Ford Mustang DJR 40th Anniversary 2022 Review

This monster version of the 2022 Ford Mustang is a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Dick Johnson’s first Bathurst victory and the long-standing relationship between Ford tuning guru Rob Herrod and the laconic Queensland racing legend.

While technically the 40th Anniversary of Johnson’s first Mount Panorama success was in 2021, the continuing uncertainty surrounding vehicle production meant Herrod and his team had to wait until the required allocation of Mustangs could be secured before committing to the project.

Just 100 examples will be produced, split between Australia and New Zealand.

Pricing for the 2022 Ford Mustang DJR 40th Anniversary is yet to be finalised and depends somewhat on the exact spec of the base vehicle. But you’re looking at a price tag of around $130,000, including the Ford Mustang GT donor car.

The substantial price premium over the standard car – which currently starts at $64,190 plus on-road costs – brings with it an equally substantial increase in power and performance.

At the heart of the DJR 40th is a 3.0-litre Whipple HP Gen X V supercharger that’s installed atop of the Mustang’s 5.0-litre V8.

This increases outputs from the standard 339kW and 556Nm to an enormous 578kW and 810Nm, putting the Herrod Mustang up there with some of Australia’s most powerful cars like the Ferrari 812 Superfast and Lamborghini Aventador SVJ.

It's also probably about 250kW more than Dick Johnson had aboard his XD Falcon on his way to that 1981 Bathurst victory.

Extra cooling for the engine and transmission attempt to keep temperatures under control and a new exhaust made to Herrod’s specifications gives the DJR 40th an appropriately menacing soundtrack.

Further improvements include larger wheels and tyres, the former measuring 20x10-inch front and 20x11-inch rear and the latter 275/30 and 305/30 respectively on this prototype. The final car is set to increase front tyre width to 285mm.

Our test car’s tyres were Michelin Pilot Super Sports, but these will make way for Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S on the finished product.

Suspension tweaks include new springs, adjustable sway bars and a unique Herrod calibration for the MagneRide adjustable dampers.

The bigger wheels and ride height drop improve the car’s stance and the styling package is further enhanced by the jutting front splitter and massive, downforce-producing rear wing with gurney flap.

Inside, a chunky new steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara and the seats are retrimmed in leather with embroidered logos, as well as a dash plaque to remind you what you’ve bought.

There are many good reasons you might want to buy the 2022 Ford Mustang DJR 40th Anniversary.

For starters, there’s the fact that the exterior enhancements are extremely well judged – this is a very attractive machine with a strong ‘just one more look’ factor.

Then there’s its ludicrous performance.

Floor the throttle, the transmission kicks down and get ready for full sensory overload. The roar of the engine, shriek of the supercharger and fearsome acceleration combine to turn your brain to mush, each gear in the 10-speed auto being devoured as quickly as you can count.

It's impressive how much of the grunt can be effectively used, too. Respect is required, of course, but this isn’t some wayward, wheel-spinning lunatic.

This is a credit to the smoothness of the throttle response, the larger tyres and the work done to the suspension.

The Mustang is too heavy to ever be a razor-sharp sports car, but any fans of traditional rear-wheel drive dynamics will certainly enjoy the experience.

It's worth mentioning that the coolant temp did rise during some sustained enthusiastic driving but this was on a very hot day and backing off quickly brought it back down.

It’s also no cause for concern as the engine is clever enough to detect anything untoward and adjust itself accordingly should temperatures be high or fuel quality off, or similar.

Arguably the greatest feature of the Herrod DJR 40th, though, is its civility. For all its ferocious power, to drive day-to-day this super-special-edition is no more challenging or intimidating than a standard Mustang.

There are no jerks or stutters or hesitations on part-throttle, the exhaust is quiet when cruising, the gearbox remains smooth in its changes and Herrod’s MagneRide calibration offers a very pleasant ride in its standard mode, firming up progressively through Sport and Track.

A near-800bhp Ford Mustang is a fairly niche proposition, but it’s also easy to see the appeal of the 2022 Ford Mustang DJR 40th Anniversary.

The fact that you can have something way more powerful and exclusive with little compromise to the standard car’s driveability is impressive.

Of course, this comes at a price, both up front and at the fuel bowser, too. Unsurprisingly, if you regularly tap into those 578kW, the Herrod Mustang swallows juice at a fearsome rate.

Anyone who’s a fan of Dick Johnson or Aussie racing history, or anyone who wants a Ford Mustang that stands out from the crowd and offers something more, will find plenty to like.

Ever since the Ford Mustang hit Australian shores, Herrod Performance has been offering powered-up, supercharged examples of the iconic pony car, so it’s as safe a bet as any if you choose to go down this path.

After all, Herrod was behind the factory-backed Ford Mustang R-Spec.

The Whipple-supercharged 2022 Ford Mustang DJR 40th Anniversary is on the wilder side of the equation, but still retains its manners and Herrod’s second-stage manufacturer certification means its modified Mustangs are legal in all states and territories.

The DJR 40th looks good, sounds good and the power can’t help but put a smile on your face.

How much does the 2022 Ford Mustang DJR 40th Anniversary cost?
Price: $130,000 estimated (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now, via Herrod Performance
Engine: 5.0-litre V8 supercharged petrol
Output: 578kW/810Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel: TBC
CO2: TBC
Safety rating: Three-star (ANCAP 2017)