Everyone has a Capri story. With a production run of almost 20 years, it’s one of the UK’s all-time favourite classics, but in recent years The Car You Always Promised Yourself has become a genuine collector’s item.
This one is as collectable as they get. It’s no micro-mileage never-used show pony, but a car that has been loved and enjoyed by four owners, each of whom has cherished it and kept it in the best condition they can. It has had a few small areas of paint in its life, but is has never been stripped nor restored. It’s just a 100% genuine Capri that has been lovingly and fastidiously maintained, regardless of cost.
The vendor acquired it a couple of years ago and was planning to keep it indefinitely but is reluctantly letting it go for health reasons. Whoever ends up with it will have a car like no other. A truly special, unrestored and forever-cherished Capri that comes with ever invoice and receipt ever, right down to clippings of Auto Trader adverts from when it was sold as a used car in the 1990s. It’s a snippet of social history as much as it is a car.
Make no mistake: this one is really, really special. front.jpg1.83 MB
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
UK V5C
MOT August 2023
Detailed chronological ownership and history.
4 owners showing (5 registered keepers, as one had keeper change owing to divorce)
Every MOT certificate from very first in 1989 to most recent in August 2022
Original service book and handbooks in supplying dealer’s wallet. Complete with all other originally supplied literature.
Service book and wallet corresponds with original rear window sticker and number plate. (Front number plate replaced as detailed in the second owner’s history folder)
Original functioning key torch and spare key.
Original locking wheel nut key with spare locking wheel nut key still in sealed unopened bag.
Unrestored vehicle. Some older paintwork carried out to some panels.
The Capri is a timewarp inside, with the all-important Recaro sports seats – a real piece of 1980s iconography at the same time as being comfortable and supportive. They’re in fabulous condition. The rear seats look as if they’ve never been sat in, and may well never have been.
The rest of the cabin is superb as well, with smart grey carpets still protected by the original Ford rubber mats. The six-dial dash is free from cracks and all of the dials work as they ought to, while the luggage area is in fine condition complete with a full-size alloy spare and all the original tools. There’s only one minor flaw – a tiny crease in the plastic dash covering on the passenger side of the car, that you can’t even see from the driver’s seat.interior.jpg1.12 MB
THE EXTERIOR
Excellent Paris Blue paintwork
Spotless underneath
All original panels
Mostly original paint
This car looked a million dollars when it left the Halewood factory in 1976 – and more’s the point, it still does! The car has never been resprayed but inevitably it has had some areas of localised paint repairs in its life. Two in particular are documented in the extensive history folders – one to provide a seamless finish when the front valance was reshaped and another to repair very minor damage to one rear quarter. Both these minor repairs happened in 1994. Otherwise, it’s as it left the factory, with all the original panels and perfect (or as close to perfect as Capris ever were) panel gaps. The original alloys are excellent.
Underneath, it’s flawless. In 2017, the previous owner had the car on a ramp in his storage, stripped the underseal and repainted it factory Paris Blue. The seven-spoke RS alloys are also great.
There are a few minor imperfections but you have to really, really look for them. A couple of tiny stonechips on the leading edge of the bonnet and some small swirl marks in the paint, but they’re tiny, honest and a genuine part of the car’s provenance. You only have to look at the panel seems in the boot, the strut tops and the front inner wings to see how good this car really, really is. back.jpg1.95 MB
THE MECHANICS
2.8-litre fuel-injected V6
5-spd manual
Drives superbly
Incredible maintenance record
Ford’s fuel-injected Ford ‘Cologne’ V6 is one of the company’s best-loved engines and although its 130bhp power output might sound quite modest, it’s eminently tuneable and also very strong. This one has covered 93,000 miles and runs sweetly with no untoward noises, leaks or excessive smoke.
It has been maintained by all of its owners with no expense spared and is in great mechanical health, with new tyres all round and lots of recent maintenance on top of that which it has benefitted from for the past 36 years.
You won’t find another Capri like this. It’s the best spec, an amazing period colour, and with a provenance like nothing else – have a look through the photos and you’ll see that this car tells its own story. It’s incredible. A Capri like no other on the market right now.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
VAT will be added to the final bid or offer price as applicable. VAT will be added to the buyer’s deposit as applicable.
