All Ford Day highlight – 2022 Herrod ‘DJR 40th Anniversary’ Mustang

Since its release as a factory right-hand drive model, Ford’s sixth-generation Mustang has become a common sight on Australian roads. In the past few years, Mustangs have become much more common at the All Ford Day in Geelong, too, thanks to dedicated Mustang clubs, like Pony 6G and the Victorian chapter of the Mustang Owners’ Club of Australia that now attend this annual event in big numbers.

The 2024 All Ford Day saw dozens of late-model Mustangs, both standard and custom, on display, but one of the more interesting was this heavily-modified example from Herrod Performance, created in tribute to Australian motor racing legend, Dick Johnson.

The ‘Dick Johnson Racing 40th Anniversary Mustang’ was a limited-edition created in the same vein as other short-run performance Mustangs from Herrod, like the R-Spec, Dick Johnson and Scott McLaughlin limited-editions.

Introduced to mark the 40th Anniversary of Dick Johnson’s famous win at the 1981 Bathurst 1000, the Herrod DR 40th featured multiple upgrades to a Mustang GT fastback.

The example pictured is #59 (from a planned run of 100) and was built to the highest specification, meaning everything Herrod offered in the DJR 40th package was thrown at it – and then some. A Whipple 3.0-litre supercharger for the Coyote 5.0 V8, plus an intercooler, PWR radiator, transmission cooler, retuned Magneride suspension and larger sway bars were the key changes. Cosmetic additions include a full bodykit, 20-inch Herrod/DJR wheels and a Herrod steering wheel.

All of this was standard for the DJR 40th Mustang, but this particular car received more.

The engine was fully rebuilt using premium parts, a Shelby GT 350 oil pan was fitted, along with Herrod performance headers and a larger exhaust system. A diff cooler, larger supercharger pulley and upgraded Brembo brakes were also added.

The Grabber Blue finish on this car has been ‘paint corrected’, with PPF film applied to key areas and a self-healing ceramic coat added, too.

In the cabin, the rear seats were deleted and the fronts replaced with Recaro buckets and Velo four-point racing harnesses. A Herrod roll cage has also been fitted.

According to an info board presented alongside this car, it puts out 550kW and 909Nm (738hp and 670lb/ft). This was apparently the only example of the limited-edition DJR 40th Mustang to receive an engine rebuild and all the additional equipment mentioned, making it a one off.

For JUST CARS’ report from the 2024 All Ford Day, click HERE.