This week’s episode of The MuscleCar Place Podcast is out!

Click the Play button below to listen to the show here, or click here to listen in iTunes!

[audio:http://www.themusclecarplace.com/podpress_trac/web/2506/0/the_musclecar_place_podcast_episode66_12142010.mp3]

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Dave Smith is the President of Factory Five Racing and is perhaps the pinnacle example of an American success story. Fifteen years ago, he and his brother threw up their hands at the corporate life and decided to start their own company. They designed their first Cobra replica car (which they call the Mk 4 Roadster), sold a few, and then things snowballed. Since they were using a hi-tech engineering approach with the design of their cars first, the quality of their vehicle kits rang through strong with customers. With more company success meant the introduction of more new models, and a Daytona Coupe replica, which they call their Type 65 Coupe, and a competition version of their Cobra replica came next, which they call their Challenge car. After that, it was time to take a big leap and build something completely new; a new car of their complete own design!

The next product out of Factory Five was the GTM SuperCar. Unlike their previous cars, this was no replica. It was a 100% designed in-house mid-engine supercar, but just like their other cars this one was a kit as well! This was also one of the first of their cars that would be tested out first with a GM engine, as the previous models used Ford powerplants.

Following the GTM, the next offering out of Factory Five was the ever popular ’33 Hot Rod. It’s got a full out race chassis, inboard shocks, and looks like the combination of a NASCAR Modified car and an old hot rod. Just like every other offering from Factory Five it’s a high quality kit that you can order up direct and have shipped to your driveway in a box with all of the necessary parts.

Dave did give a preview of the next offerings that might be coming in the Factory Five lineup, but you’ll just have to listen to the interview to get those little nuggets!

Dave stresses that Factory Five wants to stick to what they do well; build excellent kit and replica cars, and have a lot of fun doing it. That recipe has led them to have a loyal tight knit customer base, a lot of which who now keep in touch with each other because of their experience in owning and building Factory Five cars.

They’re not interested in building cars for customers explicitly, but they do offer a Build School that owners and potential owners can take to learn how to build a car from the ground up. If you’ve ever wondered if you have what if takes to do the build this is your opportunity to find out up front!