Vehicle Description
GM LS2 V-8 engine, 447 HP, Porsche G50 six-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel independent wishbone suspension; wheelbase: 101”
The Factory Five GTM is highly regarded as the fastest vehicle that can be built in your garage, as designated by no less than Car and Driver magazine. Depending on the components chosen, the lightweight GTM can easily run with supercars costing 10 times as much. As is the case with most car makers, Factory Five has built a number of prototype, promotional and special order cars. This example is one of them with the factory having it specially built to race on the track. This one was not built in someone's garage, but professionally built and it not only shows, it performs as such.
The GTM is a V-8 powered, mid-engined car with an amazing composite body shell and an aluminum and steel tube frame chassis. The car uses a GM LS2 performance engine and suspension parts with four-corner coil-over shocks, large brakes and a Porsche 911 transaxle. The high performance GTM is light and aerodynamic, with excellent weight distribution and precise racecar handling derived from the Chevrolet Corvette C5. In the September 2007 issue, Car and Driver reviewed a prototype GTM and their testing achieved 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds and 1/4 mile in 11 seconds, beating their tested speeds for the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Porsche Carrera GT, Lamborghini Murcielago, Ferrari Enzo and other high priced production supercars. As is the case with many of these cars, this vehicle's title is branded "Reconstructed."
Factory Five Racing had special plans, for a special client, for this car. No punches were pulled when choosing the powertrain, with a new LS2 Corvette motor pushing 477 HP to the rear wheels. It’s controlled by a Z06 ECM that has high flow cats and ceramic coated exhaust, a force flow cold air intake and 40 psi fuel injectors. The transmission is the race-proven Porsche G50 six-speed ratio 3.44:1 limited slip with a Stage 2 race clutch and high performance axle. Suspension duties are handled by an aluminum wishbone system front and rear with adjustable Koni coil over suspension all around. The factory Corvette brakes front and rear are supplemented by a separate master cylinder for the front and rear made by Wilwood. Wheels are Satin Black Motegi Racing 18” up front and 19” in the rear. All this adds up to a build cost well above $250,000, but it was worth it, with 1/4 mile times around 11.0 seconds at 134 mph right out of the box.
All that performance doesn’t mean you have to rough it, as this supercar has a cockpit with suede and leather trim with power windows, air conditioning, tilt wheel and much more. It’s one of the most comfortable and well laid out supercars we’ve driven, and delivers a personal driving experience equal to the most desirable cars in the world. The body is carefully crafted with fiberglass and aluminum, which keeps the weight of the car down to a mere 2,430 lbs. and makes for a very durable exterior.
The fit and factory blue finish is outstanding, as it should be on a car that has just 3,950 miles from new. It has had just two careful owners, the first a doctor and the current owner who presides over an immaculate private collection in Texas.
Built with high performance driving in mind, this is a serious automobile that is both fully streetable and ready for you to take to the track. This seldom seen and highly sought-after GTM-R is one car that gives you a world-class driving experience without breaking the bank and is guaranteed to make you the king of every stoplight in town.
