Customer Profile – Mike Dotson

FFR 4888 RD, Phoenix, AZ

forum handle:  Mike D

email:   mdotson6@cox.net
 


Mike and Pam Dotson with their Factory Five (Jaguar Brooklands green)
 
As a kid, Mike Dotson’s family was into off-roading and sand rails, so that meant growing up in the garage.  He and his dad worked on all kinds of cars and projects, so while most kids were playing sports, Mike was turning a wrench.  At age 14, he undertook his first major project - a ’66 Mustang Coupe project car which started off life as an anemic 6 banger and which Mike rebuilt with a custom 302 c.i. V8.

 

Even then, as the fastest kid in school, Mike dreams of a Cobra kept him restless.  Fast forward 20 years, and his dreams returned to him in vivid 3D Technicolor.  His limited budget, however, forced him to stay grounded and well out of reach of an authentic ‘60s model. 

The plethora of available replicas, on the other hand, awoke the 94 octane passions within him, yet none really suited his tastes.  Mike, you see, has never been content with the status quo.  Although the sea of kits included both 289 FIA and 427 S/C versions, Mike wanted something different.  His goal was a combination of the best of both worlds - true street car styling with rounded fenders for wider, better performing tires.
 
He hooked up with the Arizona Cobra Club and soon met with several FFROGs, saw some builds in progress, got rides and even drove a couple of Factory Fives.  Ultimately, he went with Factory Five because it represented the best in class.  A tube steel chassis anchored the tightest, safest and most reliable product on the market.

 

Because of the changes he planned for the car and the available financial resources, the build was slower than he would have liked.  He started out by engineering the under-car exhaust, but along the way made a lot of other changes such as the 'Ford Fun Drop Butt' mod, hidden side attachments and trunk hinges and a “scoopless” hood.   For the powertrain, he went with what he new best - a carburated 302, T-5 tranny and 3:55 gears.
 

Now that the car is complete, it’s a big hit with Mike and his family.  His wife enjoys the car as much as Mike, but has to battle with their daughters for “seat time”.  His teenage daughters, it turns out, keep close attention to whose turn it is to go for a ride, as well as which is picked up from school in the car.  His sister and fiancé also were able to book their spot in advance, and used the car as their wedding “limo”.