The 2018 Grand National Roadster show was a gas. Rod Authority was on the ground and it took us several days to soak in all the cars, kustoms and culture.

The thing about any hot rod show is you never know where you see the rig that’ll knock you out. It could be in the show-and-shine lot or hidden away in a corner away from the main hall or hot spot. That’s what happened to us when we were making our way out to our RV to take a breather. We stumbled upon Factory Five Racing’s (FFR) display and their latest model, the Hot Rod Pickup.

Boy, what a beauty.

Think of all the handling and technology of the FFR Hot Rod massaged with a new extended frame, new body/cab and a bench seat and pickup bed to make this truck the perfect autocross–and Costco–contender.

This prototype Hot Rod Truck was built out with a vintage, ratty look that was darn near perfect. Finished out in a copper, root beer brown with matching steel spoke wheels, bronze and brass trim, this little truck sits just right and is packed with all the latest heavy hitter gear combined with trademark FFR engineering and quality.

Is it possible FFR has been around for 23 years? Yup, according to their website, “Factory Five Racing was founded in 1995. Over the years we have grown from a start-up business in a small garage to become the world’s largest manufacturer of “build-it-yourself” component car kits. We employ a full-time crew of about 40 people, and are located in Wareham, Massachusetts (about an hour south of Boston). We make our products right here in the USA, in the heart of New England where American manufacturing was born.”

We caught up with Dave Smith, owner and guru at Factory Five Racing, and he brought us up to speed on their little Hot Rod Truck and when the rig would be available for order.

Dave recounts the gestation of their new pick-up, “Our ‘35 Hot Rod Truck, like all Factory Fives, has performance at it’s core, but this one more than all of the others is about cruising style.The way we develop new products at Factory Five is unique. We have a small but talented design and engineering team. Jim Schenck does the core design work, and Jesper Ingerslev adds the engineering muscle. My job is to describe the design goals.”

“The ‘35 Hot Rod Truck keeps the core performance capability that we’re known for, but from the design goals on up, we added comfort and functionality goals. Our other cars are two passenger sports cars, and while this isn’t a four passenger, the bench seat means you and your girl can bring the dog or a kid. Standard power windows with door frame window surrounds mean air conditioning and heater/defroster make this truck modern-day comfortable,” he added.

The pick-up bed with angled sides made of stainless steel looks good, but importantly, is also functional. I suppose a trailer hitch is the next logical step!

Even though this truck will be capable of serious performance, we built a cruiser and a period-correct pick-up that is pure street rodder fun. I hope you like what we’ve done, and I’m proud to add the ‘35 to our line-up of “build-it-yourself” vehicles.”

The beta build you see here—VIN 0001—debuted at SEMA 2017, but they showed it off at GNRS 2018 as well. Running a small block, BluePrint Engines, 306 Ford with 390hp and 370 ft-lbs of torque, it’s connected to a Monster Transmission C4 Automatic transmission. All this hooks up to an 8.8 inch Ford rear end, FFR four link rear suspension, coil over and disc brakes.

The front suspension is an in-house designed, inboard coil-over setup borrowed from the FFR Hot Rod and has all the benefits of that system’s adjustability and quality.

The options are endless for this truck. Turquoise metal flake paint, Astros and whitewall, pie cutter slicks? Or murdered out pavement pounder? What’s your fancy? Former Power Automedia editor Mark Gearhart will be getting one of the first kits and here’s a render of the Pro Mod look he’s going for.

Whatever the flavor, we’d add A/C and a bluetooth system and hit the show and shines, not to mention cars and coffee, or just plain coffee.

A run to aforementioned Costco would be a whole new experience in this little truck and after stocking up on oversize containers of food you really don’t need, you could head over to the local skidpad and smoke the competition.

Response has been positive and deposits, brisk. According to Factory Five, “As of right now we’ve booked and scheduled 28 trucks. Those are solid orders not pre-orders. February and March will have all four beta build trucks shipped with production scheduled at 1 per week in April and 2 per week starting in May. An order placed today will see a July/August ship date.”

Factory Five’s motto “Built not bought,” is really more than a slogan and we can’t wait to see how many different ways the truck can be tailored to each buyers individual taste.

With a retail price under $20K, the FFR Hot Rod kit comes with the following gear:

Frame:

Complete jig-welded tube frame based on Factory Five ‘33 Hot Rod chassis, but with rear chassis extension for truck bed and functional gate. Includes all mounts ready to accept small block Ford, 4.6L, 5.0L Coyote, and Chevy SB and LS engines.

Proven 3-link rear suspension

Body:

Hand laid 3/16” laminate composite body and panels made with vinylester resin.

Driver and passenger doors with molded door liners

Includes secondary body fasteners assembly.

Adhesive backed foam weatherstrip

Door edge trim and fasteners

Includes multi-adjustable door hinges with bronze bushings with fasteners

Includes tailgate hinge kit, hinge support plates and fasteners

Stainless steel-lined composite bedsides and tailgate

Chassis Aluminum Panels:

Includes CNC laser cut, pre-formed 6061-T6 aluminum panels for cockpit, trunk, and engine bay.

Pre-packaged rivets; 1/8” short and long, 3/16” short and long

Complete cockpit aluminum

1/8” firewall between engine and passenger compartment

Complete Front Suspension:

Unequal length A-arm control arms with in-board coil-over shock suspension. Comes complete with all parts and fasteners.

KONI™ brand high-performance nickel-plated, rod-end shock absorbers

Coil-over kit for KONI™ dampers including spring hat, threaded seat and black powder coated performance springs

Adjustable lower control arms with ball joints and fasteners

Upper tubular control arms with ball joints and fasteners

Grade-8 mounting hardware

Factory Five Rear Suspension:

Our all-new-for-the-truck 3-link rear suspension is standard and includes control arms, panhard bar, fasteners, and shocks. It uses a Mustang 8.8” rear solid axle and brakes. Comes with all hardware required for installation.

3-Link Suspension

KONI™ brand high-performance nickel-plated, rod-end shock absorbers

Coil-over kit for KONI™ dampers including spring hat, threaded seat and black powder coated performance springs

Factory Five tubular upper and rear lower control arms, with polyurethane bushings and fasteners

Panhard bar and upper link

Complete Front Brake Kit:

Custom spindles with fasteners

Front hubs, fasteners and dust covers

Front brakes, Ford Mustang 11” front rotors with twin piston PBR calipers, brake pads and fasteners

Master cylinder (listed in pedal box assembly), stainless braided brake line, front and rear with mount clips, banjo bolts and brake line mounting fasteners

Pre-flared 3/16” brake line and brake line T-adapter

E-brake handle and fasteners

Complete Steering System:

Complete steering system using rear steer manual rack from tie rod ends and fasteners to steering wheel and badges.

Manual steering rack with inner and outer tie rod ends and fasteners

Polyurethane steering rack bushing and fasteners

Nickel plated lower steering shaft

Steering system, including flange bearings and fasteners

Custom Ididit tilt steering column with frame mounts

Complete Fuel System/Parts:

This assembly provides everything from the gas cap to the lines, and is designed to work with carburetors or fuel injection systems. External fuel pump required.

Fuel tank with mounting hardware, vent, gaskets, pick-up and fuel level sending unit

Fuel filler neck and fasteners

Pre-flared fuel lines (1/4” and 5/16”) with unions, barbs, hose clamps and high press flex lines and fasteners

Aircraft style brushed aluminum fuel cap with gaskets, ground strap, fuel hose to tank with fasteners

3/8” line fuel filter, connectors and hose clamps

Complete Cooling System/Parts:

Electric cooling fan and mounting hardware, radiator hoses, and all necessary fasteners.

Electric cooling fan and mounting kit with connectors

Aluminum radiator with cap and filler neck

Stainless steel radiator hose kit includes adapter kit, fasteners and hose

Overflow tank with cap, hoses, hose clamps and mounting hardware

185-degree thermostat switch and wiring

Engine Accessories:

The ‘35 Hot Rod Truck kit is configured to accommodate the engine of your choice.

Engine/transmission mounts (select 302/351, 4.6L, 5.0L Coyote, SB and LS Chevy), with fasteners

Exhaust, with gaskets and fasteners

Driveshaft:

Select from one of seven available driveshafts with fasteners to match the engine/trans of your choice.

28 spline driveshaft for T-5, AOD, or Tremec 3550s

31 spline driveshaft for Tremec TKO 500 or 600s

31 spline driveshaft for 4.6L or 5.0L Coyote engines with T-45s or 3650s

31 spline for LS engine with TKO transmission

31 spine for SB Chevy with TKO transmission

Gauges, Dash, and Electrical Assembly:

Complete assembly comes with dash buttons, and indicator lights, switches, and horn.

• Custom fit chassis wiring harness

• Ignition switch and FFR key, headlight switch, hi-low beam switch, starter solenoid and horn button

• Dash indicators: green, blue dash lights (LED)

• Wiring harness mounting kit and hardware including fuse panel mount

• Insulated line clip hardware and fasteners and cable ties

• Battery ground strap

• Speedometer sending unit, pigtail, fasteners and speedometer gear

• A complete set of six Autometer

Platinum electronic gauges, with connectors, terminals and installation kit

Includes the following gauges:

• Speedometer

• Tachometer

• Oil Pressure Gauge

• Water Temperature Gauge

• Fuel Level Gauge

• Voltmeter

Complete Interior Accessories:

The ‘35 Hot Rod Truck kit comes with all the interior accessories you need and want. Bucket or bench seating, door latches, rear view mirrors, and more complement the dash and gauges assembly for a full interior.

Check out this full list of standard parts and assemblies:

Metal framed bucket seats, black vinyl with fasteners or bench seat

5-point Simpson brand harnesses;

3” wide driver and passenger, frame mounted with fasteners

Complete cockpit carpet set, black all-weather

Emergency brake boot, black leather

Interior rear view mirror with fasteners

6-gauge electronic Autometer Platinum gauges (see description above in gauge assembly)

Interior door latches and fasteners

Leather shifter boot and fasteners

Pleated door panels

Stitched arm rest

14” banjo style steering wheel with chrome boss and center logo badge

Exterior Accessories and Lighting:

Along with the goodies on the inside of the car, the ‘35 Hot Rod Truck kit is loaded with the right exterior parts and trim on the outside.

• DOT safety glass windshield

• License plate light and bracket with fasteners

• Headlamp assemblies, including chrome buckets, halogen headlamps, with integral (LED) turn signal, and fasteners

• Red rear LED tail lights

• Lighting is DOT approved

Complete Pedal Box and Components:

The ‘35 Hot Rod Truck kit utilizes the proven Wilwood brand pedal box with fasteners and all the required ancillary parts.

• Wilwood pedal box and mounting hardware

• Master cylinders

• Accelerator pedal, accelerator cable, return spring and ball stud retainer, with fasteners

• Brake line adapters and T-fittings

Assembly Manual:

Bound assembly manual that is full of pictures, diagrams, and CAD drawings.

Fasteners:

More than 1,600 top quality zinc plated, chrome and stainless steel USS, metric and SAE fasteners, numbered and packed individually by assembly.

All you need to add

Engine/transmission, rear end, rear brakes, wheels and tires, paint, battery and fuel pump.

Stay tuned to Rod Authority for all the latest updates on Factory Five’s Hot Rod Truck.