FFR project 818

[Hammink Performance]

Dear Subaru drivers,

My name is Freek Hammink and I think I have some fun news for Suby land!

My company Hammink Performance is distributor for Factory Five Racing in Europe.

(They are one of the largest component car builders in the world)

Next years summer they will start producing a new 2 seater sportscar, with the Subaru Impreza as it's donor.

The cars name is project 818S (Street version) or 818R (race version)

I am very curious to see how everybody likes this car, so that maybe next year we can return as a sponsor!

For more information please check out;

http://www.hamminkperformance.nl/en/pages/factory-five-racing.php

[Steve]

welcome to the club mate!

[Gambit]

Sound's Interesting. You will have to keep us all posted, and maybe show us some video's of it's test drive's. Best of luck

[Hammink Performance]

Thanks, will do!!

[Subaru Owners Club]

Welcome to the Subaru Owners Club !

[Hammink Performance]

Hi All,

Time for a small update:

There recently has been some intensive testing, of which first footage was released.

Enjoy

[Hammink Performance]

[Jay762]

Nice - sounds great, what engine is in the red one as it looks a lot smaller with the exhaust from a 1.4?

[Hammink Performance]

not sure, no engine bay shots from the red one.

I think they custom fit those tips to the car, but if they come from a 1.4 who knows it might have been the donor.

On the other hand if I see how it is chasing the race car in that picture, it almost couldn't be because the race car is lighter and turbo.

[Gambit]

Wow Sounded amazing. And thank's for sharing the video, and look forward to seeing some more of them both in action.
So what sort of speed's does the race version do. Just interested as to what sort of car's it will be racing against.

[Hammink Performance]

Not really sure yet, it's all in the testing stages still, and I get all my info from my suppliers.

I do know that the car was dyno'ed at 260hp and that the weight goal was 818 KG's

[Gambit]

Nice good power to weight ratio already. One of the best project's I've ever seen so far keep us updated please

[Hammink Performance]

Absolutely! Check this out:

[Gambit]

Now that the sort of video's I Iike to see. was better after 2,40 with the pure sound's. I'm looking foward to seeing it even more out of the testing stage now.

And over 5000 hour's of development... Just like me with my on road car :D

[Gambit]

Any updates ?

[Hammink Performance]

So far 92 kits have been sold already of which 76 street and 16 race versions.

Looks like the first one is going to be delivered at June 13 this year.

 

I do not have anymore technical stuff for you guys yet, but I'm sure I will follow up soon

[Gambit]

Nice job started to sell them already. So your out the testing stage now then I take it, or is it still on going to fine tune the car's you have sold.

[Hammink Performance]

All the development and testing is done in the US, all is going pretty much as planned and they are taking their time in finalising, and perfecting everything.

(the planned date was in June, and since the first will be delivered in June 13)

 

These cars will be sold as kits so that the customer can tear his suby down himself and reinstall everything in our 818 car

[Gambit]

Nice I like that idea too. Building it yourself. :D

[Hammink Performance]

i'll let you know when we will be taking European orders ;-)

[Gambit]

Glad to hear it ;)

[Hammink Performance]

Press release from the factory;

From concept to production in two years! Project 818 is our best work to date.

May 22, 2013 Update:

These are exciting times at Factory Five as I bring you the final pre-production update on Project 818. It is hard to believe that only two years ago this car was a concept on paper. The development team has been exceptionally disciplined, and I’m proud that everyone has met or exceeded their goals.

Less than a month remains before the newest Factory Five joins our line-up of world class build-it-yourself cars. The 818 will debut in full at our big annual Open House event to be held this year on June 15th. We plan on displaying a variety of 818 production chassis. We will have production examples of our 818S and 818R. We will also have the first 818 kits in various stages of production. If you can’t make it to our Open House, we will have full details on our website.

There’s still a lot of work to be finished before the June 15th launch. In only a few weeks, Motor Trend magazine will carry the first comprehensive test drive/evaluation, and we’re all excited to read what editor Larry Webster will write about the car.

The production crew is slightly ahead of schedule. The welding department has pulled the first production chassis out of the welding jig and chassis production has begun. The composite molding group is also ahead of schedule with completed tools and high-quality parts now in production. The packaging area is almost complete, and in a few days, we will begin packaging sub-assemblies for the 818. By the first week in June, our website should be complete with highly accurate order forms, options lists, and detailed donor parts lists.

We are also developing a line of optional parts to be released concurrently with the chassis kit of June 15th. These options include a premium soft top, upgraded Wilwood brakes, carbon fiber aero parts, upgraded shocks, and custom wheels. Ron Francis is working on a replacement wiring harness and our soft top is being made by the great guys at Rod Tops.

Street car development is complete, and the team is anxious to begin helping customers build their cars. Currently, the guys in R&D are building a brand-new 818S to be displayed at Open House. This car is being built right now to QC the assembly manual and test all production tooling. We are building the car without paint to show the quality of the molded panels.

Track testing and development continues with wind tunnel testing scheduled shortly after Open House to optimize downforce and rear difusser angles. Also, the guys have entered the 818R into the VERY competitive Ultimate Track Challenge being held at Virginia International Raceway.

Factory Five customer and test driver Wayne Presley has been selected to help build the first 818S kit with the team from Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. GRM is writing a series of articles detailing the build and the testing of the car.

We have completed our initial production plans and the guys from tech support will be contacting you in the next few weeks with updates on your production date, and once the final order forms are online, will review those with you.

 

Dave Smith

President

 

The 818S has entered production in the welding department. The final production jig is in place, the welding area is set-up, and we are manufacturing one chassis per week currently.

 

The 818 development team is building the first production 818S for the June 15th Open House. The car here will be a driving completed street car for June 15th.

 

Initial 818 composite panels are hand-laid fiberglass with bright gloss white gelcoat. We are still working on thermoform plastic panels, but are launching with these white panels.

 

Factory Fives are not like any other kit cars in that we DRIVE and RACE our designs. The 818R is about to go up against the fastest open track cars in the country at the annual Ultimate Track Challenge sponsored by Grassroots Motorsports Magazine, July 19-21!

[Gambit]

Wow massive well done to all you guys. All that in just 2 years truly amazing, bet its pretty exciting too now its here and coming off the production lines. I have to ask what is behind the name 818 ? :)

And would love to see any footage when you go to Virginia Inter Raceway.

[Hammink Performance]

Target weight 1800lbs - 818KG

[Gambit]

Yep wouldn't have guessed that I was thinking maybe the date it was 1st started or something :D