The Tickford badge will return this year to adorn fast Fords once more, as reported in the October 2016 issue of Wheels.
Supercars team Prodrive Racing Australia is behind the return, with customised Ford Rangers and Mustangs the first products to be made available.
Customers will be able to come to the ‘new’ Tickford for personalisation options on their current 2016 Rangers. These modifications include powertrain and ride and handling tuning, plus exterior and interior styling upgrades.
Instead of buying hotted up cars outright, Tickford customers can come to the group with their cars, and pick from a number of different packages to enhance their vehicle.
Tickford CEO, and Prodrive Racing Australia Team Principal, Tim Edwards, says the Supercar team’s ability to fabricate parts gives them a unique advantage.
“Everyone at Tickford is excited to be providing Australian automotive enthusiasts with a new option for vehicle personalisation, while ensuring we maintain the strong engineering roots of the brand’s previous incarnations,” he said.
“We’ve been working for nearly two years, away from the public eye, to ensure we developed a strong business model with a set of guiding principles which allows us to develop and deliver premium products.
“The Australian vehicle personalisation market has a long and well-credentialed history, but we felt the time was right to provide a fresh take on things and give Blue Oval fans something extra to be passionate about.
“We’re lucky to have class-leading product in Ranger and Mustang to start our personalisation program.
“This has allowed us to focus strongly on component development and testing so we come to market with components tested to manufacturers’ standard and backed by our own warranty.
“This ensures the best possible product and maximum peace-of-mind for our customers.”
Edwards is confident Prodrive will be able to do justice to the Tickford name, which last operated in Australia in 2001.
“Tickford has been a much-heralded automotive brand since its inception and has delivered performance programs for a wide variety of models and we intend to continue that tradition,” he added.
“We are direct descendants of Tickford’s last incarnation and think delivering personalisation packages for the iconic Mustang halo car and class-leading Ranger is both in keeping with Tickford’s history, while also a clear nod to the future.
“The local automotive engineering industry is enduring its most challenging time ever so we see the re-emergence of Tickford and with it a new generation of Australian performance vehicles, as the ideal way to give vehicle enthusiasts something to get excited about.”
Tickford’s available tweaks for the Ranger are separated out into the Powertrain Upgrade, Suspension, Wheel/Tyre Upgrade, plus Interior and Exterior styling options.
The Powertrain Upgrade will cost $7,995 fitted, and includes an upgraded intercooler and exhaust, with a custom diesel tune. Tickford claims this will result in a 15-percent boost in power, and 20-percent boost in torque. It is all covered under warranty, and you even get a tailgate decal thrown in.
Tickford says the upgrade packages for Mustang are set to arrive by late this year.
