JBA has been building classically modelled cars since 1982. The original company, JBA Engineering, was named after the first letter of the surnames of the three partners that founded the company, Ken Jones, John Barlow and Dave Ashley. John Barlow later left the company and JBA Engineering continued producing kit car packages until 2004, when the company was sold. Since the sale no kit or factory built cars have been made, and in 2007 JBA Engineering was dissolved by Companies House.
In 2008, JBA Motors set in motion plans to re-engineer and resurrect the JBA Falcon, and 2011was relaunched at The National Kit Car Motor Show - Stoneleigh.
JBA Motors currently manufacture the BMW based JBA Falcon as both a kit package and as a fully factory finished car.
2012 - Present - The JBA Falcon
The JBA Motors’ Falcon, is 1930’s design and superb build quality at its best, reminiscent of the original JBA Falcon Roadster. Following the likes of the Morgan Motor Company, the JBA Falcon is BMW based, benefitting from the superb engineering of BMW components as well as the ease and availability for kit car builders of these parts. The JBA Falcon will take any BMW 3 Series from 1992 to 2005 as the donor and can be powered by any 4 or 6 cylinder option as standard. Offering both economy and performance in a car that will turn heads whether you are going to get the groceries or going for it at Goodwood.
JBA Models 1982 - Present - A Rich History
1982 - JBA Falcon Roadster
1982 saw the debut of the first ever JBA Falcon, which was called The Roadster. Reminiscent of the 1930's roadsters and built with the same integrity, using an all aluminium body, doors and rear sloping section to encase the petrol tank. The JBA Falcon Roadster sported fibreglass wings and a vertical windscreen and is still viewed today as the original JBA Falcon today.
In contrast to more modern JBA models, the JBA Falcon Roadster was based on the Ford Cortina and were factory fitted with either a standard Ford engine, a Ford V6 or a Rover V8. This first model was easily recognizable by the bottom, backward curve of the windscreen, the 'lift-up' bonnet and the aluminium doors. Roadster kits and factory built cars were produced from 1982 until 1985 when the company moved on to two new models, the JBA Javelin and JBA Falcon Plus 2. The Roadster did not have a model identification tag added to the end of the chassis number, due to this being the first model.
1985 - JBA Javelin
In 1985 JBA Engineering released the JBA Javelin,which was based on the Ford Capri MKII and MKIII. Production for the JBA Javelin ran from 1985 until 1989.The chassis number for the JBA Javelin was given the prefix FJ.
1985 - JBA Falcon Plus 2
Along with the Javelin, 1985 saw the introduction of the JBA Falcon Plus 2, which was larger than the original Roadster and had a rear bench seat suitable for children and a rear boot.
The easiest way to recognize this model is by the windscreen. It is level at the base and does not bolt to the side of the scuttle, but instead, sits on the top and is bolted straight down through the top into the scuttle. This is a design aspect of this model, which now, in 2011 has been picked up by the new JBA Falcon. It has refined the body lines of the car, enabled JBA Motors to supply a fully complete factory built windscreen, which is very easy for the builder to fit and most importantly is much more true to 1930’s build techniques.
The Plus 2, which was Ford Cortina based, was in production for 3 years, until 1988 and the chassis can be identified by a ‘P2’ at the end of the chassis number.
1988 - JBA Falcon Sports
The JBA Falcon Sports was the first in line of the JBA family to have a fully GRP cockpit, called the Central Body Unit (CBU). Sadly this removed some of the more traditional coach building techniques, but set precedence for a much stronger and safer car, and is the concept we still use today.
The superb two-seater design of the Sports encapsulated the original classic 1930’s styling, whilst being a more sporty, lower, smaller car than the previous Plus 2. At just 12’ 6” long, there initially was no rear-opening boot, although this was introduced at a later stage in 1991 with the JBA Falcon Sports SR. The Ford Cortina based JBA Falcon Sports was still in production until 2004 and the chassis can be identified by an ‘S’ at the end of the chassis number.
1990 - JBA Falcon Tourer
To complement the smaller JBA Falcon Sports, a Ford Cortina based JBA Falcon Tourer was released. At 13’ 9” we once again saw the rear bench seat and it also sported a sloped windscreen bolted on through the side of the CBU. Throughout the history of JBA, the larger Tourer has always been more popular due to its perfect proportioning, aesthetic appeal and spacious interior. Production for the JBA Falcon Tourer ran from 1990 until 2004. A ‘T’ at the end of the chassis number can identify the chassis.
1991 - JBA Falcon Sports SR
JBA moved with the changes in the donor vehicle market and in 1991 released their first Ford Sierra based model, the JBA Falcon Sports SR. Whilst keeping the original JBA Falcon Sports design from the outside a new CBU and chassis was developed. The windscreen for this model was also attached through the side of the CBU. The chassis can be identified by an ‘SR’ at the end of the chassis number.
1993 - JBA Falcon TSR
As with the Sport, the larger Tourer was re-engineered on to Ford Sierra donor in 1993. Factory built models were available as a large two-seater touring car or with a bench seat to the rear. As with the Sports SR, the TSR benefitted from logical and well engineered changes and modification over its 11-year life span from 1993 to 2004. The Tourer was in production until 2004 and still to this day remains the most popular and successful model. The chassis can be identified by a ‘TSR’ at the end of the chassis number.
1995 - JBA Falcon Sports SRi
In 1995 the JBA Falcon Sports SRi (or SR Mk II) was released. This was a simple progression from the original model with the SRi denoting a fuel-injected engine. Over the 13 years that the JBA Falcon Sports SR and SRi (1991 – 2004) were in production, the later models benefitted from a sloping grill, lockable boot and some interior refinements. The chassis can still be identified by an ‘SR’ at the end of the chassis number.
2004 - 2007
In 2004, the founders of JBA Engineering sold the company. Since the sale no kit or factory built cars have been made, and in 2007 JBA Engineering was dissolved by Companies House.
2008 – Wilki Engineering
Specialising in the manufacture of security shredding, recycling and animal bedding machinery, Wilki Engineering, founded in 1972 by Bill Willcock Snr., has a rich history of precision engineering, manufacture and design. Along with developing the original company with new products and in to Europe, the second-generation director, Bill Willcock, also had a passion for the kit car industry.
With many JBA Falcon builds under his belt in his younger years, the opportunity in 2008 to bring the original JBA Falcon back to the market arose. Using the solid engineering and design principals of Wilki Engineering along with the technical skills and management of the employees, the JBA Falcon was back in the pipeline.
With a boom in the recycling and material recovery industry throughout the economic downturn, the successive years received leniency towards the expansion and market growth in the core engineering business, with the re-engineering of the JBA Falcon taking shape slower than desired.
In June 2010, the decision to take the JBA Falcon project from concept to reality was taken and that the new company, JBA Motors, would debut at The National Kit Car Motors Show - Stoneleigh, May 2011.
2011 - JBA Falcon
The JBA Motors’ Falcon, is 1930’s design and superb build quality at its best, reminiscent of the original JBA Falcon Roadster. Following the likes of the Morgan Motor Company, the 2011 JBA Falcon is BMW based, benefitting from the superb engineering of BMW components as well as the ease and availability for kit car builders of these parts. The 2011 JBA Falcon will take any BMW 3 Series from 1992 to 2005 as the donor and can be powered by any 4 or 6 cylinder option as standard. Offering both economy and performance in a car that will turn heads whether you are going to get the groceries or going for it at Goodwood.
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