Ford Tickford Experience

The exterior was dominated by a more purposeful mesh grille and the large flat-spoked 17 inch alloy wheels. Combined with its lower ride height, there was no mistaking it for an everyday Fairlane on VIP duty.

The GT theme extended to the interior which included sports-contoured front seats, leather and wood-rimmed Momo 4 spoke steering wheel and leather trim accents on doors, dash and centre console. Walnut inserts matching the Momo wheel were added to the door tops and T-bar surround while door handles were polished chrome. A premium 250 Watt 9 speaker audio system and alarm were also standard. This premium model came only in Navy Blue or Regency Red.

Engine: Fairlane 195 kW: Windsor 5-litre V8, OHV, electronic multi-point fuel injection, 9.00:1 compression, GT-40P Explorer heads, roller rockers, special camshaft, upgraded 65mm throttle body and engine management system, electronic ignition, low restriction extractor exhaust system, 195 kW at 4700 rpm, 410Nm at 3900 rpm (net)

Transmission: BTR M97LE, electronic 4 speed auto, GT Adaptive Shift Strategy, T-Bar shift. Ratios: 1st 2.39:1 - 2nd 1.45:1 - 3rd 1.00:1 - 4th - 0.68:1, Reverse 2.09:1

Rear axle: 3.45:1, LSD

Suspension: Front: Independent, upper and lower wishbones with urethane inner bushes, unique coil spring/strut-type dampers, GT camber and castor kit and 28 mm anti-roll bar. Modified spindle to accommodate bigger brakes.

Rear: Live axle, upper and lower longitudinal arms, transverse Watts linkage, unique variable-rate coil springs and dampers, 24 mm anti-roll bar, tuned urethane upper and lower trailing arm bushes, delete self-levelling.

Brakes: Front ventilated 329mm discs, PBR twin piston Cobra calipers, rear solid 299 mm discs. ABS

Wheels: 17" x 7.5" Speedline 6-spoke alloy

Tyres: 225/45R17 Michelin Pilot SXGT

Cougar Eibach

In 1999, the Ford Cougar was imported to Australia to capitalise on the sports coupe market, since the departure of the Ford Probe. Sales, however, were low due to shrinking demand and lack of public awareness of the Cougar name. In August 2000, FTE released 100 units of the Cougar Eibach, which featured sportier suspension and a bodykit based on a US market item, but further modified by Tickford for the Australian market. This FTE model was discontinued in April 2001. The Cougar range was discontinued in March 2004.

Mustang SVT Cobra

In 2001, to combat the release of the third-generation Holden Monaro, TVE set out on a massive project to re-engineer the fourth-generation Mustang SVT Cobra for Australia. This involved substantial revisions to the body, electronics and drivetrain. More than 250 changes were made by the time a RHD conversion was finished. The process started on the assembly line in the US, where a windscreen that conformed to the Australia Design Rules (ADR) was fitted in addition to revised wiring for the seat electronics. Other parts – such as for the lights and exhaust – were swapped in favour of Japanese specification items given they required lesser revisions to meet the ADR. In total, 250 units were sold between 2001 and 2002.

One of the biggest challenges presented by this project was the floor pan, since in left hand drive, the driver had the most space available. The engine and gearbox offset had to be reversed with the use of Tickford engineered brackets, and unique floor pan sections, to achieve the necessary space for the driver in RHD. In addition, an all new dashboard and interior trimmings had to be installed. In effect, TVE re-manufactured the Mustang at a cost of A$4 million remaining the biggest ever project for Tickford in Australia.

Sales did not meet expectations, including due to a very high A$85,000 retail price.