To celebrate Aussie racing legend Dick Johnson’s 80th birthday, we’re taking a look at the first and last cars of his career that have been immortalised in model form — even if it means breaking the icon’s own rule: “The only thing you get from looking back is a sore neck.”

Dick Johnson made his ATCC debut in 1970 driving an LC Torana GTR, but none of the cars from his first three seasons have been replicated in 1:18 scale. The honour of the first Dick Johnson model goes to his 1973 'Zupps'-sponsored LJ Torana GTR XU-1, which he raced to sixth place at the Surfers Paradise round — his only ATCC appearance that year. Produced by AUTOart and released in 2003, the model forms part of the Biante Dick Johnson Collection.

In his final Bathurst 1000 appearance in 1999, Dick Johnson partnered with his son, Steven Johnson, driving a Shell Helix Racing Ford AU Falcon. The father-son duo achieved a commendable fourth-place finish, marking a proud conclusion to Dick's illustrious Bathurst career.​ This performance also made them the highest-placed Ford team in that year's race, a fitting end to DJ's legacy as a Ford icon. Both Classic Carlectables and Biante have produced this model in 1:18 scale, with the latter forming part of the Dick Johnson Collection.

In 2000, Dick made a one-off return to racing at the Queensland 500, partnering once again with Steven, in the Shell Helix Racing Ford AU Falcon. Unfortunately, their race was cut short due to an engine failure, bringing to an end a decorated career. Biante faithfully replicated this car in 1:18 scale and released it as part of the Dick Johnson Collection in 2004.

Dick Johnson returned to the driver's seat of a Supercar in 2019 at the Adelaide 500, taking part in the Ford Performance Parade of Champions. He drove the newly released Mustang GT Supercar — a car later produced in model form by Authentic Collectables — alongside Marcos Ambrose in a NASCAR and Scott McLaughlin in a road-going Mustang, which was also released as a model.