What Factory Five Racing, Inc. does

Factory Five Racing, Inc. (legal entity Factory Five Licensing, Inc.) designs, engineers, and manufactures build-it-yourself component car kits from a 62,000 square foot facility in Wareham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1995 by Dave Smith, the company has shipped more than 16,000 kits across 30 years and operates as the self-described largest manufacturer of DIY component car kits in the world. Its current lineup spans Cobra-replica Roadsters (Mk4, Mk5, 289 USRRC), the Mk4-R Challenge Car, the Daytona Coupe-inspired Type 65 Coupe and Type 65 Coupe-R, hot rod kits ('33 Hot Rod, Speedstar, '35 Hot Rod Truck), and the off-road XTF Pre-Runner and XTF Stage 1 truck conversion kits, with legacy support for the GTM Supercar and 818 Sports Cars.

Manufacturing relies on SolidWorks CAD/CAM design, CNC laser cutting, robotic trimming, and CAD/CAM-driven welding jigs to produce tubular steel space-frame chassis, 6061-T6 aluminum body panels, and hand-laid composite body shells. The business model is direct-to-consumer kit sales (kit prices between $9,990 and $24,990), aftermarket parts through factoryfiveparts.com, Build School training, and a complementary powertrain relationship with BluePrint Engines. Go-to-market is a hybrid of D2C e-commerce, factory tours and showroom visits, SEMA and regional event presence, and a customer-led forum and social ecosystem.

The company remains privately held and entirely owned by founder Dave Smith with no outside investors, supporting a long-cycle product cadence that has produced flagship launches including the Mk5 Roadster in January 2025, the XTF Pre-Runner in 2023, and the XTF Stage 1 in December 2024, alongside an earlier acquisition of Rat's Glass Bodies that produced the Ridler Award-winning Speedstar body design.

Name

Factory Five Racing, Inc.

Legal name

Factory Five Licensing, Inc.

Website

https://factoryfive.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Factory Five Racing designs, engineers, and manufactures build-it-yourself component car kits, serving automotive enthusiasts and racing buyers with Roadster, hot rod, Coupe, and off-road truck kits from its Wareham, Massachusetts facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Component Car Kits

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (3363), Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (336390), Motor Vehicle Steering and Suspension Components (except Spring) Manufacturing (33633)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Truck & Bus Bodies (3713)

akta.pro primary industry

Aftermarket Performance & Tuning Products Manufacturing (Intakes/Turbos/ECU Tuners/Superchargers) (IMACANAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aftermarket Suspension & Steering Components Manufacturing (Shocks/Struts/Bushings/Tie Rods) (IMACANAC)

Keywords

• Component car kits
• DIY car kits
• Kit car manufacturer
• Automotive replica kits
• Build-it-yourself vehicles

Headquarters

HQ city

Wareham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Component Car Kit Sales: Primary revenue from selling build-it-yourself car kit packages including base kits (requiring donor Mustang parts) and complete kits (all-new parts). Kits range from $9,990 to $24,990 depending on model and configuration.
2. Parts and Accessories: Aftermarket parts catalog through factoryfiveparts.com for replacement components, upgrades, and customization options for existing kit builds.
3. Build School: In-person build instruction and training at the Factory Five facility for customers learning to construct their kit cars.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Factory Five Racing designs, engineers, and manufactures build-it-yourself component car kits, including Cobra replicas (Mk4, Mk5, 289 USRRC), hot rods ('33 Hot Rod, Speedstar, '35 Hot Rod Truck), Type 65 Daytona Coupe replicas, and an extreme off-road truck kit (XTF). Kits are sold direct-to-consumer with prices ranging from $9,990 to $24,990, supported by assembly manuals, a Build School, an online community forum, and an aftermarket parts catalog.

Product overview

Factory Five Racing is the world's largest manufacturer of 'build-it-yourself' component car kits, offering a diverse portfolio of vehicle kits for enthusiasts to construct their own sports cars, hot rods, and trucks. The product lineup centers on Cobra replicas (Mk4, Mk5, 289 USRRC) and evolved designs (Challenge Car, Type 65 Coupe, Type 65 Coupe-R), complemented by hot rod offerings ('33 Hot Rod, Speedstar, '35 Hot Rod Truck) and a revolutionary truck conversion (XTF, XTF Stage 1). Legacy products include the GTM Supercar and 818 Sports Cars. Most kits are available in multiple configurations (Base Kit using donor vehicle parts or Complete Kit with all new components), with prices ranging from approximately $10,990 to $24,990. The company also provides supporting services including Build School training, Build Manuals, a community forum, and engine packages through BluePrint Engines partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Factory Five: The primary brand name under which the company sells component car kits for Roadsters, Hot Rods, and Coupes.
• Built, Not Bought

Quantifiable outcome

• A modestly built FFR Coupe powered by a 345hp Ford Racing 302 crate engine will sprint to 60 mph in less than four seconds
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BluePrint EnginescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBluePrint Engines provides brand-new, reasonably priced, high-performance drop-in engines that are dyno-tested with full warranty and ready to run. These engines are marketed as perfect matches for Factory Five kits, creating a complementary product relationship.
• Rat's Glass BodiescoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFactory Five acquired Rat's Glass Bodies and used this acquisition to launch the Speedstar body design, the first new shape resulting from the purchase.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Exomotive: US manufacturer of Exocet and exoskeleton kit cars using Mazda Miata donor platforms. Directly comparable in the donor-based DIY performance kit niche.
• Backdraft Racing: Builds Cobra-replica roadster kits and rollers for enthusiasts. Competes head-to-head with Factory Five's flagship Mk4/Mk5 Roadster line.
• Superformance: Manufacturer of officially licensed Shelby Cobra, Daytona Coupe, and GT40 continuation/replica cars. Directly competes with Factory Five's roadster and Type 65 Coupe replicas for the same classic-sports-car enthusiast buyer.
• Race Car Replicas (RCR): Produces component kits and chassis for GT40, Superlite, and other supercar replicas. Mirrors Factory Five's build-it-yourself supercar segment (GTM/818).

Regional players

• Ultima Sports: UK builder of Ultima GTR/Evolution supercars available in component (kit) form. Comparable build-your-own supercar offering but geographically focused on the UK/Europe.
• Caterham Cars: UK maker of Seven lightweight sports cars sold as self-assembly kits or factory-built. Same build-it-yourself sports car model but primarily serving Europe.

Emerging players

• Ariel Motor Company: Niche maker of the Atom and Nomad lightweight performance vehicles. Overlaps with Factory Five's exoskeleton/track-focused enthusiast segment, though largely factory-assembled and UK-based.
• DF Kit Car (Goblin): Builds the Goblin kit car using Chevrolet Cobalt donor parts. Early-stage direct analog in the affordable donor-based DIY kit segment.

Broad incumbents

• Shelby American: Established performance-car brand offering Cobra continuation cars and Mustang upgrades. Overlaps on the Cobra heritage buyer but operates a broader, more premium turnkey portfolio.

Others

• Speedway Motors: Major hot rod and street rod parts and chassis supplier. Adjacent ecosystem player serving the same hot-rod builder customers that buy Factory Five's '33 Hot Rod kits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/factoryfive
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/F5RTube
• Facebookfacebook.com/169610262335
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/factoryfive
• Instagraminstagram.com/factoryfiveracing

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Factory Five Racing, Inc.