pointing out he can have "the same thing" now for cheaper.

[SVT666]

This is much better looking than the Elise.  The Elise "looks" like a kit car, whereas this kit car doesn't.

[SVT666]

I think you should just get the Cobra replica.

[Payman]

There's much appeal in building my own car.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

You can find better, cheaper reasons to hide from the wife.

So you could buy a car to build, spends hours hiding in the garage drinking beer OR

buy a used elise and spends ours tearing up back roads and racetracks...while avoiding the wife.

[Payman]

You can find better, cheaper reasons to hide from the wife.

So you could buy a car to build, spends hours hiding in the garage drinking beer OR

buy a used elise and spends ours tearing up back roads and racetracks...while avoiding the wife.

I pick C): Both.

[hotrodalex]

It's not like FFR kits are much of a pain to build. Way less stress than working on an old rusty car.

[Payman]

Second and third bodies leaked, 1/4 models of roadster #2 and coupe #1. There's still coupe #2 (possibly a Stratos replica), and the competition car. That's FIVE different models on the same chassis, all based on the WRX, and base price with one body is $9995. Four of the 5 are to be unveiled at SEMA.

[Payman]

So if you are keeping track, ALL these cars can be yours on the street for less than $15,000:

Roadster #1


Roadster #2


Coupe #1


Possible Coupe #2, competition car, or Stratos replica


Possible competition coupe, based on coupe #1

[68_427]

First is still the best.

[Payman]

It's pretty exciting that from following the FFR forum these past few months, it's pretty obvious that the amount of engineering that's going into the 818 project FARRRR surpasses any other kit car ever. I would say it's at par, or even beyond some of the typical cottage manufacturers, like TVR, Caterham, Gumpert, etc.

[Payman]

First is still the best.

Agreed. But can't wait to see all finished models. It's going to be cool to order a $9995 kit, and have 5 different body styles to choose from. Hell, you might even be able to buy a different body to swap out for $3000.

[MrH]

Nick, have you priced out all of this already?  What exactly is needed, where you can source a lot of the stuff, etc?

[Payman]

Nick, have you priced out all of this already?  What exactly is needed, where you can source a lot of the stuff, etc?

All Factory Fives are single donor kits. If you have a Mustang GT, you have everything to build a Cobra with their MkIV kit. Likewise, if I can find a decent WRX (maybe one that was rolled) for $5000, I can build an 818 for under $15,000. Realistically though, I'd want to add some new parts, wheels, tires, etc... so it would be closer to $20,000. the 818 will come in the gelcoat colour of your choice, so you save $2-5000 in prep and paint.

[MrH]

All Factory Fives are single donor kits. If you have a Mustang GT, you have everything to build a Cobra with their MkIV kit. Likewise, if I can find a decent WRX (maybe one that was rolled) for $5000, I can build an 818 for under $15,000. Realistically though, I'd want to add some new parts, wheels, tires, etc... so it would be closer to $20,000. the 818 will come in the gelcoat colour of your choice, so you save $2-5000 in prep and paint.

What about interior, wiring harness, suspension?

[Payman]

Things you need from donor car:

Engine and transmission
Wiring and computer
Fuel tank and pump
Steering rack, column and keys
Gauges, switchgear
Brakes, handbrake, master cylinder
Some suspension pieces, but some kits include all this

Factory Five kits include everything else, including glass, seats, interior, lights, etc

Additional stuff to buy would be wheels/tires, but those could be used from donor if you wanted to.

[MrH]

They pull the suspension directly from a WRX and use that...:huh?

That'd ride like shit.  I guess I'd need to factor in full coilovers.

What do they estimate for the build time?  200 hours?

[Payman]

They pull the suspension directly from a WRX and use that...:huh?

That'd ride like shit.  I guess I'd need to factor in full coilovers.

What do they estimate for the build time?  200 hours?

It's a little early to say, but I'm confident it won't ride like shit. If the WRX suspension bits won't work, they won't use them. Build time depends on the builder. 3 guys have done a complete Cobra over a weekend, and some guys take 2 or more years. I'm an aviation technician, 22 years, and I rebuilt a 1980 Corvette, and built 5 race cars, so I'm confident I can complete one in 2-3 months... say 150-ish hours. One of the goals with the 818 is an completion time HALF of their other kits.

[MrH]

Wow, that doesn't sound bad at all.

I'm a mechanical engineer, with some but not a lot of hands on experience.  I think a year would definitely be doable for me.

[MrH]

Btw, any talks about what the top will be like?  Is there a removable hard top?  Or a stowable soft top or something?