In 1990, 12 years since the last Falcon Cobra rolled off the line, Ford Australia started a worldwide search to find an engineering firm to establish a new performance arm in the same mold as rival to Holden Special Vehicles (HSV).

Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, this performance void was filled by third party tuning companies such as AVO, Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) and Dick Johnson Racing (DJR).

DJR had intended his company to be set up as a performance arm not unlike Peter Brock's Holden Dealer Team (HDT), but Ford was wary of such modifications due to warranty concerns.

Managing Director, David Flint, made clear this brand's intentions by stating: "Tickford have helped add further refinement, safety and confidence to the T Series range.

Aside from Falcon-based products, over the years, FTE was also responsible for a right hand drive (RHD) conversion of the fourth-generation Mustang Cobra and for promoting the European Cougar.

With the purchase of Tickford by Prodrive in 2001, FTE was replaced by the new owner's Ford Performance Vehicles (badges as "FPV") with the introduction of the BA series Falcon range in 2002.

[2] In July 1991, just prior to the formation of TVE, Ford Australia itself launched the EB Falcon S-XR8 after its decision to offer again a V8 engine option for the first time since the 1982 XE-series.

The S-XR6 model was identified by a red rocker cover with the "Tickford wings" badge, a revised head and cam saw a power increase from 148 to 161 kW (198 to 216 hp).

With this series, TVE dropped the 'S' from its range and introduced the Falcon XR's signature four-headlamp treatment, inspired by the European Ford Escort RS Cosworth.

The latter featured a more powerful 195 kW (261 hp) version of the 5.0-litre "Windsor" V8 engine, courtesy of the performance upgrades fitted to the previous year's Falcon GT "25th Anniversary".

The XR range now received a 1-piece nose cone including quad headlamp surrounds, bumper and a blanked out grille similar to the base Gli model.

LPG was not offered as a factory option on the XR6 and XR8 models New frontal styling arrived with the EL, with the nose cone featuring slightly revised headlights and a slotted grille.

Torque figures were also upped from 398 newton metres (294 ft·lbf) to 402 (296 ft·lbf) With this new-generation Falcon, TVE retained the XR8 but split the 6-cylinder range into the XR6 HP and XR6 VCT depending on engine variant.

With this limited edition XR8, Ford also provided a Sony PlayStation 2 console with a copy of Gran Turismo 3: A-spec signed by both Glenn Seton and Steven Richards as part of the package.

In 1990, Ford Australia produced an EA Falcon concept that featured a 5.8-Litre (351 cubic inch) "Windsor" V8 and race prepared suspension to give it the handling to match its acceleration.

The end product was reminiscent of the Lotus Carlton, which was based on the Opel Omega that formed the basis of the rival, second-generation Holden Commodore.

5-speed manual transmission (source: Wheels, November 1992) Trim option: Ironbark (G3)[10] Launched in 1997, this commemorative model was an evolution of its 1992 predecessor, this time based on the then new EL series.

[9] The EL GT was quite well known for its outlandish looks, penned by then Ford Australia's design chief, Steve Park (also responsible for the ill-fated AU series Falcon).

His original sketch had a silhouette akin to that of a Batmobile with a wilder wing consisting of a circular stop light mounted on a protruding centre post.

The rear wing was said to greatly reduce aerodynamic lift at speed, and unique bonnet vents were placed in a low pressure area to help engine cooling.

To allow 30th Anniversary GT to be driven in excess of 180 km/h (112 mph), a carbon-wrapped aluminium tailshaft was installed to eliminate the flex commonly found in standard Falcons.

[15] The car featured a front end setup unique to the model, consisting of re-shaped cast uprights to allow the use of larger discs (328mm instead of 287mm on regular falcons).

All T Series models used the familiar Windsor V8 Engine renamed "Synergy 5000", but was hand built to provide more power over the XR8's standard 185 kW (248 hp) and it also feature an engraved plaque with the signature of its builder.

In fact, all models were now equipped with 18-inch wheels and an all new V8 Racing-inspired bodykit, which consisted of a deeper chin spoiler, tall boot mounted wing and chunkier side and rear fascia extensions.

An all-new crankshaft, ported cylinder head and a three-piece high flow inlet manifold and conical air cleaner, resulted in engine outputs rising to 250 kW (340 hp) and 500 N⋅m (370 lb⋅ft).

The resulting Capri Clubsprint was based on the Turbo XR2 version but with added suspension upgrades to improve handling, and a bespoke bodykit (making the car strictly a 2-seater) with larger 16-inch alloy wheels.

It was effectively a long wheelbase version of the EL GT but there were key mechanical differences as it became the first local Ford to offer the US Explorer's revised Windsor V8 with the GT40P heads.

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.

[32] 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.

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.