Following the success of the Mustang in the US, who can blame Ford of Europe for wanting a piece of the action? After racking up sales of over a million units over 1964-65, the Mustang was a tempting template and Ford enlisted one of the Mustang’s design team, Philip T. Clarke, to help its European equivalent. Launched in 1969 and billed as ‘the car you always promised yourself’, the Capri started strongly with sales of 400,000 in its first two years and while it ultimately wasn’t quite the runaway success of the Mustang, a total sales figure of almost 1.9 million over the three generations wasn’t too shabby either.

Added to that, with underpinnings borrowed from Ford’s more mundane models, it was a profitable car for the brand and brought some extra glamour to the range. Over the years it developed something of a cult following, nowhere more so than in the UK where production of the right hand drive version outlasted the other markets by two years, finally ending in 1986. 

By this stage the range was limited to the 1.6 and 2.0 litre Laser models and the V6 2.8 Injection Special which, with half leather interior and a limited slip differential was the car you really promised yourself, gracing the walls of many a teenager’s bedroom. The run out Brooklands 280 added full leather, bigger wheels and a unique paint colour to the Injection Special but was mechanically unchanged. Good examples of Injection Specials such as this are a potential bargain and Capris in general are very well supported by an enthusiastic owner’s club.

Having run a 2.0 Laser back in the day, a 2.8 Capri was an itch that the current owner still wanted to scratch and he sought out the best example he could find from a dealer at the beginning of 2020. During the previous owner’s tenure which started in 2016, the car had been the subject of a complete restoration with work on the bodywork totalling over £5,500 and an engine rebuild with new pistons, main bearings, big end bearings and fast road cams (good for ‘up to another 22bhp’)  coming to over £1,200. The car was fully resprayed and a whole host of new and refreshed cosmetic parts such as bumpers and weather strips added. In addition, an uprated Quaife ATB limited slip differential was installed, together with new rear leaf springs and shocks. Inside, it’s not clear whether the fabric has been replaced but the leather has certainly been retrimmed.  

A Sportex stainless steel sports exhaust had also been added which was a little loud for the vendor’s taste and so he sourced and had fitted a standard exhaust. A full service was also carried out at this point in June 2020. The stainless exhaust is also included in the sale should the next owner prefer to increase the volume.

Since owning the car, the seller has enjoyed around 600 miles but shortly after buying it he found another dream car which he managed to buy and now finds himself with more cars than he can sensibly use so has decide to let the Capri go.

The Capri is accompanied by a box file of receipts covering the restoration work, including a selection from the Capri Club international that appear to cover a significant proportion of their parts catalogue! The invoice for the engine rebuild is present, as are a number covering the bodywork and new wings, inner sills and floorpan sections.

There’s also the original owner’s handbook, a workshop manual and a selection of issues of the Capri Club magazine. The V5 is present as well as two keys. The MOT expires on 4 Mar 2022.

When you open the door, the condition of the seats immediately impresses. While it’s unclear if they have been fully retrimmed, the leather has certainly been renewed and the condition of the fabric would suggest that it has been too. The headlining has also been replaced, while the rest of the interior remains original save for the white faces on the dials and heater controls on the dashboard. That means that the original radio is still present which is bonus marks for originality although possibly less so for consistent reception. Granted, the sill plates are an aftermarket addition, but they are suitably inkeeping.

The analogue clock is a little temperamental but otherwise it’s all in good working order. The only downside is that the top of the dashboard, like so many, has suffered from some cracking and there’s a small section of vent missing. You’ll struggle to see it from the driver’s seat though, and with the unworn steering wheel and gear knob being the primary contact points, all the right parts have been refreshed. In the rear, the boot is clean and houses a full size spare under the floor.

Although the respray is though to have been carried out 2-3 years ago, the paintwork remains in prime condition and the car presents very well indeed with fresh decals and a very smart set of wheels. The attention to detail that has been applied during the restoration is apparent with those items that normally age a Capri such as the wiper arms and window seals all having been replaced. 

All of the black details including the bumpers, spoiler, door handles and window surrounds are not faded as you would expect them to be at this age and contrast well against the white paperwork. Those other significant black bits, the tyres, look to be a fresh set (including the spare) from when the owner bought the car and though not a premium brand, this doesn’t reflect any scrimping but more the fact that tyres of this size on 13 inch wheels are no longer made by many manufacturers.

Underneath, it’s as black as the unfaded details above as the car is fully undersealed and the new exhaust system is clearly visible. Overall, it looks great and will surely make its next owner proud and quite possibly a show winner.

Opening the bonnet reveals an engine bay that is remarkably well-preserved and while there’s clear signs of many fresh hoses, leads and other trimmings, it still has an original feel.  It starts immediately with a characteristically gruff exhaust note that provides some clue as to why the owner felt extra volume was not required.

On the move the fast road cams make themselves felt and it pulls very well with a lovely six cylinder rasp that’s obviously a step up from the Lasers. It changes gear smoothly up and down the box and although there weren’t any opportunities to explore the capabilities of the new limited slip differential, we can certainly report that there are no untoward noises from the drivetrain or suspension and that it all feels very tight. The new owner should be able to just jump in and have an entertaining drive home.

Fords of this era have been steadily increasing in value in recent years as those of us that had a poster of them on the bedroom wall have made it to the age where there are finally sufficient spare funds/ convincing arguments to borrow money at low interest rates to relive our childhood dreams. In fact, prices of the run out Brooklands Capri 280 are now heading into the realms of serious collectors only. While this is having an effect on the model more generally, few seem to have yet noticed that a 2.8 Injection Special is mechanically identical and in our view that currently makes it something of a bargain if you can find a good one.

This example has clearly had a huge amount of love, attention and, let’s face it, cash poured into it and while not quite concours standard, it is surely among the very best. With all the hard work taken care of, it might be tempting to stash it away somewhere and wait for the value to be carried up on the rising tide but that would seem a shame as the fully refreshed oily bits are crying out to be fully exercised. As ever, that’s a choice for the next owner, and far be it from us to judge. But if the car you always promised yourself was a Capri then this looks like one you can buy with your head as well as your heart. 

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