The car has been dispatched to NZ as raced in the 1993 Tooheys 1000. Image: Supplied
Lance Coupland has purchased the recently restored Shell Falcon and plans to enter it in New Zealand’s booming heritage touring car class.
DJR EB3 was campaigned by Johnson throughout the 1993 Australian Touring Car Championship, winning the first five-litre V8 era race at Amaroo Park and finishing fifth in the standings.
Johnson shared the car with John Bowe in the 1993 Bathurst 1000, where the legend suffered a heavy hit at Reid Park after being collected by privateer Bill O’Brien.
The damaged shell sat idle for years at DJR before being rebuilt by panel beating students from Campbelltown TAFE.
It was subsequently displayed within DJR’s race shop museum as a replica of the destroyed 1994 Bathurst 1000-winning car.
Part of a fire sale of Johnson’s collection in 2006, EB3 passed through multiple owners before undergoing a full restoration alongside EB2 at the hands of John Vergotis.
EB3 spent a period on display as a replica of the 1994 Bathurst winner. Image: Supplied
Coupland already owns the last of the DJR-built Ford Sierras (DJR6), giving him a pair of Johnson cars that straddle the international Group A and Aussie V8 eras.
“DJR Sierras are my main passion, but it’s quite special to have basically the car Dick got out of and the one he got into,” Coupland told Speedcafe.
“It’ll be pretty cool to have it out on track again and I think it’ll enrich the grid in New Zealand historic touring cars.
“The guys who have refurbished the car have done a really good job, it’s just mint.”
Coupland has enlisted multiple NZ V8 and Trans Am champion Kayne Scott to race the car, beginning with the Skope Classic at Ruapuna in February.
It’ll go head-to-head with the 1993 Peter Brock Mobil Commodore VP raced by Kane Lawson in the events that feature early five-litre V8, international Group A and Super Touring machinery.
These two cars pictured at Amaroo Park in 1993 will face off again in NZ. Image: Supplied
Coupland will continue racing his Sierra that was fully rebuilt after being devastated by fire at the 2025 George Begg Festival.
Its return to action at the Ruapuna Supercars meeting was blighted by a cracked engine block, after which Coupland has sourced a replacement.
While many would have expected the immaculately restored Falcon to sit in a museum, Coupland believes such cars belong on the track.
“Obviously I don’t want them to get damaged but at the same time they are the sort of cars that need to be raced,” he said.
“I think we have a pretty good group of drivers. It can get a little bit aggressive but we try and stay out of that.
“My one rule is that if it’s wet, I don’t run them. I go and have a beer if it’s raining!”
Lance Coupland racing DJR6 at Ruapuna in April. Image: InSyde Media
The sale of the Falcon was facilitated by Australian historic racing identity Chad Parrish, who acknowledged the significance of the car heading offshore.
“These early V8 Supercars are currently undervalued,” he said. “It’s a shame this iconic car has left the country but there’s another one here ready to purchase.”
That car is EB2, which was raced by John Bowe throughout the 1993 ATCC and is currently numbered #17 as Johnson debuted it at the ’92 Adelaide Grand Prix meeting.
Coupland also has a reassuring message for Aussie fans of his pair of famous #17 Fords.
EB2 during a demonstration at the 2025 Adelaide Grand Final. Image: InSyde Media
“I would say eventually the pair of my cars will end up back in Australia,” said Coupland.
“One day I’ll sell them and that’s the logical place they’ll go. Anyone upset about it can rest assured they’ll be back there one day.”
Coupland plans to race his cars two-to-three times per year, with 2027 duties set to include the support card to the Ruapuna Supercars meeting.
Watch below Supercars’ feature video on the restoration of EB2 and EB3 from 2025