XR8 Sprint #1 sells for more than $90k at auction

The first of Ford's final special edition Falcons has gone to a Sydney man who bought the car to bolster the spirits of his ailing brother.

Sydney man Dave Pearce paid $92,500 - $30k more than its list price - for the the #1 badged special edition XR8 Sprint at an auction to raise money to fight diabetes.

Pearce said the health of his brother Mark had been deteriorating rapidly and he now only had 18 percent lung function.  

"To lift Mark's spirits, the Falcon Sprint, was a 'must-have' to add to our Ford collection which also includes a restored 1978 Falcon XC which was the car my brother learned to drive in," he said.

The limited edition XR6 and XR8 Sprint models sold out within weeks of their reveal.

The cars feature significant suspension improvements and high-performance tyres to match their dynamic ability.

Ford has also signed off on another $60,000 towards the program.

Being the last of their kind they are sure to occupy a special place in Australian motoring folklore.

The XR8 Sprint in question was donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) by Ford Australia to raise funds to support the Artificial Pancreas Project.

Led by Professor Tim Jones the project is looking at ways to automate insulin pumps and deliver improved therapies that will ultimately deliver a 'technological cure' for type 1 diabetes (T1D).

As well as the car, Ford has also signed off on another $60,000 towards the program, together with $13,000 that employees raised in 2015.

"We are thrilled by Mr Pearce's generous contribution and shared commitment to Australian communities," Graeme Whickman, president and CEO of Ford Australia, said.

Would you pay over $90,000 for an XR8 Sprint? Tell us what you think in the comments below.