Within the automotive world, there are seemingly as many different car types as there are car owners. Regardless of the circle in which a car owner has become involved-musclecars, rods, customs, or classics-there are always those individuals who like to think outside the standard defined lines and create something that will echo as close to their personality as possible.
The term "hot rodder" has long been equated with someone dedicated to self-expression, one who will take attention to detail, style, technology, and performance to a whole new level. It's having the ability to take a classic shape to new heights without the fear of what others might think, while knowing in your own mind that the finished product will be downright awesome.
When Oliver "Olli" Hempel decided on his latest project, a '65 roadster from Factory Five Racing in Wareham, Massachusetts, he already had a vision of just what his ultimate Cobra would look like-one that would stand out from the rest, thanks to his hot rodder's touch.
With numerous other projects under his belt, including a custom '64 VW Beetle and a '95 Honda Civic coupe street racer, the ideas regarding his Cobra project focused equally on performance and eye-searing presentation. Starting with the base chassis from Factory Five, Olli began by smoothing it out and treating it to a coating of House of Kolors Silver White pearl. He then set up his front suspension, utilizing Factory Five Racing's upper and Ford lower A-arms, a set of Pro Shocks coilovers and Ford SN95 spindles, as well as a Flaming River rack for precise steering.
Out back, a Ford 8.8-inch traction-lock rear was filled with 3.73 gears and attached to a four-link suspension utilizing Auto Weld uppers and Factory Five lowers, while Pro Shocks coilovers smooth out any bumps in the road. Wanting the car to stop on a dime, Olli decided Ford Cobra R M2300K discs and calipers would do the job just fine when he hopped on the Fox Mustang pedal assembly to bring the snake's 17 x 9 Cobra R wheels (shod with Kumho rubber) to a halt.
When it came time to decide how much venom the roadster should have, Olli turned to Keith Craft Performance Engines in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to create a fire-breathing V-8 that would leave him breathless. Starting with a 302-inch Ford, the KCP crew massaged it to 347 inches and added plenty of goodies to beef up the powerplant, including a Scat crankshaft, forged 4340 I-beam rods, SRP flat-top 10.5:1 pistons, and a Lunati custom-ground cam. Edelbrock Victor Jr. Stage 1 aluminum heads were then ported and filled with 2.05 intake and 1.60 exhaust valves, topped with Scorpion 1.6:1 rockers. If that wasn't enough, the assembly was crowned with an Edelbrock Air-Gap port-matched intake along with a custom-built 4150 Holley 650-cfm carb by BIGS, breathing through a K&N air cleaner. With an approximate 475 horses on tap, the need for a stout transmission was in order, so Olli matched the engine to a Tremec 3550 five-speed (modified by Bob Hanlon Motorsport's of Elverson, Pennsylvania) combined with a Ford King Cobra clutch disc and pressure plate, McLeod bellhousing, and a Pro 5.0 custom mid-shift shifter for a killer combination.
With all the performance matters addressed, Olli started on the body, wanting to make the car a standout. He decided on a combination of House of Kolors Sunrise pearl accented with Black Sparkle Pearl stripes. Prepping the body himself meant endless hours of blocking and sanding to get everything just right, and when it was ready to face the spray gun, Olli laid down the gloss to create a very striking color combination. Having only the interior left to wrap up, he went to Tom's Upholstery in Butler, New Jersey, to have the Factory Five bucket seats customized with the addition of heating elements for those cold day starts and treated to a neat combination of gray velour and black vinyl. Tom's also covered the dash in a matching gray velour, which Olli filled with Auto Meter Ultra-Lite gauges, adding a Moto Lita leather-wrapped steering wheel and Simpson safety belts to finish it all off.
With countless awards to its credit already, all we can say is that this is one hot roadster that will continue to make a statement wherever it goes for years to come. KC
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 Attention to detail abounds...  Attention to detail abounds in Olli's roadster (check out the colormatched aluminum body panels). Bolted in place to the House of Kolors Silver White pearl chassis is a 347-inch Ford V-8 built by Keith Craft Performance Engines that cranks out 475 horses. The whole shebang is backed to a Tremec 3550 transmission. |
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 Bringing glimmer to the trunk,...  Bringing glimmer to the trunk, Olli added plenty of polished rivets to accent the House of Kolors Sunrise pearl, while the cool 12-volt decal is a vintage VW item. |
 Wanting a cockpit that was...  Wanting a cockpit that was totally different from the rest, Olli turned to Tom's Upholstery in Butler, NJ, to create a one-off look using a combination of gray velour and black vinyl. Auto Meter gauges and a leather-wrapped Moto Lita steering wheel are both functional and attractive. |
 Olli tuned the suspension...  Olli tuned the suspension to get a real low look and added 17 x 9-inch Cobra R wheels and Cobra R M2300K disc brakes to each corner. The rollers are wrapped in Kumho treads (245/40R17 and 275/40R17). |