Factory Five‘s catalog of kit cars is well-known for bringing enthusiasts the chance to own their dream car. From Cobras to Daytonas to ’33 Fords, the Wareham, Massachusetts-based company has made an indelible mark upon the automotive world as a leading choice for kit cars that can run the right kind of setup for the right kind of driver.
On the flipside, Factory Five also plies its trade making its own unique designs on the go-fast formula. Rather than taking a classic design and improving it with modern touches, a builder can take a ride he already owns and transform it into something sleeker, sexier, and of course, faster.
Enter the GTM. Lauded by Car & Driver as “the fastest car you will ever build in your own garage,” the supercar sources its parts from one of the most popular sports cars in the U.S.–the C5 Corvette–and enhances it with exotic upgrades to make the American car perform on par with its European counterparts. “This car is simply the most thrilling machine I’ve ever driven,” said Factory Five President Dave Smith.
Under the GTM process, a C5 will retain its running gear but abandon just about everything else: the FR drivetrain will switch to a MR one using a Porsche transaxle, a six-point roll cage will be installed, steel floor pans enhance aerodynamics, and Koni suspension replaces the factory setup, among other things.
With such drastic changes required of the build, it begs the questions: what all do you get for making the switch to the GTM? Try this on for size: 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds, and an 11-second quarter mile at 132 miles per hour; faster than a C6 Z06 or Porsche Carrera GT.
A GTM kit costs just under $25,000, and will require intensive knowledge and expertise to pull off successfully. But for the guy who’s all about getting the most out of his Corvette at the cost of its original appearance, then maybe a home-built supercar is just what the doctor ordered.