Replica and kit car manufacturer Factory Five has come out with a new sports car model to replace its venerable GTM kit, except this time, it’s a proper throwback to the golden age of racing.
The F9R supercar-styled kit was designed by Jim Schenk and Phil Frank, who penned the Saleen S7, a beautiful race-winning vehicle.
The aesthetic reminds us of the Aston Martin Vulcan, and that’s not a bad thing. The massive wing out the back will definitely be of service, while the body is low and wide.
The launch version was powered by a 9.5-litre V12 engine, to best exemplify how the F9R can be built into a proper old-school racing machine. The front-mounted engine makes 750 horsepower and 700 lb.-ft. of torque, and was supplied by Australia’s V12LS, which also slapped its engine in a Kia van, not too long ago.
While the vehicle was shown at SEMA with that monstrous multi-cylinder installed, the F9R can also be set up for Ford and GM small-block V8s — but where’s the fun in that?
The body will be made of carbon fibre, which will help the car reach its target weight of 2,400 pounds. The F9R started development in 2018 – as the “GTF” – so high-tech computer-aided design and milling were used in its engineering.
The model shown above is the racing spec, but there will also be a version you can drive on the street — if you dare. The prototype version should be ready by the first quarter of 2020, and then a production version will be built, pending Factory Five’s finding a supplier for the carbon-fibre parts.
