Superformance Frame

[Straversi]

Superformance posted this photo on Instagram. I've never seen a photo of their frame. No Judgement or comment, just thought it was interesting.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=134891&d=1599755878

-Steve

[GoDadGo]

I've seen pics of the Superformance and the Backdraft frames which is why I chose Factory Five Racing.

It is likely why we all chose Factory Five Racing!

USA, USA, USA!
American Made!

[cob427sc]

When I was looking to build my first cobra in 1997 I looked at what I thought were all the various makes. Some good, some not so good, some laughable. Having built several other kit cars before that I had a list of what I wanted to see. Surprisingly just before I ordered a kit someone told me about FFR, located right here in MASS where I live but did not pop up on my search (long before Google).I went down the next Saturday, looked it over and Dave tossed me the keys to both a street car and he took me for a ride in his silver race car. After seeing the chassis and how it went together I was hooked. I've built 4 roadsters, a coupe, a GTM and now a 33 HR. Never looked back.

[Avalanche325]

Superformance makes a nice car. The frame is why I consider them a cruiser. FFR is the performance oriented replica.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Superformance makes a nice car. The frame is why I consider them a cruiser. FFR is the performance oriented replica.

Exactly. They’re fine cars, just with a different focus than ours and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Jeff

[FLPBFoot]

I have 2 friends with them. One with a 302 and the other with a 427 side Oiler. Nice cars and yes a cruiser.

FYI: superformance cobras are what was used in the Ford vs Ferrari movie.

Steve

[TrevorP]

reminds me the old CJ Jeep I had with a fiberglass body.

[GThompson]

I have 2 friends with them. One with a 302 and the other with a 427 side Oiler. Nice cars and yes a cruiser.

FYI: superformance cobras are what was used in the Ford vs Ferrari movie.

Steve

Gordon Levy had a couple Challenge roadsters for sale and the team that put the movie together bought them both to use in the movie. I’m pretty sure they were buying all of the low-priced Cobra replicas they could get their hands on.

[Hoooper]

It surprises me this is the same frame they show for their mark iii-r cars. The frame makes sense for a cruiser but it's pretty wacky for a "modernized" version like the iii-r

[Avalanche325]

It surprises me this is the same frame they show for their mark iii-r cars. The frame makes sense for a cruiser but it's pretty wacky for a "modernized" version like the iii-r

The "R" is a cosmetic package. Not a higher performance version.

[rich grsc]

We've Superformance's is our club, they ain't no slouch, they handle very nicely.

[Jim1855]

There's really nothing wrong with the Superformance frame. It's not a race car piece but works fairly well as a track car.

Could it be stiffer - yup, but so could most others. Dimensionally it's good, parts fit. Have there been a few issues, yup again but corrections were implemented. Were there features and designs details I didn't like, yes and then there were many that I did. The suspension was good and not a significantly different design than other versions of the Cobra. But the alignment adjustments were eccentrics which were ok if used occasionally but seized up if not. FFR alignment adjustment is probably better, certainly easier to get at and easier to use.

There are very few things that won't benefit from improvements. I doubt that any of the Cobra replica manufactures haven't made changes, hopefully improvements through their production lifetimes.

Enjoy what you have, appreciate what others have or have done. Look for the benefits of all.

Jim
SPF 1855, SPF 2584, FFR 8885

[JohnK]

This forum continues to impress me every time I'm here. It's truly great group of folks with nothing but positive things to say (yes, even you Rich :p). If this had been some other forum in some other hobby, a thread about a competitor's product would have turned into a dumpster fire in about three posts.

[ACCar-guy]

The Factory Five Racing frame appears to be the direct descendant of John Tojeiro's ladder frame used on his 1952 roadster design which was later purchased and adapted by the Hurlocks for production of their AC Ace. Ladder tube frames were a common post war race car feature and used on the 1954 Porsche 550 as an example. The Tojeiro frame evolved to support different engine configurations including the jump from 3" to 4" tubes for the 427 CI variant like that now used by FFR. Needless to say it is a tried and proven race design and has been further stiffened by FFR for the Gen 3 Coupe.