Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2026 - Competition Cars on Saturday the 21st of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG. Few silhouettes evoke the golden age of British saloon car racing quite like the Ford Capri, and this superbly prepared example is one that truly lives up to the legend. Presented in striking Radiant Red, this race-prepared Capri 3. 1 boasts an enviable circuit-racing history and a specification that places it firmly in the upper echelon of historic touring cars.
At the heart of the car lies a recently supplied and fitted Ric Wood GP1 engine, a name synonymous with ultimate Ford competition pedigree. Producing a formidable 296bhp, the engine is complemented by the appropriate associated components, including a twin-box full exhaust system, resulting in a Capri that is as thrilling mechanically as it is visually arresting.
This is a Capri with genuine provenance. In more recent years, it was campaigned with great success by Mike Haynes, who drove it to victory in the Classic Touring Car Club’s Class B Pre-’83 Group 1 Championship in 2018. Its competition story stretches back even further, having previously competed in the fiercely contested Slick 50 Road Saloon Championship during the 1980s in the hands of Tony Harding. Acquired by Mike Haynes in 1992, the Capri returned to the Slick 50 Championship during the mid-1990s before embarking on a further competitive chapter with the CTCC from 2013 onwards.
Since acquisition by the current owner, a committed historic racing enthusiast, the car has benefitted from a carefully considered programme of enhancements, the headline upgrade being the installation of the Ric Wood power unit to unlock even greater performance and future potential. Significantly, the Capri has been raced just once since completion to its current specification, appearing in the HRDC Gerry Marshall Trophy at Silverstone in 2022, where it delivered an outstanding 6th overall finish—a compelling demonstration of its competitiveness in capable hands.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire a well-known, well-developed and highly capable historic racing Capri, eligible for a variety of prestigious championships and events. Early inspection is both welcomed and strongly encouraged to fully appreciate the quality, pedigree and exciting future that awaits behind the wheel of this iconic Ford.
