“If investors and bean counters ran the company, the Mk5 would likely not exist. But they don’t, and I do, and I get to determine the balance of what I WANT to do vs. What I HAVE to do, without the pressure of investors clamoring for returns.” – Dave Smith President Factory Five Racing
In 1995 Dave Smith and his brother founded Factory Five Racing, and their Mk1 Roadster soon followed. The design of the Mk1 Roadster centered around the highly available Fox Body Ford Mustang as a donor vehicle. Four Roadster generations later, and in honor of their 30th Anniversary Factory Five Racing has introduced the Mk5 Roadster as a revolutionary update to Mk4 that debuted in 2010.
Upgrades include:
- An optional four season hard top.
- A revised chassis design incorporating features from the Gen 3 Daytona Coupe greatly increasing passenger space and torsional rigidity.
- Investments in their body molds and processes produce a component car that is easier to assemble overall as well as easier to finish from a paint and bodywork standpoint.
- The front lower control arms, and all four rear control arms on the premium independent rear suspension are now forged aluminum pieces replacing the tubular units on the Mk4.
In addition to the usual powertrain suspects i.e. Windsor, FE, Modular, Coyote, and LS, the Mk5 can also accommodate a 7.3L Godzilla from Ford Performance.
Head over to https://www.factoryfive.com/roadster/mk5/ and https://www.youtube.com/@factoryfive to learn about all of the upgrades to the Mk5 Roadster, as well as the array of “Built, not Bought” Made in the U.S.A. street, track, and off-road offerings from Factory Five Racing.
