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Customer Profile – Curtis Tung FFR 4785K, Alameda, CA forum handle: Curtis email: cmlct@yahoo.com Not too long ago, Curtis Tung spent a day at the Hot August Nights in nearby Reno, NV, but that event changed his life. |
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After spending just a few hours drooling over FFR’s at the show, Curtis’ became a convert to the cult of Factory Five.
All of the FFRs at the show were exact opposites of Curtis’ outdated impression of kit cars. Contrary to the stories of kit cars that he had heard in the past, these were high quality, customer-built cars with solid chassis beneath the skin, not a fiberglass dunebuggy bolted down onto a platform frame. By the end of the day, with an FFR DVD in hand, the sunshine of awakening beamed a single message to Curtis – “you can do this!” |
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Curtis’ wife seemed to have the same impression after watching the video with him. When she chimed into a conversation with "You should do it, you should do it now while you still have the time and energy", he was well on his way to the first automotive project of his life and a rebirth as the local “Cobra” guy.
Probably 30 years previously, when Curtis’ time outdistanced his checkbook, he had worked on his 1969 Chevelle SS396. With the help of friends, the motor was removed, rebuilt and re-installed. The Factory Five on the other hand, was an entire build from the ground up, so his trepidations were understandable. |
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“But as I participated on the Factory Five Owners Group Forum, my original budget and plans changed quickly, and IMHO, changed for the better.
The (Factory Five customer community) provided a wealth of knowledge and everyone was always willing to help me. I would consider my build an example of what can be accomplished with a little patience, perseverance, and homework.” |
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“During the build, I got my son involved as much as possible. It was a great bonding experience and he was great company. I even got my wife and daughter involved. They helped us load the motor into place while making sure we macho guys didn’t damage any aluminum panels in the process.
They also gave me invaluable advice that helped me decide on the color of the car and various other cosmetic features. They even helped me bleed the brakes. All provided an extra hand and support whenever I needed it. |
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The ideas and the support from the technical guys from FFR and the customer community to this newbie were also incredible. As a guy who didn't know what a spindle or SN-95 was, (as well as not knowing) how a rivet works, I had to suck up the ignorance factor, ignore my pride, and just get online and wait for the ridicule. Instead, I received nothing but helpful, positive responses and pictures to boot.” |
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With the pride of ownership unmatched by anyone who has not “built” their own car, Curtis took the car down to the 2006 California Cruise-In for its public unveiling. To his surprise, it was awarded best in Show-Roadster, by the panel of customer judges.
“For me, it was indeed an incredible honor to have been judged "Best" among all of the other incredible builds.” Since its inauguration, Curtis’ pride and joy has taken home a shelf-full of awards and accolades, and yet his biggest satisfaction seems to come from the pride of describing what “he” did to the car. |
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Vehicle Specifications
Factory Five kit: Dual chrome Rollbars FFR IRS (for Pin-Drive Wheels) Black Leather Interior FFR 351 Headers 15:1 steering rack (Flaming River) Chrome OverRiders Autometer Vintage gauges
Drivetrain Specs: 408W (Keith Craft Racing) w/ Tremec 3550 Stack injection system Serpentine Pulley system Team III wheels with Kumho Ecsta tires
Misc. Options: Chromed Sidepipes with Lobak Mufflers Aluminum Radiator & Shroud Aluminum Degas Tank Fresh Air vents Stainless steel radiator and heater hoses Billet heater hose clamps Billet air temp and throttle cable bracket |
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