FFR2973 is a Homebuilt Hero!

Hot Rod picks Factory Five as one of the best builds

 

Congratulations to Allen English and his hand built Factory Five as one of Hot Rod magazine’s Homebuilt Heroes!
 

 

To further celebrate Allen’s addition to this exclusive list, we’re awarding him $100 Factory Five bucks valid towards any future purchases.
 
 

Excerpted from Hot Rod magazine, Readers’ Rides supplement, Spring 2008:

 

Best Ford - Factory Five Roadster

Allen English

Portland, OR
 

“Steel is real” is how the saying goes, and that’s how Allen felt toward kit cars, typically ignoring them at car shows.  But after finally taking a closer look at one and finding the quality unexpectedly good, ideas began brewing about how he’d build one.  Before he knew it, he had a Factory Five in his garage.  Allen’s goal was to create a street-friendly and comfortable [Roadster] clone with a ‘60s racing vibe.  Little touches like the hidden seat heaters help ward off the chilly Oregon air, while tricks such as adapting big-block [Roadster] LeMans valve covers to his 351W and painting vintage Goodyear lettering on the tires keeps onlookers wondering.
 

An unbelievably daunting task, the editors at Hot Rod were somehow able to reduce thousands of Homebuilt Hero contest entries down to the very best 117 cars nationwide.  While many of the cars chosen were incredible hot rods, we were most proud to see Allen’s car on pages 42-43. 

Many FFROGs entered this contest, and all of them were very impressive builds.  Today, however, is Allen English’s day.
 

FFR 2973 specifications

Complete cost to build: $60k (Complete non-donor build.)

Back in 2001 we didn’t offer too many options, and the non-donor builds were rarer than they are today.  With the purchase of the kit, Allen added virtually every option offered by Factory Five, spending more than $23,000 on the kit alone. The rest was spent on drive train components and creature comforts.
 
 

Allen took his time, and built the car with the end result in mind. 

 

“It took 2-1/2 years of relaxed building.  There where many times I would just stand and stare at the build in
amazement that my dream car was becoming a reality.”

 

Paint color:

  • 1998 Rolls Royce blue (code: 9540022)

  • 1997 GM truck white stripes (code: WA8554)

  • 1998 GM Torch Red team stripes (code: WA8774)
 
 
 
Allen has collected a few awards over the years of ownership, has been featured on the Portland news broadcasts, and thoroughly enjoys owning and driving his Factory Five every chance he gets.

Already planning his next project, Allen is creating a space in his garage for a Factory Five GTM, which he hopes to start building later this year.  We can’t wait to see that one too!