Description
1972 Ford Capri 1600 GT Mk1 Facelift – Modena Green – An Exceptional Survivor with an Incredible History
Finished in its rare and highly desirable Modena Green, this August 1972-built Ford Capri 1600 GT Mk1 Facelift, fitted with the sought-after Pinto engine, is a truly special example with one of the most fascinating histories we have encountered.
Over ten years ago, our Managing Director discovered this remarkable Capri after it had spent many years in storage. It had been purchased directly from the estate of its long-term owner by a gentleman who assured the family that he intended to preserve and keep the car. Unfortunately, that promise was not honoured, and the vehicle was subsequently sold to our Managing Director.
Several years later, the daughter of the previous owner managed to trace our Managing Director and made contact. She explained her disappointment that the gentleman who had purchased the Capri from her late father’s estate had not kept his word. However, she was delighted to learn that the car had been lovingly restored to an exceptional standard rather than broken for parts or neglected. Sadly, by that stage the Capri had already been sold to its next owner, so we were unable to reunite the family with the vehicle. We did establish that the car was then residing only a short distance away in Cornwall from where it had spent most of its life, but despite our best efforts we were unable to make contact with the owner at the time.
When the Capri first arrived with us it was in an extremely poor condition and required a complete ground-up restoration. The scale of the work was immense, involving extensive fabrication and structural repairs, a full engine-out rebuild and a complete bare-metal repaint. Financially, the project made little commercial sense, with the restoration costs vastly exceeding the eventual sale price. However, a commitment had been made to the purchaser, and every aspect of the restoration was completed to the standard promised.
In addition to the body restoration, an enormous amount of mechanical work was carried out. This included the installation of a five-speed gearbox and new clutch at the customer’s request, together with a comprehensive mechanical rebuild featuring a new brake master cylinder, rear wheel cylinders and calipers, track rod ends, water pump, radiator, ignition components including distributor, rotor arm, points, condenser and coil, Weber carburettor service kit, speedometer cable, instrument voltage regulator, service items, timing belt, head gasket set, bottom-end gasket set, big-end bearing shells, tailgate struts, tailgate seals, exterior door handle gaskets, chrome door mirrors, new door glass scrapers, refurbished interior trim with new door panels by Aldridge Trimming, front and rear screens removed during repainting, together with countless other new components. At the time, nobody wanted to calculate the final restoration costs because they were substantially higher than the amount ultimately recovered.
The history accompanying this Capri is equally impressive. At the time it left us in 2018, the V5 recorded only two former keepers, with the previous registered owner having owned the car continuously from 1979. The history file even contains an original 1970s Auto Trader advertisement, showing the vehicle being offered for just £1, 400, together with a handwritten bill of sale. Records indicate that the Capri was last used on the road around 1993, before entering long-term storage.
The restoration was completed in December 2018, when the Capri passed its MOT recording 98, 045 miles, before being supplied to its new owner. The purchaser was a former Ford Motor Company employee and an enthusiastic member of the Capri Owners Club, ensuring the car continued to enjoy knowledgeable ownership.
Included within the extensive history file are documents confirming that the Capri remained unused for many years until its restoration in 2018, that it was built at Ford’s Halewood plant in August 1972, and that it is one of the desirable Mk1 Facelift models. The file also contains fascinating correspondence regarding its long-term owner, who himself had close involvement with Ford during the 1970s.
One of the highlights of its recent history came on 19 July 2019, when this Capri was invited to and proudly displayed at the Ford Warley Capri 50th Anniversary Event, celebrating one of Britain’s most iconic sporting cars.
The meticulous ownership continued after purchase. In March 2019, the owner commissioned Aldridge Trimming to completely refurbish the front seats using the correct Beta cloth, investing approximately £1, 000 to ensure the interior remained to an exceptionally high standard.
Since then, the Capri has seen remarkably little use and has remained carefully preserved. It has now returned to us for light recommissioning before once again being offered for sale.
Today, the V5 records five former keepers, although the circumstances deserve explanation. When sold by our Managing Director in 2018, the vehicle effectively had only two long-term keepers, with the registered keeper from 1979 remaining with the car until his passing. Ownership briefly transferred to the trader who acquired it from the estate before it was sold to our customer. We have since learned, sadly, that our customer passed away last September, following which the vehicle was transferred into the name of a family member. Consequently, the final two ownership changes have both remained within the same family.
This is far more than simply a beautifully restored Mk1 Capri. It is an exceptionally rare Modena Green 1600 GT with an outstanding provenance, an enormous history file, fascinating period documentation, extensive restoration records and a story that spans more than five decades. Opportunities to acquire a Capri with this level of history, originality and documented restoration are becoming increasingly rare, making this a truly special collector’s example.
