Good read: Replica vs Real Cobras

[Papa]

I came across this article and thought it was a good read.

https://greatlakescobraclub.com/replica-vs-real-cobras/

[progmgr1]

Please forgive my ignorance, but who is "Factory Five’s founder Mark Weber"? Outside of Formula 1, I don't remember hearing that name before - especially in connection with FFR. Keith HR #894

[Jeff Kleiner]

Weber was an employee in the early days who did a lot of the leg work with the press and was often in attendance at events. I think he left the company around 2002 or so. He was not a founder; Dave & Mark Smith started Factory Five and then 10 years or so ago Dave bought his brother out and became the sole owner.

Jeff

[RBachman]

Great read! Thanks for sharing!!!

[R. Button]

Mark is currently the Founder, and Director of Ziel Marketing Group and from his bio left the company in July 2008

[GWL]

Just to clarify the Mark's and Dave Smith. I copied all this information from Linkedin.com. I guess each bio must have been submitted by each individual.

Mark C. Weber
Entrepreneurial bi-lingual Product Marketing Manager
Founder, Director
Ziel Marketing Group
Jan 2011 - Present, 10 years

Factory Five Racing
11 years 5 months
Director of Marketing
Jan 2004 - Jul 2008, 4 years 7 months

• Strategic and hands-on oversight of all Marketing Projects.
[Including Brand Management, Product Launches, Advertising (electronic, social, print and
broadcast), Customer Community Development, Media Relations and Customer Service.
• Successfully grew company from a start-up to $20M in net revenue.
• Directed all aspects of $1.5M marketing budget.
• Oversaw introduction of e-Commerce business, as well as website and social media optimization.
• Reduced and refocused print, broadcast and internet advertising budget for
increased sales and brand presence.
• Launched customer retention programs that were a benchmark in the industry.
• Established cross-country promotional events with vendors, press, and customers.
• Initiated collaborative partnership with Rhode Island School of Design and fostered architectural
design competition for new company facility.

Mark Smith - Dave Smith brother

Mark Smith
CEO Smyth Performance, Inc.
Experience
Smyth Performance, Inc.
CEO
Smyth Performance, Inc.
Jan 2007 - Present, 14 years

Local Motors, Inc.
Co-Founder, Board Member
Local Motors, Inc.
Sep 2007 - May 2016, 8 years 9 months
Phoenix, Arizona Area

Factory Five Racing, Inc.
Factory Five Racing, Inc.
18 years 11 months
Founder, Owner
Mar 1993 - Jan 2012, 18 years 11 months
CEO
Mar 1995 - Dec 2001, 6 years 10 months
Wareham, MA

Avery Dennison
New Products Chemist
Avery Dennison
Jan 1988 - Apr 1995, 7 years 4 months

Dave Smith
President/CEO Factory Five Racing
1995-Present, 26 years

President and CEO of Factory Five Racing, Inc. since inception. Founder January 1995. Factory Five Racing, Inc. is the world's largest and most successful component car company. The company employs 42 full-time workers and has annual revenue above 10 million dollars.

For a while when Mark Smith left Factory Five Racing in 2012 and started his own company we occasionally heard about what was going on with his company. Then I've heard nothing for many years. Seems he is doing quite well with his own niche in the component car market. DIY car to truck conversion kits. Sort of a modern day GMC El Camino
https://www.smythkitcars.com/

So, one search lead to another. Here is an interesting story of the History of the GMC El Camino and one for 2020??.
https://www.hotcars.com/2020-el-camino/

George

[Papa]

Since George took us on the El Camino diversion, here is a picture of the one I had and sold to start my MK4 project:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=139318&d=1607956022

On a similar note, I visited Australia a couple of times and loved the LS powered UTEs (utility vehicle) that they had down there. The king of the hill was the Maloo R8:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iIsvkCPfHs

These were based on the same chassis as the Pontiac GTO. Pontiac had plans to produce a version of the UTE for the US (G8) until the brand was dumped and the project vanished.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a32240610/pontiac-g8-sport-truck-el-camino/