THE introduction of Ford’s Mustang to Australia is one of the automotive fairy-tail stories of the decade.
After being denied the iconic pony car for half a century – aside from a brief and forgettable appearance by the fourth-generation model between 2001 and 2003 – the 2016 model was finally built with the steering wheel on the left and right side of the car and the sportscar came Down Under.
Clearly, Australians had been busting for the latest Mustang because the entire 2016 allocation was sold out before the car even arrived and the wait list is still deep into this year, but perfect the Mustang is not.
Some pundits say the polarising EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo version doesn’t have a big enough punch for the iconic name, while others feel neither car has the bark to match the galloping horse badge, but one revenant tuner is changing all that.
Force-fed EcoBoost 2.3 or atmo 5.0-litre V8; which Tickford-tuned Mustang are you?
When it was resurrected from the ashes of a bygone era last year, Tickford blasted back into the Australian automotive scene with a range of modifications for Ford’s Ranger one-tonner but, as promised, it has now turned its attention to the mighty Mustang.
For its next act, Tickford is offering a range of exhaust and engine tuning packages that address the most common criticism of the Mustang, for customers who want the car that many say should have come directly from the factory.
For $6990, Tickford will fit a new a cold air induction kit, engine management remap, bespoke rear diffuser and a cat-back exhaust system for either V8 GT variants or the EcoBoost.
When it relaunched, Tickford focused first on a range of enhancements for the Ranger tough truck. Sign of the times?
In the case of the most popular Mustang, power from the 5.0-litre naturally aspirated Coyote engine rises by 54kW to 360kW, while torque gets a pump up to 585Nm – an improvement of 55Nm.
But with a big turbo under its hood, it is the EcoBoost that has the most eyebrow-raising gains. Power is up a more modest 37kW to 270kW but the Tickford techs have somehow found another 117Nm from 2.3 litres taking grunt up to a massive 540Nm.
The company has not detailed what effect the significant boost to performance has had on the critical acceleration figures, but with such impressive gains you would expect the 4.8-second dash of the standard GT to be dramatically improved on as well as the EcoBoost’s 5.8s dash.
Of course, if 360kW is not enough for the GT, the company can also fit a full-blown (literally) supercharger kit courtesy of Ford Performance Parts for the ultimate in V8 performance and noise.
Carbon-fibre exits and a tailored diffuser add a racecar derived feel to the Mustang as well as louder report to match the looks.
For those customers content with their Mustang muscle, Tickford also offers a more affordable package that leaves the engine untouched but focuses on the aural appreciation with an exhaust-only pack.
For $3990, Tickford will swap the more conservative standard exhaust for the same bespoke stainless version from the power pack, minus the engine mods, for more volume, engine note character and a more serious look.
GT versions get a quad system with 3.0-inch carbon-fibre-clad pipes, whereas the EcoBoost gets four 2.5-inch outlets also in carbon, with both versions framed by a new rear diffuser that was designed specifically to house the uprated system.
But Tickford is not stopping there in its mission to perfect the popular sports coupe and convertible.
The specially-designed exhaust is stainless steel from the catalytic converter all the way to the post pipes.
If you have a bit more cash to splash on your Mustang, Tickford will sell you a gorgeous set of 20-inch alloy wheels that have 10 slender spokes, are decorated in a smart satin black finish and measure a whopping 11-inches wide on the back axle.
For your $4490 you get Dunlop SP Sport Maxx rubber, a tyre pressure monitoring system, locking wheel nuts to make sure the big rims remain yours, and Tickford’s redesigned badges in the centres.
Look closely and you’ll spot a set of Brembo six-piston brake callipers hiding behind those big rollers and, while the tuner has nothing to announce regarding an uprated anchor option, it is likely braking will be the next package offered.
Next from the tuner, a race-proved Brembo brake upgrade is expected as previewed here housed in the massive Tickford wheel set.
Beyond that, Tickford is also lined up to announce an uprated suspension package, which would offer owners a sharpened chassis to match the power and performance upgrades.
The winged-T badge will not be new to Fast Ford fans with the tuner previously operating until 2001, enhancing the performance of Ford’s Falcon in its various generations.
Tickford produced sharper versions of the Ford Falcon between 1991 and 2001 at its Broadmeadows HQ, just a stones throw from the Ford factory.
When Tickford owners Prodrive launched its new venture Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) the Tickford brand was shelved, but with the end of FPV and local Ford production last year, it was the perfect time to dust off the brand.
If you see a Mustang wearing Tickford badges on the road or at a track day then watch out. It looks like the Australian Ford tuning specialist is honing the popular Mustang into one of the sharpest sportscars you can buy.
Daniel Gardner GoAuto.com.au
