With Ford in Australia set to end manufacturing of the Falcon and Territory in 2016, Tony Leahey Ford general manager Matt Greatbatch said car enthusiasts are most likely to pre-order the XR8 as an investment due to it being the last big Australian muscle car.

“They will definitely appreciate eventually,” Mr Greatbatch said.

“I think it will be more motoring enthusiasts and fanatical Ford supporters buying them and pre-ordering them.”

Clancy Motors in Bathurst has already taken orders, which general manager Jim Hallahan explained was unusual.

“People believe they are buying a good investment,” he said, adding he expected demand for the XR8 to easily outstrip supply.

While Mr Hallahan said similar sized cars will be imported into Australia after Holden and Ford cease production, buyers want the last of the Australian version.

Holden is looking at a similar prospect, with reports they have sold out nation-wide of the world’s fastest ute, despite it not even being in production yet.

Holden Special Vehicles is preparing a new, V8 supercharged ute so the Australian icon ends on a high, and despite the $85,000 price tag the initial 150 allocated cars have sold out already. Reports suggest they sold out in little more than hours.

The Holden factory in Adelaide is set to close its doors in 2017, Holden management is looking at a way to build more.