Project 818 Pre-Order Update #2

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Dave Lindsey in What's New

November 30, 2012 Update.

This week you may have noticed your credit card was charged $99 for your 818 pre-order. We have sold one hundred and eleven 818S models (street version), twenty 818R (race version), and there are four of you whose expiration dates wouldn’t allow us to process your order (we are calling you, don’t worry).

The guys have worked hard to establish a fair and reasonable production date for all of your orders. We are planning to begin production in June 2013 and our production plan calls out for a steady ramp up which will enable us to deliver kits currently on order between June and the following February. Next week, you should receive a hard copy of your order with your PRODUCTION DATE. This production date is an estime and based on our best forcast…but it may change, hopefully for the better!

The 818R is close to running and driving. It will be heading south in the next week or so for a few months of track testing. The guys in R&D are working hard on tooling and pre-production work. Everyone is very excited about this new Factory Five and 100% commited to ensuring that the cars are fully developed, tested, and ready for production.

Thanks for your support and if you have any questions, please forward them via e-mail to info@factoryfive.com.

Thanks again!

Dave Smith
President

818 Galleries

We’ve posted a good number of images on our website under the 818 photo gallery section. Check out the new photos by Dino Petrocelli.

818 Customer Erik Treves Visits

Factory Five customer Erik Treves sits in the 818R during a recent visit to our factory. Read more on The Factory Five Forum.

818 SEMA Video

Check out 818 development partner Hewlett Packard’s promotional video on the Project 818.

Latest Factory Five News

Charlie D. Graduates his Type 65 Coupe!

February 18, 2026

Customer Charlie D. started his Coupe build in Spring 2018, and by the end of the year, he had his first start and was soon go-carting around the neighborhood. Over the next year, he worked on fitting the body. He had to hit pause on the build for several years due to focus on some other projects. But he kept his Coupe dream alive, and once the other projects were finished, he got back to work on his Factory Five. Over the next year, they focused on her treatments, and thankfully, she beat cancer in mid-2025 and has a clean… Read More »

Sinks Family Garage Build a Mk4 Roadster on YouTube

February 17, 2026

At Factory Five, we build. We build cars, stories, friendships, and relationships. The story of Rusty and Wyatte S. building a Mk4 Roadster, and in the process, bonding as father and son is the best outcome. Here’s Rusty sharing their story so far: “After 26 years in the Coast Guard and spending my last few years away from home, I knew when I returned that I needed to reconnect with my son, Wyatte, in a meaningful way. I asked him if he wanted to restore an old car or build something like a Factory Five Roadster — and without hesitation, he… Read More »

The Baker Family Graduate Their ’35 Truck Build!

February 15, 2026

Customer Tony Baker sent us this letter that is a great reminder of Why behind Factory Five Racing. Tony’s build with his sons is like so many in the Factory Five community, but it is a story that never gets old, and one that the Baker family should be extremely proud of. Congratulations on graduating your Hot Rod Truck build with your sons, and on your big win at World of Wheels! Tony wrote: “I ﬁrst began researching Factory Five Racing in the summer of 2008, after a friend took me for a ride in his newly built FFR Roadster.… Read More »