EL Falcon

The Ford EL Falcon was the works Ford Group 3A car across 1997 and 1998 — the last of the "E-series" Falcons. It replaced the EF Falcon and was succeeded by the AU I Falcon for 1999. This page describes the accepted 1997 package; earlier prototype and rejected homologation submissions are documented separately but were never raced.

An EF re-skin

Like the EF before it, the racing EL was an aerodynamic and cosmetic re-skin over an established platform rather than a new car underneath. It retained the Ford 5.0-litre Windsor-based V8, the Holinger six-speed and the double-wishbone front / live-axle nine-inch rear of the E-series, naturally aspirated to the regulated 7500 rpm at a 10:1 compression limit for roughly 580–590 hp across its two seasons.

Front & rear aero

The front received a revised spoiler and a shaped undertray with a splitter. For 1998 the package was updated again with a ribbed undertray and the rear wing raised by a reported 53 mm — a dimensional homologation change rather than a measured downforce figure.

Brakes, wheels & tyres

Brakes were ventilated discs with multi-piston calipers, the make varying by team; wheels were team-specific custom items rather than a control fitment. 1998 was the last open-tyre season — Dunlop, Yokohama, Bridgestone and Hoosier all competed — before Bridgestone control tyres arrived for 1999. Category minimum weight was 1350 kg.

For its championship record see the 1997 and 1998 seasons. Sources: EL model-state records + the Group 3A 5.0L formula and the verified spec catalog / V8 Supercars Physics Handbook (N. Higginson) — Grade C/D.