Please Graduate FFR #10315

[JeffP]

I picked up my kit on March 4th, 2022 after driving from NC to MA on a cold icy day. Loaded it up and headed over to Mike Forte's and pick up my drive train and then headed back down I95 through NYC and back to NC. I got right to work even with a long POL list and made great progress having it registered by May 19th and driving in gel-coat by mid-June. I enjoyed the summer finishing up loose ends and riding around town. In October I sent her off for paint and body at a local shop and they wrapped it up by mid February. I had everything back together and completed (accept the hard top) by March 1st, just 3 days shy of one year since I picked it up. I've since got the hardtop back and fitted and debuted at our first Cars and Coffee this morning. There were many Lamborghini's, Ferrari's, McClaren, Massariti's, you name it... and yet the little kit cobra drew one of the biggest crowds. Couldn't be more proud of my choice to build a Factory Five for such a timeless classic. I certainly left the mainstream for all you purists out there but I'm extremely happy with how my "Cobra" turned out. Thank you to all who helped and coached me along the way, I look forward to giving back to the community with the knowledge I've gained.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181425&d=1678569853

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181424&d=1678569853

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181426&d=1678569853

[JohnnyB]

Nicely done on making it "Your own". Beautiful car!

[Just 1 More]

Very VERY nice

[cc2Arider]

That hardtop totally transforms the look...almost similar to a Morgan Super8 :)

Very Nice!

Craig C

[Chainsaw]

Great build. Congratulations.

[CaptB]

I have those same wheels and caps, nice work man.

[JeffP]

I have those same wheels and caps, nice work man.

Ha! I'm pretty sure you inspired the wheels and pointed me to the caps :)

[Blitzboy54]

That looks incredible. That car really pops, congratulations. I also dig the wheels and caps ;)


Can you add some interior shots with the top on whenever its convenient?

[cfriedman67]

Wow!!

[Danomatic]

Congrats! I really like those hardtops. Ive been toying on that idea for a while.

[Ford & Jeep Fan]

I picked up my kit on March 4th, 2022 after driving from NC to MA on a cold icy day. Loaded it up and headed over to Mike Forte's and pick up my drive train and then headed back down I95 through NYC and back to NC..........

Wow I really like how you put it together so quick.

Tell me about the pickup option. Its what I've always dreamed of. It would have to save money over the shipping company, correct?? If so how much??

[KDubU]

Holy crap that is nice! Congrats!!! Love the colour, the roof….beauty!

[egchewy79]

amazing...what color blue is that?

edit: disregard. I went back to look at your build thread...Indigo ink, check

[Tooth]

Looks amazing. You got done in months what I hope to get done in years. :eek:

[MB750]

Sweet looking Cobra!

Did you lower the roll bars? I always thought they were too tall and am thinking about lowering mine, just not sure how to go about it.

[dbo_texas]

That 427 hardtop looks so good! Nicely done.

[David Hodgkins]

Beautiful Build!!!

Congratulations!!

:)

[Lidodrip]

Great job, love the color and the top!

[JeffP]

Sweet looking Cobra!

Did you lower the roll bars? I always thought they were too tall and am thinking about lowering mine, just not sure how to go about it.

They're the breeze roll bars, which are already shorter than the FF ones, but then I had to take about another 1.5" off to accommodate the hardtop. The sit about 12" off the body at the peak.

[anchoright]

Where did you find or how did you get the hard top?

[JeffP]

Where did you find or how did you get the hard top?

If you're looking for one, this is the easiest!
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?45588-427-Hardtops-for-Sale&highlight=427+hardtop

[zee]

This post doesn't have enough pictures.

[Straversi]

Congratulations! That’s a show stopper with the hard top on. Well done.
-Steve

[Theshandman]

Fabulous job and looks!

[Zach Bohn]

Congratulations!

[FredG]

Beautiful!!

[danmas]

I picked up my kit on March 4th, 2022 after driving from NC to MA on a cold icy day. Loaded it up and headed over to Mike Forte's and pick up my drive train and then headed back down I95 through NYC and back to NC. I got right to work even with a long POL list and made great progress having it registered by May 19th and driving in gel-coat by mid-June. I enjoyed the summer finishing up loose ends and riding around town. In October I sent her off for paint and body at a local shop and they wrapped it up by mid February. I had everything back together and completed (accept the hard top) by March 1st, just 3 days shy of one year since I picked it up. I've since got the hardtop back and fitted and debuted at our first Cars and Coffee this morning. There were many Lamborghini's, Ferrari's, McClaren, Massariti's, you name it... and yet the little kit cobra drew one of the biggest crowds. Couldn't be more proud of my choice to build a Factory Five for such a timeless classic. I certainly left the mainstream for all you purists out there but I'm extremely happy with how my "Cobra" turned out. Thank you to all who helped and coached me along the way, I look forward to giving back to the community with the knowledge I've gained.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181425&d=1678569853

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181424&d=1678569853

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=181426&d=1678569853

These pictures caused me to purchase a hard top. Really beautiful car. Little mad about the fact that idle curiosity about your post turned into a burning need to spend $5K for a hard top. The burdens we carry....

No kidding, gorgeous.

[Madfor67]

Dan,

You made a great choice! A hard top makes already a unique car even more unique and a standout in the crowd.

Jeff,

Congrats! Your Roadster looks amazing, and I can't wait to get mine done! Until then, I'm going to visit this thread to drool time to time... LOL



These pictures caused me to purchase a hard top. Really beautiful car. Little mad about the fact that idle curiosity about your post turned into a burning need to spend $5K for a hard top. The burdens we carry....

No kidding, gorgeous.

[RogerRoger88]

Jeff,
Your roadster looks awesome. Really like the removeable top. A couple questions about the top.

1. What did you have to do to the body to have it utilize the top?
2. Approximately how much does the top weigh?

I'm seriously considering one, primarily to lengthen t

[Ray from Long Island]

Jeff,
Absolutely Beautiful!
Congratulations :>)
Ray

[TXeverydayDad]

Congratulations! It looks amazing!

[JeffP]

Jeff,
Your roadster looks awesome. Really like the removeable top. A couple questions about the top.

1. What did you have to do to the body to have it utilize the top?
2. Approximately how much does the top weigh?

I'm seriously considering one, primarily to lengthen t


Thanks
Not much body modification is necessary. There are four holes that get drilled for the mounting bolts. The windshield angle is adjust a little but still within the range of the existing bolt holes. The biggest issue is the roll bars. You'll have to use the ones from Breeze and even then they need to be cut down. There is only about 12" clearance between the top of the body and the headliner when its installed.

After a couple seasons, I think these things aren't really meant to be removable. While I can get it on and off in about 30min, they do a number on the body paint. It comes with a rubber seal on the bottom that then rests on the body, but as you can imagine these cars move a lot and there is constant play between the top and the body no matter how secure it gets. This movement will trash anywhere the top contacts. I put down fresh 3M PPF anywhere the top makes contact, and this helps a ton. The film takes a good beating but does a great job of protecting the body. When i took it off this season the film was bad enough I removed it but saved it to use as a template for next year. $50 in PPF is a great protection against trashing the paint.

fwiw, its actually a lot louder with the top on. Don't ask me why, but when I take it off in the spring I can't get over how much quieter it is.

[Nigel Allen]

Good review and information. Thanks Jeff.