Factory Five Takes on California Mudslide

Customer David Stokes’ Mk3 Roadster Goes Four Wheelin’

We got these cool images from Factory Five customer David Stokes whose Mk3 was caught in a torrential rain storm and canyon mudslide in Silverado, CA recently. The car and garage of his home were filled practically to the door sills with mud and rain water runoff. Here’s the text of his e-mail and some pictures that make it look like he took his Roadster 4-wheelin’.

“Just before Christmas 2010, we had some disastrous rains in southern California. The Canyon we live in was especially hard hit, as you can see from the amount of mud outside my garage. It took me a week to dig the mud out from underneath the cars and try and clean them off. The Factory Five Roadster had water and mud inside and out but the amazing thing was after spraying with lots of WD40 it started first time (It did blow lots of mud and water out of the exhaust).”

David Stokes
Silverado, CA

It seems Factory Five Roadsters have been surviving the elements in extreme ways this winter season. Check out photos of the build school test drive in 12″ of Michigan snow.

Latest Factory Five News

Doug S. Graduates 30th Anniversary Mk5 #01!

2025 was a milestone year for Factory Five as we celebrated our 30th Anniversary (1995-2025)! To mark the occasion, we put together special edition kits for our Mk5 Roadster and Type 65 Coupe. We are excited to share the news that Doug S. from Southlake, TX has graduated 30th Anniversary Mk5 kit which was also #1 of 30! Below is Doug’s story about his Mk5 build, and how much it means to his family. “I am writing to share the completion of our Factory Five build and to thank you and the entire Factory Five team for creating something far… Read More »

Read More

Five Deals from the Factory Five Guys!

2026 is off to a great start, and the team wants to keep the momentum going! They have put together a sale for all of our kits to help you build your car your way this year. Score a Free IRS Upgrade OR Save $2,026 Off Options on Mk5 Roadsters, Mk4 Roadsters, Type 65 Coupe, and ’33 Hot Rod To ensure your finest ride is possible, we are offering FREE IRS Upgrades (up to $3,199 in value). Our Independent Rear Suspension is the best suspension configuration Factory Five has to offer. This upgrade package includes: OR you can save $2,026… Read More »

Read More

Bill B. Shares an Update on His Mk5 Build

Every build has a story—but some take a lifetime to begin. After decades as a technician, engineer, and business owner—building companies, leading teams, and designing critical communications systems across New England—I decided at 50 to return to where it all started: a passion for cars. That decision became Blue Hills Customs. This MK5 Roadster is more than a project—it’s the first expression of a vision to create ultra-premium, one-off roadsters that blend classic design with modern performance and reliability. Factory Five Racing provided the perfect canvas. The MK5 isn’t just a kit—it’s a foundation that allows builders to bring something truly… Read More »

Read More
Top