1981 Ford Capri Cameo – Auction Car of the Week
October 23, 2022
A load of power is cool, we get it. A whole host of gadgets and gizmos are fun. We get that, too. But they are not prerequisites of a classic car. Sometimes, it’s nice to enjoy something a bit more… simple. Something that is honest in its basicness, something that is simply, you know, nice. Something like, for example, this rather magnificent 1981 Ford Capri Cameo. Powered by a humble 1.6-litre, four-cylinder Pinto engine, it will be winning no drag races. The stereo doesn’t pick up FM, nor does it even play a tape (there’s a delightfully period Amstrad unit for that). The seats are not electric, nor are the windows, the mirrors or anything else bar the lights come to think of it. it doesn’t even have a rev-counter. It is simple. But it is oh so effective. And it is every bit the head turner because of it.
View the 1982 Ford Capri Cameo auction here
By law, we can’t write about the Ford Capri without mentioning the line “the car you always promised yourself”. But that’s the thing; the Ford Capri was. We all dreamed of a car like that, and so that as many of us as possible could have a slice of the action, Ford made sure it could be all things to all buyers. Sure, we all lusted after a 3.0S (well, not me, I had one – Pollitt) or a later 2.8i. Maybe even an RS version? The reality, however, is that not everyone could afford such models. So, like the successful Mustang, Ford made Capris of a more basic nature. This Ford Capri Cameo is a case in point. No frills as such, but it was still a Capri. It was still a slice of the action. It was, and still is, something many of us would kill to own.
The 1.6 might not be winning any races, as mentioned, but it’s a tough yet sweet little engine. In the case of this 1981 car, it has been recently rebuilt so it’s fighting fit. 73bhp of four-cylinder, Motorcraft carburettor-fed fury. 0-60? That’ll be 13.5 seconds, going on to a dizzying top speed of 98mph. Now you’re thinking “when will I ever go 98mph?” And that’s the point. You won’t. So why go for many fuel-thirsty cylinders when you can enjoy the gentle pace of a frugal four-banger? Bliss. You’ve got a four-speed ‘box, too. Rear wheel-drive. There’s still plenty going on, as those little 165/70 R13 tyres will be keen to provide a drive full of feedback.
This 1981 Ford Capri Cameo was part of Ford making entry-range examples of its then halo car. It’s very rare to see one today, as many were either scrapped, they succumbed to rust, they went around the banger track (as is the way for old Fords) or they were converted into something else like a 2.0 or a V6. This little Cameo is arguable rarer than some 2.8i models, or 3.0 models, as far more of those have survived. If you want a truly stand out Capri, you could do a lot worse than this.
And it has survived so, so well. Garaged all its life, the body is completely original. Sure, it has the odd mark and there is a bit of blistering coming through here and there, but it’s minor. And we take that honest originality over something that had been over-restored. This car is today, visually, as it has always been. It has been cared for by one owner for its entire life. It has all the paperwork from day one, there are ample receipts for all work done, it even has the dealer handbook.
And then, finally, there is that glorious interior. Free from wear or damage, it’s a time capsule with 1981 the destination. The little auxiliary Amstrad tape player, the sea of tan and beige, the mint dash and original radio, the mint carpets, door cards and headlining. It’s gorgeous. It even has the original tool kit and factory spare wheel. This car would wow the crowds at any show, leaving the 2.8i and 3.0 cars blushing, no doubt. It’s a special, rare and utterly remarkable find. Bidding is already fierce though, so get involved. If you miss it, you’ll miss out. Cars this original, this honest and this utterly charming do not come up very often.
