By Chris Hagen
Review Staff Writer
For many, visions of retirement are spent planning fishing trip, sleeping in, and searching out a new camper to tour the country.
For Paul Borror, his post-retirement activities have consisted of preparing to compete in one of America’s largest car shows.
Borror retired three weeks ago and every one of those retirement days have been spent spinning a ratchet, tightening bolts, and polishing chrome pieces on his 2014 Factory Five MK4 Roadster.
The 62-year-old, IT professional is hoping to win first place in his category at the 63rd Annual Autorama car show in Detroit this weekend.
His automotive endeavor began in Sept. 2012 when Borror’s roadster was delivered in pieces to his garage. Borror purchased, what is commonly referred to as a ‘kit car,? from Factory Five ? a Massachusetts based company specializing in high performance, complete vehicle build kits.
Borror, who grew up a car enthusiast in Southern California and moved to Lake Orion in 2002, was able to fully order and customize his Shelby Cobra look-a-like from the ground up. Everything from his bright red Wilwood brake calipers to the Polk Audio center speakers were hand selected, assembled, and wired by Borror.
Not included in the kit were the Roadster’s engine and transmission components. Borror and a couple friends assembled and dropped-in the 475 horsepower small block V-8 engine.
His Ford 302 engine was bored and stroked to make it 347 cubic inches; a process that increases the diameter of each piston cylinder and the amount the piston travels. The 347 engine is supplied air and fuel through a double pump, four-barrel carburetor and is bolted to a 5-speed transmission.
Borror spent the following weeks assembling the dash components and the wiring harness; a job he credits to be the most challenging. Once he had the suspension, wheels, and braking components bolted on, the roadster was in what he referred to as ‘go cart stage.?
‘The fiberglass body is completely non-structural,? he said. ‘You can take the whole body off and drive it around.?
That fiberglass body was lifted off and sent to be painted by Motorcycle Solutions in Taylor. The candy red paint is flawless from bumper to bumper and the metal flake glistened as the sun passed over his home. Two white racing stripes were added to match the classic look of the original.
The MK4 is reminiscent of the 1960s classic Cobra hot rod that was created by automotive legend, Carroll Shelby. Factory Five took the time to incorporate the subtle details in their kit that mirrors the details that made the Shelby Cobra such a classic.
Those details include a fire extinguisher between the bucket racing seats, four-into-one side exhaust pipes, and a speedometer with its numbers reversed.
This isn’t Borror’s first build. He built the same sort of kit car in 2009 and entered it into the 2013 Autorama competition. Factory Five had a booth at the show and his Roadster was selected to be on display; later placing 2nd in the Hand Built Sport category.
‘I had a ton of fun doing it and I just loved hanging back and talking with people,? he said.
This year Borror has his sights set on first and believes his MK4 has what it takes to win. Professional judges will be on hand yet again for the event that will bring more than 1,000 custom cars from all over the world.
Celebrities in entertainment and God-like figures in the car world will also be present at the event hosted at Cobo Hall.
You can see Paul attempt to win as the event kicks off March 6 and wraps up March 8.
Admission is $19 for Adults and $6 for Children. Additionally, you stop by O’Reilly Auto Parts at 375 S Broadway for discounted tickets. For more information visit www.autorama.com