Ford XR8 Sprint

Victoria Police Highway Patrol

1 of 2 custom made XR8 Sprints produced specially for the Victoria Police Highway Patrol and commissioned by Doug Fryer, Assistant Commissioner of Road Policing at the time, for $80,000 each in 2016.

Made to resemble the iconic 351 interceptor of the 1970s, the XR8 was purchased to “celebrate the end of an era”  between Victoria Police and the use of their four-door falcons. 

The Sprint on display is one of two custom made cars for the police, with the other, wrapped in the iconic highway patrol ‘candy livery’, being involved in a side swipe 6 months after being introduced. 

To celebrate the ‘candy cars’ of the 70’s, the police brought back the V8 ford falcons and saw it as an opportunity to re-kindle the high-profile patrol vehicle. 

The reason for this, a road safety campaign by Doug Fryer to bring back respect to the iconic candy car, and to combat road trauma by having higher visibility and a higher profile.

 “So the candy cars are part of the HWP history in Victoria Police and are also part of our long standing relationship with Ford Australia.”  - Doug Fryer

After the horrific crash, Doug Fryer retired the last XR8 sprint to ensure no further damage was done to the last car of an iconic era. A car made in Melbourne’s very own Broadmeadows, Supercharged 5.0L Coyote V8 with a 6 speed transmission. Producing 463hp and 570nm of torque. 

Quick Facts

• 1 of 2 custom-made XR8 sprints for Victoria police, being the only one still left.

• Resembles the ‘candy cars’ of the 1970s ford 351 interceptors V8 sedans.

• The engine is a 5.0L supercharged Coyote V8 with a 6 speed transmission producing 463 hp and 570nm of torque.

• Commissioned by Doug Fryer, the assistant commissioner in 2016 for a safety campaign on having a higher profile.