The Budget

The base, no frills GTM is advertised as $20,000 plus a donor C5. This is a true statement as far as it goes. However, very few of the builders are doing the base GTM. Most are opting for something newer than the LS1 engine found in the basic C5. The performance of the LS1 (e.g. 345 to 350 HP, depending on the year of the C5) can be substantially improved to the 420 HP with simple things like a larger intake manifold, cold air intake, iridium plugs, better exhaust system.

This approach does produce a sporty, fun car to drive. The LS1 engine is no slouch, and mounted in a chassis weighing around 2400 pounds, it would be fast. Not 200 mph fast, but sneaky fast.

If I were just interested in going through the exercise of building a car, I might go this route. However, I'm interested in building a super car that has an astonishing performance envelope.

To my mind, this means new engine, new transmission, big wheels, big brakes, enhanced electronics and upgraded interior that leaves the fellow in the dust asking, "Who was dat guy?"

So there is an X factor not reflected in this budget. The X factor are those things that do not have to be part of the initial build, but can be added over time.

Built to order GTMs start around $110,000 and go up from there. Yes, there are GTM builders, and they have found a market. Dave Smith (Factory Five's President) says that he has people asking to buy completed GTMs. His answer is you can't buy it, you can only build it. A builder that produced between 5 to 10 of these per year would have a pretty decent income.

There is another benefit. Factory Five kit cars seem to hold their value. I think this is because they aren't just an exotic body shape glued to a rusting VW or Fiero chassis. These are real cars that people want.

Item	Estimate
brakes	2000
donor	11000
wheels	3200
Kit	25000
engine	9500
harness	1500
transmission	9000
Paint	3000
electronics suite	4000
Total	68200

For round numbers, let's peg it at $70k spread over three years, with the middle year incurring the greatest expenditure.

I realize budgets aren't much fun to figure out, but they are a necessary part of the pre-build. The GTM project is not simply an engineering and mechanical puzzle, there is a financial component that needs to be faced up front. If you don't have the financial wherewithal to finish the job, then don't start.

The budget doesn't reflect tool rental, shop supplies or incidentals. I plan to keep shipping costs separate. Items like powder coating parts, ceramic coating, windshield install that need to be sent out will be covered under miscellaneous expenses. My goal is to provide anyone following this build journal a good idea of where and when costs are incurred.