The increasing economics of the Factory Five GTM

"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
09/18/2019 at 21:19 • Filed to: None

Talking with my non car friend about cheap options, I remembered how cheap corvette C5s are getting, which are beginning to creep past $15k. Thinking to myself: Boy, if only they weren’t so bland in their styling. If only there was a kit car or something based on the C5. And I forgot, there is!

So despite the ugly logo FF continues to insist on using (it really reminds me of a logo for a 90s toy, something that would be slapped on an R/C car that can only turn in one direction) the car is pretty handsome, and price competitive. The kit itself starts at 24,000, but optioned up it stands closer to 30,000. now that does include AC and a carbon fiber wing. Add to that, we still need the engine and suspension from a C5, + a transaxle. However... the GTM doesn’t utilize the corvette’s body. Lets see what copart has to offer!

https://www.copart.com/lot/44980509

Something like this low mileage zo6, or any other car that’s unrepairable, likely can be had for south of $5,000, plus anything you can make from selling parts and scrap. Now new transaxles are steep, upwards of 6,000 dollars. However, that still puts a built GTM at around $40,000. It’s not even as if the LS1 would need that much freshening: FF claims that a 400 horsepower block can achieve 0-60 times in the 3.2 second range.

In other words, I’m thinking about it folks. Pending a career obviously.

DISCUSSION (20)

CRider > My bird IS the word
09/18/2019 at 21:33

For $40k you could also build an LS Miata, or even get an early 2000s Viper.

Kailand09 > My bird IS the word
09/18/2019 at 21:37

Bro stop reminding me. I’ve thought seriously about this a few times. It’s an extremely interesting option.

I wasn't completely sold on the styling until I saw one in person. It's amazing.

OPPOsaurus WRX > My bird IS the word
09/18/2019 at 21:38

I’ve been to the factory, actually on an OPPO field trip.

Kinja'd!!!

the trucks new since we went tho, damns its pretty

My bird IS the word > CRider
09/18/2019 at 21:55

Also true. Thinking about used challenger 392 scat packs as well.

My bird IS the word > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/18/2019 at 21:56

I’m not really into classic hot rods but it is a hell of a looker.

OPPOsaurus WRX > My bird IS the word
09/18/2019 at 22:10

if I was going to get something from them it would probably be the WRX in t he rear, 818 i think.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > My bird IS the word
09/18/2019 at 22:42

We were just debating fighting about this on that NP/CP post about the faux-Cobra replica built on a C3 chassis and SBC engine. There seemed to be lot of PoV to the effect that you “could build one for a $20K FFR kit and a junkyard motor , so why would I pay $25K for a done, but bastardized, one?”

My counterpoint to that remains that NONE of these kits are really even that cheap, just for the bare kit once you get it shipped... and then the cash register really starts to ring for parts. And, BTW, people don’t really work for free.

My premise remains that you’ll be north of $50K, all in, once you get a GTM together, sorted, painted and running respectably. YMMV

CRider > My bird IS the word
09/18/2019 at 22:52

That’s more of a highway cruiser than a track car, but it’s definitely a fun way to destroy tires. 2013 GT500s hang around the $50k mark, but 2012s are about $40k too if you like superchargers.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/18/2019 at 22:56

I like the blue truck they have with fenders. If I didn’t have the M37 project I would consider that for a surf wagon.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > My bird IS the word
09/18/2019 at 22:58

They lose me at the interior, it’s awful, so I would have to put a bare bones race dash in it etc... since theirs is worse than the old Viper interior!

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > My bird IS the word
09/19/2019 at 06:05

At 40k there are so many options out there, and personally, I’m more inclined to use a car in one piece that was engineered to work with all the OEM parts from the beginning, instead of Frankensteining a car together. For half that, maybe, but man for 40k, there are a lot of great options out there. You should be able to get into a C6 Z06 for less than that. And those are my favorite modern corvettes right behind a split window, but those are definitely not in the 40k range, and the C6 would be a great all around sports car/track toy.

My bird IS the word > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
09/19/2019 at 08:19

Not alot of exotics/kit cars for less that 40k. Corvettes are visually very unappealing to me but i guess that's a personal problem

My bird IS the word > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
09/19/2019 at 08:20

Idk if its that bad, although I generally des pise the acessories people put in these.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > My bird IS the word
09/19/2019 at 08:42

Yeah, nobody’s perfect. :). I’m a fan of the subtle designs. And truly, the kit we’re talking about is a nice looking machine. But for the money, I’d rather have something that was screwed together by some fat bloke in Ken-tucky.;)

Pickup_man > OPPOsaurus WRX
09/19/2019 at 09:08

Didn’t expect to ruin my pants this early in the morning.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > My bird IS the word
09/19/2019 at 10:17

I’d love to build a GTM someday. C5's are cheap. Non Z06 C5's are getting close to the 10k mark in non-crashed condition. In terms of building a GTM, unless you’re building it as a dedicated track toy, I see no reason to spring for the extra cost of a Z06 power train . On the street, the difference between 345hp and 400hp in that light of car is only academic. Outside of comparing laps times, you’ll never be able to use the difference.

NYankee1927 > My bird IS the word
09/19/2019 at 11:20

$40k isn’t enough to really do one of these cars without major sacrifices. I looked long and hard at these and basically came to the conclusion you’ll be in 60k minimum. The transaxle is super expensive. At $60k, I think I’d just go buy the new mid engined corvette.

My bird IS the word > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
09/19/2019 at 14:10

I mean, getting a low mileage ls built can’ t be that expensive either these days.

My bird IS the word > NYankee1927
09/19/2019 at 14:12

Mabey if you are pushing 700 hp, but a low buck build on used parts isnt that pricey. Ff managed to get a 0-60 of 3.2 seconds on only 400 hp. The transaxle is only about 7 large.

My bird IS the word > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
09/19/2019 at 14:15

I mean, I would be doing everything myself.

And ive never seen a good cheap kit, althoug scavenging a c5 makes way more sense to me than a foxbody mustang. Performance is much more respectable.