Somebody is grinning at their computer screen right now.
Back in 2013, we started work on a Factory Five 818. We even extensively chronicled the build on our YouTube channel. Once we had done all we had wanted to do with the project, we put it up for sale on Bring a Trailer back in 2015.
Didn't win it back then? Well, now you have another chance. According to the ad, it now comes with a built 2.5-liter flat-four, putting out 305 horsepower.
Somebody is grinning at their computer screen right now.
I wonder how long the $818 bid will be the top one. Pretty funny for everyone except the seller.
T.J. said:I wonder how long the $818 bid will be the top one. Pretty funny for everyone except the seller.
Yeah, pretty much. Does $8118 work as well?
How well did the 818 age? Are they/were they ever popular? I have only ever seen this one even talked about.
The Factory 5 GTM is sweet and there are still a fair number of Cobras running around but the 818 seems to be an answer to a question no one asked. Part of it is certainly the unfortunate engine choice, super high resale on anything remotely runnable/lack of cheap donors has got to be hurting the take rate.
In reply to 93gsxturbo :
They came out, a few people bought them and then they kinda floundered... or at least it feels that way. They've not been anywhere near the popularity of their previous products. I still remember reading about the F5 cobra race series years ago.
I think you're on the money with it hitting a market that wasn't there.
I think the exocet happened, and pretty much kaboshed the 818.
Here's an interesting thread:
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?27408-Why-has-everybody-sold-their-818
My 3 pennies: First, while cool, it's not a jaw dropper. Looks like something Mitsubishi might make. Secondly, while lurking on build threads, it seemed like a lot of 818 builders kinda went hog wild and ended up with $30 to $40K worth of trick stuff, which is great and all, but also an amount that will buy you a lot of other cool things like Caymans and such. Lastly, there's no historic tie-in. People buy Cobra roadsters because they've been lustworthy for 50 years running and an important part of peoples lifelong car guy narrative.
plus the Catfish (which looks better, IMO)
It isn't a bad solution, I just never understood the Subaru drivetrain choice. I think using a FWD drivetrain would have made it a solution that could have worked for a wider range of buyers.
The 818 can be a stunning looker (especially the newer cars) and fantastic performer. The pricing is extremely reasonable and Factory Five builds great component cars. The reason I'm not building one right now is the newest donor car is at least 12 years old. It is kind of difficult to find a decent 2004 to 2007 Impreza or WRX that doesn't have a zillion miles and hasn't been ragged-out. The 818 is a great car but that is a small (and aging) donor selection for a new build.
There's a hardtop model or whatever that version is that runs occasionally with the SCCA near me in E Mod. It is neat in person. Like really neat, but the guy spent a lot to get it where it is. Roughly $30k if I remember correctly. It sounds like a fun project, but the money invested doesn't match the performance and I imagine it's a tough pill to swallow. The local hot shoe took it for a couple runs, but wasn't able to see it's full potential. I think it needs some proper development to shine, but the car/driver has shown a lot of improvement from where he started.
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