{"id":241,"date":"2016-08-02T20:28:35","date_gmt":"2016-08-03T00:28:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ffr2.wpenginepowered.com\/?page_id=241"},"modified":"2024-02-27T12:46:23","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T17:46:23","slug":"design","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.factoryfive.com\/mk4\/design\/","title":{"rendered":"Design"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n\t\tMk4 Frame & Chassis\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Authentic Design,
Race-Proven Engineering<\/h3>

Mk4 Frame and Chassis. \u00a0You want to compare kits? Start with the frame. The artistry, strength, and complexity of the Factory Five Mk4 frame is reason enough to stop looking right here. The beauty of our design is accentuated by the fact that it is stronger and more rigid than you’ll realistically need.<\/p>\n\t

The\u00a0Mk4 Frame & Chassis<\/h1>\n

We use an authentic 4″ round tube design, and\u00a0feel strongly that a quality replica should have a period correct, 4″ round tube frame, just like the original legend. The tubular ladder-style frames used in the original 1960s AC cars are more than beautiful, they are representative of a period of automotive design that is legendary. We chose to use this style of frame despite the manufacturing difficulty and cost, since a huge part of a quality replica is its faithfulness to the spirit of the original cars.<\/p>\n

While originality is very important, if the frame doesn’t perform, what good is it? We kept the design style, but used CAD technology, better materials, and more consistent manufacturing methods to make it more than twice as strong.<\/p>\n

Since 1995, the Factory Five Roadster frame has become known for its strength and ability to protect its occupants. With over 800 welds and hundreds of individual pieces of steel, the Mk4 frame is both engineering excellence and functional automotive art. The frame is a completely welded assembly and requires no welding or cutting.<\/p>\n\t

When you see Factory Five cars winning national races or lifting the tires clear off the ground, check out the “straight-as-an-arrow” frame quietly doing its job.\u00a0 There is no finer replica frame. Period.<\/h4>\n\t
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A Great Car Starts with a Great Chassis.<\/strong> A chassis is the foundation of the house. Today’s fourth-generation Mk4 Roadster frame has benefited from years of refinement and development. It is both lightweight (376 lbs.) and strong.<\/p>\n

We use high-quality, precision-cut plate steel with 1010 and 1020 DOM tubing. The Mk4 frame stands head and shoulders above the original 1965 legend thanks to better tools, better materials, and modern technology. Our welded parts are made in the USA with American labor.<\/p>\n\t

\"HPCircleLogo300dpi\"Our welded parts are made in the USA with American labor.<\/p>\n

\"Print\"The Factory Five Mk4 frame is computer designed on Solidworks\u2122 software using Hewlett Packard workstations.<\/p>\n

\n\t\tMk4 Aluminum Panels\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

“This ain’t no kit car.”
– Mustang & Fords Magazine<\/h3>

Traditional kit car may use a fiberglass tub and body bolted to a cheap platform frame, but you won’t find modern streetcars or racecars built that way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t

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Underneath our hand-laid fiberglass composite body are almost 40 individual aluminum panels attached to the Factory Five Mk4 spaceframe.<\/p><\/div>\n

Mk4\u00a0Aluminum Panels<\/h2>\n

Even vintage 1960s cars like the original ACs, Ferraris and GT-40s used proven racecar construction methods of tubular frames and riveted\/bonded aluminum panels.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The aluminum chassis panels found in our Mk4 combines this traditional quality with the latest CAD\/CAM technologies and superior construction methods. The entire cockpit, trunk and engine bay of the Factory Five Mk4 is precision laser-cut 6061-T6 aluminum, without any fiberglass structural items. Underneath these aluminum panels, a matrix of steel tubing provides support surfaces for a close, tight-fitting installation.<\/p>\n

Why 6061-T6 aluminum? Conventional 4000-series aluminum is easier to bend and form, but not as strong in tension. We invested in learning how to correctly form the 6061-T6 to get the benefit of increased strength for the same weight.<\/p>\n

The strong foundation of our world-class frame combined with our aluminum chassis panels bonded and riveted to it represents just one of the major design and functional differences between the Mk4 and almost every other replica sold today.<\/p>\n

\n\t\tMk4 Composite Body\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Period-Correct Shape, Made Correct. Period.<\/h3>

The body shape of the Factory Five Mk4 is extremely accurate, benefiting from (and a direct descendant of) two original cars: CSX 3042 and the late Dick Smith’s famous #198, CSX 3035.<\/p>\n\t

The\u00a0Mk4\u00a0Composite Body<\/h1>\n

The composite body is a one-piece, hand-laid vinylester part that is engineered to complement the strong steel and aluminum chassis, which provides structural support. The hood, doors and trunk have molded liners and come complete with hinges and pre-drilled mounting holes. The body shell is laminated to a thickness of 3\/16″ all around, with a .015″ red gel coat outer finish.<\/p>\n

The composite body is shipped pre-assembled to the frame. The parts are unfinished (requiring bodywork).\u00a0Panels are CNC router trimmed.<\/p>\n\t

We know molding. Since 1995, we’ve built and shipped more than 11,000 body shells and over 40,000 body panels, and built more than 100 complex molds and tools.<\/h4>\n

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\"magcover_LR\"“Station to station at Factory Five, it is clear that quality principles are in full force.”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Craig Fitzgerald |\u00a0Editor, Hemmings Muscle Machines<\/p>\n\t

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\n\t\tMk4 Suspension & Brakes\n\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t

Delivering great car control.<\/h3>

The artistry and strength of the Factory Five Roadster chassis would be a waste without an equally well-designed suspension and proper braking. Computer simulations and hundreds of hours on the track under the most extreme conditions have helped our engineers design world-class suspensions and brakes that deliver great car control.<\/p>\n\t

Front Suspension Base Kit<\/h3>\n