Premcar builds track-day Falcon

Premcar has turned its hand to modifying turbo-six Falcons for track day use, offering a turn-key package for "around $35-40,000," according to the company's Engineering Director Bernie Quinn.

"We'd spoken about delving into the aftermarket a few times, but I was always wary of the brand implications," Quinn has told motoring.com.au.

"It had to be different. It had to be about robust engineering, and with that comes time and cost, so we couldn't compete on price in the past."

The company, better known for its engineering of Ford Performance Vehicles products and its growing engineering work in China, boasts a world-class facility that embarked on the new project rather than wait around for the "peaks and troughs" of the local market to level out.

"When we're in China, we might not have a lot on in Melbourne. This project gives us the chance to use our facility and keep the guys involved locally."

The opportunity to buy ex-NSW Police Falcon XR6 Turbos to convert into turn-key products removes most of the build time factor, while using the Falcon base enables Premcar to "leverage off our knowledge of the car," according to Quinn.

Three Premcar Falcon Turbos have already been sold, offering "focused performance on-par with a $90,000 HSV."

How Premcar achieves this performance is a combination of thorough engineering and sensible modifications that "won't affect durability," Quinn says.

"The police cars arrive with between 80-90,000km travelled, and they have undergone extensive warranty and scheduled servicing before we've acquired them.

"We go over them thoroughly in the workshop and refresh items such as diff bushings and driveshafts where needed. We add a larger transmission oil cooler [the three built so far are all six-speed automatics] and combine a reduced back pressure exhaust with an enhanced intake system and larger fuel injectors. We can then add some boost in without affecting durability, thanks to the reduced internal pressures.

"With the XR6 Turbo you are limited in outright power by the turbo compressor, but we've managed to achieve an output of 320kW... perhaps a little more. It's also generating massive torque in the region of 700Nm. It's really impressive."

Local company Shockworks provides the coilover suspension package, which offers bump and rebound adjustment as well as adjustable-height spring platforms. "We've worked with Brett at Shockworks for many years. We installed his package and took the development car out to Winton for a day to fine-tune it. It sits low, but not so low it hits the bump stops, and the ride is acceptable for what it is," explains Quinn.

Thanks to standard-fit four-piston Brembo brakes (another perk of purchasing an ex-Police vehicle) with upgraded pads the Premcar Falcon Turbo also stops well. "There's some aggression in the pad, it squeals a bit until its warm but the stopping power is much improved," says Quinn. Kumho 91S tyres ("as close to an R-spec tyre as you can go") measuring 245 up-front and 275 at the rear are fitted to forged 19-inch TSW wheels.

Premcar offers these vehicles with VASS approval, so they can be registered with the integrated roll-over protection system installed. Other track-biased kit includes a fire extinguisher, secondary bonnet restraint, tow hooks and ignition kill switch. For those track-only demons, a six-point safety cage can be fitted with racing seats and harnesses, and there's even an integrated VBox Lite which provides in-car camera and offers circuit analysis and predictive lap timing.

Although Quinn agrees that individual parts supply "is the logical next step" he is, as ever, developing the commercial plan before proceeding. "It makes sense, but it's not concrete," he says.

Also possible is the track day package roll-out to other Ford product. "The XR8 is the obvious car," he says. "We could probably use the same suspension package, tuned to suit the different weight balance and tyre/wheel package..."