Ford Australia and Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) certainly built some memorable performance Falcon sedans over the years. A lesser-known model was the DJR 320, a performance car based on the BA XR8 Falcon, that was introduced in 2003.
The DJR 320 was the result of a joint venture between five-time Australian Touring Car Champion Dick Johnson, who helped to develop and sell the car through his Queensland racing facility, and Ford performance specialist, Rob Herrod, who assembled the cars. Initially, DJR was going to build the DJR 320 in the race shop but at the time the facility didn’t allow this. More than 12 months of development effort went into the DJR 320, with Johnson regularly travelling to Herrod’s Melbourne workshop. Each vehicle was individually numbered and personally tested by Dick Johnson. There’s some uncertainty regarding how many cars were built, but it’s thought to be about 20. When new, the DJR 320 had a retail price starting around $90,000, about a $20,000 premium on FPV’s range-topping GT-P.
The DJR had the same 5.4 Litre V8 engine as the BA XR8 but it’s 320kW output was achieved by using DJR camshafts, a high flow dual exhaust system with twin tailpipes, cold-air intake and engine control unit modifications. Power was up 60kW on the BA XR8 and 30kW on the FPV GT and torque was up 40Nm on the BA XR8 and 20Nm on the FPV GT, with the DJR 320 making 540Nm. Transmission choices were Falcon’s standard four-speed sequential shift auto or a five-speed manual with a DJR “sure-shift” gearshift assembly.
Brakes provided massive stopping power, with 365x35mm slotted and ventilated front discs with six-piston Alcon monoblock callipers, plus 343x28mm rear discs with four-piston callipers and braided brake lines. There were also adjustable Koni dampers front and rear and special-rate progressive coil springs with a lowered ride height.
There was a completely retrimmed and colour-coded interior for the DJR 320, which included unique front and rear seats, sports steering wheel, Momo gearknob, DJR instruments and Premium six-CD sound system. DJR logos could be found on each headrest, the tacho and speedo, and door sill trims.
Exterior wise, there was a model specific rear wing, staggered width 19-inch BBS Motorsport alloys with 245/35-section front and 285/30-section rear Dunlop SP Sport 9000 tyres and a unique front bumper with wide front air dam and a lower chin-insert. DJR 320 badging and a black and silver painted insert within bonnet bulge also distinguished this car from the XR8 and GT. Bodywork was designed by DJR and manufactured by UP Industries under its C2R brand, using R-RIM (Reinforced Reactive Injection Moulding) plastic.
There are currently two of these cars advertised on Carsales, one for $120,000 and the other for $105,000. Unfortunately, not many examples of the DJR 320 were built but they are a rare and often forgot about piece of Ford Australia’s motoring history.
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