From the Classifieds: Ford’s ultimate BA Falcon?

Ford Australia was on a roll once the BA Falcon series debuted in 2022.

It had forsaken its Tickford relationship for Ford Performance Vehicles and introduced Boss and Barra engines to finally give Holden and HSV a run for their money.

As ever, the racers wanted to take things another step forward. Enter Ford legend Dick Johnson.

It wasn’t the first time the popular Queenslander dipped his toe into modified Falcon waters; there was the fascinating turbo-six powered XE ‘Grand Prix’ of the early-1980s, and there was a stillborn EA Falcon project meant to match-up to the Brock version.

But it took the BA Falcon’s bones – and a joint-venture partnership with Ford aftermarket guru Rob Herrod – to really deliver.

Reports at the time stated that Herrod had his own idea for an enhanced BA, but when DJR’s then-general manager Steve Chalker contacted him for some DJR 320 hardware, it made sense to develop the one vehicle rather than compete.

“Initially, DJR was going to build them in the race shop but there just isn’t the facility up there to do it. My thoughts were I build good road cars, you build good race cars, let me built the road cars and you guys market it,” Herrod explained at the time.

Taking the 260kW 2004 BAII Falcon XR8 as a base, the DJR 320 gained bespoke camshafts, exhaust and intake systems and a recalibrated tune to liberate 320kW and 540Nm, the latter representing a 40Nm increase.

In handling terms, Dick himself did a lot of the development driving and he specified a Koni adjustable shock package, lowered ride height and progressive-rate springs.

DJR had BBS design a 19-inch alloy wheel package and tapped long-time sponsor Dunlop for SP Sport 9000 tyres, measuring 245/35 at the front and 285/30 at the rear – far stouter than its BA GT cousin.

Race brake expert Alcon supplied a monster braking system, fitting monobloc six-piston front callipers clamping 366mm discs; the rears featured four pistons per corner and 340mm discs.

Five-speed manuals were fitted with a DJR ‘sure-shift’ kit to liven up the T5’s recalcitrant stock shifter, while the four-speed auto could also be specified.

As ever with these builds, there is speculation on the total number built; some say 20, others 14, and the owner of the 07 car we’re featuring here says ‘around 28’.

There was a mix of five-speed manual and four-speed automatic transmissions, and build number 02 was the only documented utility.

It’s a five-speed manual car that’s done only 94,000km, with the owner saying there are “only two things different on this car from when it was built, tyres and a tune”.

Said to have completed only 25,000km during its 11 years with the current owner, the car is described as “amazing” with brakes, suspension and sound all being “perfect”.

The expansive photo set bears this description out. The aggressive bonnet treatment and gorgeous alloys stand out, while the DJR-embossed sports seats take centre stage inside.

More unique than a BA GT, and with the true touch of a Ford legend, is this the ultimate BA Falcon?

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