After all these years, FlaRalph's #98 Coupe submitted for graduation.
For those of you who don't know, Ralph Littlefield ( FlaRalph ) purchased one of the very first Coupe kits from Factory Five ( in 2000...2001? ) and slowly built his dream. Tragically, Ralph lost his battle with cancer and the Coupe went up for sale. Having always wanted a Coupe, I reluctantly sold my Roadster to new owners ( and now friends ) in Laguna Niguel. Purchasing a car sight unseen, exchanging funds, MSO's etc. was easy thanks to Ralph's Widow, Debbie who was very gracious and helpful, as was Ron Raimonda of Performance Automotive who was storing the Coupe. While I changed many things as I completed the Coupe, either to suit my own tastes, or out of necessity, I did not stray far from the foundation that had been laid. Having grown up around vintage racing, I lean toward period correctness as it seems Ralph did as well. Some of what has been done over the past year and a half:
New 347 crate engine from Prestige Motorsports. 480hp, 450tq.
Rebuilt IRS center section, including gear swap from 2.73 t0 3.31
New carpets professionally cut and installed by a friend's upholstery shop
Much of the electrical re-wired
Hundreds of tweaks, leaks and general sorting out issues.
Immediate future upgrades:
Brakes
Extra set of open sidepipes ( currently being fabricated )
Like my house, the Coupe may never be fully done, but with 500 miles on the clock and having just completed a 200 mile road trip ( boy that was fun! ) from Tucson to Pinetop for Run to the Pines car show without a single issue it's time #98 graduated.
Yep, I agree! Ralph is defintely smiling with a thumbs up! Looks great, Dave! So happy to see it on the road. Sweet, sweet ride!
Garry
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The Bopp Shop
Coupe # 031 with 422" Windsor by Southern Automotive (dash autographed by Peter Brock)
Mk III # 5021 (SOLD)
Unique 427 Roadster with 482"FE by Southern Automotive
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Bill D
FFR 3378 - 503 BB, $old and missed
RCR GT40 - 1051P clone, $old
FFR 7991 - becoming a 289 FIA with a Mr. Bruce body, 331, dual quads, T-5, IRS, Trigo pin drive wheels, and Goodyear billboards http://www.bills289fia.com
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MK4 delivery 12/17/11
Build thread: HERE
Epic First start video HERE
427w ford racing, stainless headers, 3link, tko600, 3.55 gears, Jim Inglese weber intake system and a custom paint job from Jeff Miller!
Type 65 Coupe Ordered 01/17/13
Build thread: HERE
347 w. stack injection, IRS, Levy arms, Levy front and rear brakes
Dave, like others have said, great job and love to see Ralph's car on the road...I'm sure he will be your invisible copilot as you take the car out for exercise...
Dave,
You did an absolutely great job. Beautiful car.
Hopefully i'll have enough confidence in mine that i can go on some of the future rides with you guys.
mike
I can remember reading Ralph's post about his Coupe.
It looks great!
Paul
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FFR 4859GT 414W, Tremec TKO 5spd. IRS w/3.55 and Torsen diff. 13" dual-piston front & 12" rear disc brakes. 03 Cobra wheels, 275/40 & 315/35 tires. Possibly the only person in the world that is currently building a Spyder GT.
"A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'"
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Started Dec 1/07 and on the road Sept /09.
Candy blue with metalic silver stripes,clearcoat wetsanded to 2000 grit.
331 Stroker,"CNC" Keith Craft Brodix heads, HP=ALOT, tremec 5 speed, 3.73 Traction Lock, 4 wheel power disc brakes. Koni coilovers, A/C, Glass Hatch, carpet, Kirkey seats, Leather Wheel,180 mph reverse speedo, Sony system,18" cobra wheels, wide M/T on the rear, Eagle F1 tires, single Magnaflow exhaust with heat shields.
Twin Turbos are installed:) HP=ALOT + 60% more.
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Ordered Type 65 Coupe Complete Kit Aug 29, 2012 - The 50-50 $ale!
Standard Width IRS; Halibrand Wheels, Front 17x9, Rear 17x10.5 . . . .
Kit Arrived: Oct 9, 2012
Build Started: Oct 28, 2012
First Start: _
Go Kart: _
Paint: _
Dave
I'm glad to see that you're on the road and enjoying your coupe.
It's a beautiful car and you deserve to be very proud of it.
I look forward to seeing it in person in the near future.
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Trout
Imagination is more important than knowledge...
Al Einstein
Coupe S/N 377 Purchased April 4, 2008 from John Cameron, Agua Dulce, CA
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