Final registrable Aussie Fords raise $353,000 for charity

One week after Ford Australia closed down its production line, two bidders have bought themselves a piece of Australian automotive history with the last registrable, locally made Fords selling at auction over the weekend for a total of $353,000.

The Manheim auction saw a Falcon XR6 (non-Turbo) sedan in Kinetic Blue colour go for $81,500; a Falcon Ute XR6 Turbo in Smoke Grey sell for $81,000; a Falcon XR6 Sprint (No.500 of 500) in Winter White crack $122,000 and a diesel Territory Titanium in Silver sell for $68,500.

Two buyers snapped up the four cars, with the owner of Sunbury Ford in Victoria - John Bradbury - leaving with the ute and the Sprint; while Mark Jeffs also from Victoria fought off other bidders for the XR6 Sedan and Territory.

Ford Australia CEO Graeme Whickman said the proceeds of the auction are to be donated to the Geelong community and a student robotics engineering program.

Ford will remain a major presence in Australia and we will carry forward the legacy of our manufacturing team.

"Our support of STEAM education and 'Give Where You Live' underpins our commitment to serve our communities as we become Australia's largest automotive employer," he said

"Ford will remain a major presence in Australia and we will carry forward the legacy of our manufacturing team by continuing to design and engineer world-class vehicles for Australia and the world for many years to come."

While they aren't the very last Australian-made Fords to roll off the production line, Ford says they are the last 'saleable' Aussie-made Fords, in other words the last ones that can be registered.

The absolute final Falcon, Falcon Sprint, Falcon Ute and Territory will be kept by Ford for public display.

The auction was an invite-only affair, but you can watch the video of the event at Manheim's Facebook page.

Which of these final Fords would you have bid on? Tell us what you think in the comments below.