MK1 3 Litre Capris, How Many Survive ?

[uk_vette]

todd69 said:

My old MK1 3.0 gxl



Had so much fun in that car, shame most of the car seemed to be rusting from the inside out

.
Not sure that is a true Mk 1.
i can see the quad head lamps.
True Mk 1 only had the oblong headlights.
May be this is Mk 1.5

Vette

[liner33]

3.0 gxl's were facelift models but dont think they qualify as a 1.5

[DBSV8]

uk_vette said:

.
Not sure that is a true Mk 1.
i can see the quad head lamps.
True Mk 1 only had the oblong headlights.
May be this is Mk 1.5

Vette

I'm taking it this is tougue in cheek ?

Mk1 prefacelift Capris had rectangular headlamps with side indicators ( escort style sealed beam units ) and escort rear light clusters.

MK1 facelift 1300, 1600,2000 had larger rectangular front lights , indicators on the bumbers , larger rear light clusters.

MK1 3000 GXL, RS2600 , RS3100 all had quad front lights

[terenceb]

DBSV8 said:

Its very easy to modify any Capri and convert it to 3 litre format , which mark is your car ?
mk 1, mk2, mk3 .

On the mk1 s if it was an original 3 litre shell it would have small triangular corner braces at the rear of the engine bay , and normally strengthening plates on the mcpherson struts . There are usually 3 bolts holding the engine cross member as opposed to 2 .

obvious issues like , make sure the rear axle and gearbox has been changed otherwise the ratios will be wrong , if your running a 3 litre on a 1600 axle it wont last very long. and speedo needs to be a 3 litre format.

if everything mechanically matches 3 litre format , I would get the V5 changed to reflect it , otherwise you may invalidate your insurance ,

good luck 3 litres are a lot of fun have a bit more torque than 2.8i s and like getting the tail out in the wet

Yes quite,been fortunate enough to have raced one a few times at Spa,great fun! I know about the front strut re-inforcements etc,just a case of getting some insurance sorted for it. The on-line forms dont like the confusion of a 1600 being converted to a 3ltr though.

[Spitfire2]

rallycross said:

Keep us updated so good this has been found and will be restored these are a special part of rallycross history! see attached photo

I'll be dropping my car off for some work around mid-Feb and collecting it 2o 3 weeks later so I'll keep checking how it's progressing.. If the workshop is v. Busy I won't get back to look at it but fingers crossed I'll see it when finished.

It's a dead cert it's going to be in a mag - possibly with an interesting twist........

[Spitfire2]

rallycross said:

Keep us updated so good this has been found and will be restored these are a special part of rallycross history! see attached photo

Had a good look around the car last weekend - restoration is well underway. Lots o evidence of its early treatment still visible - especially on the floor.

It has been confirmed to have had trumpets coming through the bonnet at some point in its past. Theoretically it could be the one in the picture :-). Maybe.

On one of the wings the orange paint has been scraped back to reveal the original blue underneath. The blue was pretty much painted on without primer (to save weight?)

At present the car has been stripped back to a bare shell. Lots of repairs to the frame / hidden bits being done to a ver painstaking standard.

The owner is not permitting the use of repro panels and an original wing pressing has been found (unfinished round the edges) which is being used to obtain good metal to repair one of the original wings..

When finished it will be to its original spec - so plain bonnet without the trumpets - with the blue and white paint - colour matched to the colours revealed under the latest paint.

Based on where it's at I don't think we'll be seeing it until late this year at earliest.

[johnfm]

My first car.

This thread brings back memories!

Brilliant stuff!!

[dave stew]

Wacky Racer said:

I had a brand new Capri 3.0S Mk 3 bought from Gordon's in Stockport, March 1978 for £4250...White with red check recaro seats and manual sunroof......XNB 493S.....Lovely car.

Love the old numbers. Mate had XNB 8S, a Venetian red RS2000.

[dave stew]

aeropilot said:

Looks like Copper Bronze to me.

Lovely colour. Back in the mid 1980's, I had a chance to buy the ex-Prince Michael of Kent owned Escort RS1600 which was Copper Bronze, but hummed and arrhed too long as I didn't have a garage at the time, and was trying to find one, and it got sold in the meantime..... hey ho

Copper Bronze is a lovely colour and one of my fave 70's Ford colours, along with Electric/Monza Blue, Olympic Blue and Vista Orange.

I must get up in the loft and dig out a load more early 80's slides and photos I took at Ford AVO OC shows back in the early 1980's.

Friend of mine in the late 80s in the RSOC had the ex Lennard Crossland RS1600. Pretty good condition when he had it - wonder where it is now?

[nicknoo]

I had a pre-facelift Mk1 3000E in the late 80's/early 90's. VOX371J
Blue Mink paint with vinyl roof and automatic transmission, no power steering.
The car came from Bristol Street Motors in Birmingham and I sold it to a guy in Potter's Bar near London in '92.

Does anyone recall this Capri?

I checked the DVLC registration search and the car was last taxed in 1994.

It surprises me because the car was immaculate, I had bought it of a friend who restores cars and this was his personal baby!

I guess it was either written off (probable) or has been hermetically stored in a climate controlled warehouse (wishfull thinking!)for future generations to appreciate!

[Bladeloon]

I've been getting a little nostalgic recently after seeing all these really nice restored old Capris about, and seriously thinking about buying another when i have the dosh, if i stop myself buying another bike that is.....

Having had a "LOT" of cars over the years, as someone says this one is the one i miss the most, so much so that i owed it twice, during the 80's, wish i still had it now,

I had so much fun in that car, taught me alot about side ways driving, and other assorted lunacy,

anyway here are a couple of my old girl a 3.0 GXL with RS3.1 wings, flared rear arches, uprated suspension, big valve heads and full Janspeed system in her heyday 1983/4-85/6

Forgot to mention it was 4 speed manual, had a steel sunroof, and went like stink, happy days

Edited by Bladeloon on Friday 18th May 13:56

Edited by Bladeloon on Friday 18th May 13:59

Edited by Bladeloon on Friday 18th May 14:11

[rscapriman]

trackerjack said:

I paid the huge sum of £1250 for my bright yellow RS3100 in 1982 and swopped it for a Stag and £200 because the bloke who came to buy the RS crashed into a Range Rover while test driving it! So his Stag became mine.
I did not want the Stag but it grew on me and I loved it. (a much maligned GT car)

Hi trackerjack, can you remember the Reg No of the RS3100 or do you have any pics?
RScapriman

[uk_vette]

DBSV8 said:

uk_vette said:

.
Not sure that is a true Mk 1.
i can see the quad head lamps.
True Mk 1 only had the oblong headlights.
May be this is Mk 1.5

Vette

I'm taking it this is tougue in cheek ?

Mk1 prefacelift Capris had rectangular headlamps with side indicators ( escort style sealed beam units ) and escort rear light clusters.

MK1 facelift 1300, 1600,2000 had larger rectangular front lights , indicators on the bumbers , larger rear light clusters.

MK1 3000 GXL, RS2600 , RS3100 all had quad front lights

.
Hi DBSV8,

This is what I had.
Mk1 prefacelift Capris had rectangular headlamps with side indicators ( escort style sealed beam units ) and escort rear light clusters.

vette

[DBSV8]

uk_vette said:

.
Hi DBSV8,

This is what I had.
Mk1 prefacelift Capris had rectangular headlamps with side indicators ( escort style sealed beam units ) and escort rear light clusters.

vette

Hi Vette

absolutely

Early pre facelift Capris 1969 -1972 in the UK had sealed beam units with side indicators like this.


with escort style rear light clusters

note very early G reg

facelift models from 1972 -1974 had larger headlamps with indicators on the bumbers


larger rear clusters





3 litre facelift GXL and RS 3100 capris had twin round headlamps



In Germany
you didnt have to wait for the facelift to get better lighting
the iconic RS 2600 had the twin headlamps , this one from 71



compare to the 1974 RS 3100





The racing capris came in two formats

Here from Le mans 1972 3 RS2600 capris entered seen here note the smooth wasp waisted side vents over the arches

The 54 car came in 10th driven by Gerry Birrel / Claude Borgoignie
THe 52 Car came in 11th driven by Dieter Glemser and Alex Soler Roig

Capri v Ferrari Daytona 1972 Le Mans



Mulsanne early morning




compared to the harder 1974 GAA monsters



Here the battles with the 3.0CSL BMW batmobiles were legendary .

Drivers like , Hans Stuck , Jackie Stewart , Nicky Lauda , Dieter Glemser , John fitzpatrick Gerry Birrel, Gerry Marshall , had to give there all just to keep up.



they were pretty tough

Edited by DBSV8 on Tuesday 29th May 16:14

[DBSV8]

heres a fantastic article on the racing Capris

http://z14.invisionfree.com/Classic_Ford_forum/ind...

[neutral 3]

Fantastic race photos DBS. Who was driving the Blue and White crash one and where and when ? That's not a photo I have seen before . Assuming the driver ( Jerry Birrel ?? Maybe ? ) is to the left of the Capri ?

Any one know what happened to the 72/73 Wiggins Teape / Jerry Birrel Race Capri ? From memory Ime pretty sure he raced with Jackie Stewart at Paul Ricard circuit in 72 in this car ?

[DBSV8]

theres a few more of the crash






Edit to add

It was definitely an RS2600 in Ford factory colours ( KOLN ) that entered in the European touring car championship of 1973 Likely crashed at the Nurburgring 6 hours race.

It looks likely to be either the No 3 car driven by Jochen Mass / Dieter Glemser or the No 2 car driven by John Fitzpatrick / Gerald Larrousse both cars involved in seporate accidents .


No 3 car from the Nurburgring shortly before the accident




No 3 car this time taken at Spa


You can buy models of the cars

here
http://www.fordmotorsportmodels.com/page4.htm
this is the 1973 Le mans KOLN car same decals as the Nurburgring cars



Also interesting to see how the casr developed into the GAA racers from 74.

1969 2300 gt virtually a road car


1971 RS 2600 with Cologne bodywork


1973 RS 2600



1974 RS 3100 GAA

Edited by DBSV8 on Wednesday 30th May 04:21

[neutral 3]

Horrific photos....... It appears that it's gone end over end . Ime guessing by the Blue / White colour scheme, Texaco decals, BBS ? Alloys , Bilstein ? decals etc etc and possibly the last style of wide arch body kit before the full Cologne 1974 body kit , that this is 1973.

Motor Sport mag Allways had a great ETC write up via the Late Great Dennis Jenkinson in each issue. I will have a quick look through my old copies to see if the crash is mentioned

[uk_vette]

DBSV8 said:

uk_vette said:

.
Hi DBSV8,

This is what I had.
Mk1 prefacelift Capris had rectangular headlamps with side indicators ( escort style sealed beam units ) and escort rear light clusters.

vette

Hi Vette

absolutely

Early pre facelift Capris 1969 -1972 in the UK had sealed beam units with side indicators like this.


with escort style rear light clusters

note very early G reg

.
Great pictures, brings back many memories.
I had a 1973 early 3.0L pre face lift, with the power bulge bonnet. In Gold
I also had the same era, a 2.0L V4 auto in Red
Then later a 1976 3.0L face lifted model in Black.

Sadly no pictures from them days.

Had considered another in these days, but I was thinking I may be a little disappointing with performance, I think in 1973 the 3.0L was only putting out 132 bhp, very good in it's day, but would get trounced now we have moved on 40 years.

vette

[DBSV8]

neutral 3 said:

Fantastic race photos DBS. Who was driving the Blue and White crash one and where and when ? That's not a photo I have seen before . Assuming the driver ( Jerry Birrel ?? Maybe ? ) is to the left of the Capri ?

Any one know what happened to the 72/73 Wiggins Teape / Jerry Birrel Race Capri ? From memory Ime pretty sure he raced with Jackie Stewart at Paul Ricard circuit in 72 in this car ?

the Wiggens Teape car Malcolm Gartlan Racing RS2600 came 1st at Paul Ricard ,although it was driven by Brian Muir and John Miles , Birrel was racing for Kent at Paul ricard

http://homepage.mac.com/frank_de_jong/Races/1972%2...

From 72 the no 4 Wiggens Teape car came second at Zandvoort with drivers Brian Muir and John Miles.
http://homepage.mac.com/frank_de_jong/Races/1972%2...

same car no 8 from Mallory park


from Silverstone 72 , You can see the Wiggens Teape car no 11 which came in second

http://homepage.mac.com/frank_de_jong/Races/1972%2...