MK1 3 Litre Capris, How Many Survive ?

MK1 3 Litre Capris, How Many Survive ?

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Wednesday 10th August 2011
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A great friend , has just reminded me about a Long ago .... ..... blast through a certain tunnel I'n my 3000GT , with a Fizzy hanging out of the boot !!!!


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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Thursday 11th August 2011
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Yes, they do, mine was Purple as well, bought it somewhere I'n Sth London, didn't have it long. My forst Moped at 16 was a Fantic GT, in blue, had a head on wirh an Austin 1100 in Chingford late one nite, but repaired it, then some scum nicked it from the garage.
Replaced it with my first Fizzy, VYF 15M, must have been one of the first FS1Es, after the Gold SS. Fitted an Alspeed Pipe, was a great bike .
I sold it I'n July 78, for £150 via MCN, how I wish I still had it.!!!

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Friday 12th August 2011
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Yes, Those were the days !! I remember riding down through Chingfrord one eve on my Fantic GT amongst a group of at least 15 Fizzys, AP 50s, Fantic GTs, Cabaleros, etc. What a sight that was .
One of that gang shortly after whilst eyeing up some girls at a bus stop to his left , ran into the back of an MGB GT that had stopped at traffic lights and went head first through the rear window, fortunately he wasn't seriously hurt !!

Anyone remember " Quick Snacks " at Whipps Cross ? This was a burger stand opposite the Hospital, good job it was !!! Could write a book re that place. Some real " Characters " shall we say used to frequent it , Fri and Sat nights were best.
A guy used to go there I'n a blue V12 Etype Coupe, complete with bent n/s front suspension, caused whilst hitting a kerb racing a Porshe Turbo. I well remember one eve him repeatedly racing a pal on an RD400E Yamaha and the black lines he left I'n the road and the Yam on it's back wheel for a long way!!

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Tuesday 16th August 2011
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Re that Pie stand I'n Harrow, East London and Essex were my haunts , but I beleive Quick Snacks was well known.
Re plod tugging certain cars, yes, sure that went on .
I had shall we say A dice late one night , I'n my 3 rd 3 Litre Capri ( a 3000E ) with a guy I'n a 3 Litre GXL, he tried to overtake me by using the n/s pavement, past plod I'n a Triumph 2.5 PI, they were not amused !!!
We both got a ticking off , then sent on our way . We then parked up and i had a long chat re 3 Litre Capris with him.
Those were the days. More fun , at slower speeds. Cars are just too fast now.

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Tuesday 30th August 2011
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Those were the days !!! Cant put in words how much fun i and many others had in MK1 3 Litre Capris .....
Love your White GXL !! Webasto sun roof and what look like Restall ? Seats , or RS 2 ones ?
I'n the 80s mildly modded MK1 Capris were a common sight.

What happened to her ?

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Thursday 1st September 2011
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Marine Blue 3100.... Very rare colour, only ever seen 1 I'n that colour. A neighbour in Chingford in the late 80s had VUN or VUM...N , he used to rag about I'n. Only 8 built I'n that colour ?

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Tuesday 6th September 2011
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82 ...... What a year....Passed my test I'n Jan, sold my Lovely Diamond Green Z900 and gave my " then " best Pal £550 Quid for what was reckoned to be the Fastest 3 Litre Capri I'n East London... EVC 289L , Daytona Yellow 3000 GT , How I still miss / Regret swapping you for that Bent Chassid TR6 at that Horse Dealers in Croydon.,,,Where are you now ?

I'n May 82 I span her at a hundred on the M11, whilst trying to close her Webasto Sunroof... she went round and round 3 times apparently... I vividly remember her lifting up on 2 wheels and my pal Harvey yelling out '" Shes Going Over " ... As a Red XJ6 just missed us on the near side .
How she didn't roll I still can't understand.... Guess my Dad must have been watching over me that Sunny Sunday....

And then last October , I survive a Head On with a Black MERC at Speed , Driven by 2 Ruddy A........ On My Side Of The Road on my 98 R1...

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Tuesday 6th September 2011
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Lovely looking Black MK 1 ..... 3 Litre..... I hope ?

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Wednesday 7th September 2011
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Lol.... Great story !! And didn't they just lurve to spin that inside rear tyre..

Another 3 Litre memory for you from early 82. I had seen a mint , 68 , Blue Shelby GT500 Mustang smoking around Chingford a few times, when suddenly he apears I'n front of me I'n a quiet back street. He hits the gas and lights the rear tyres up, the race is on, the Fast back has the edge, but not by much , we hang a left and the Stang is sideways I'n a cloud of tyre smoke, closely followed by my Capri, also Very side ways on it's Kelly Springfield 185x70s . ( Kelly Skidfields as we nicknamed them.
We carry on for another 200 yards or so when the Stang pulls over. We both get out and briefly talk cars, with me as a Pennyless 20 year old drooling and muttering that one day he will have a Bullit Rep 68 Fastback.... I'n Highland Green.....

Well , ime looking at one soon.

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Wednesday 7th September 2011
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Then I'n 93 after wanting one since they first came out, I finally get my self a Pearl White 1986 Phase 1 R5 GT Turbo.... Bought with light front end damage for 900 Quid I'n Walthamstow via Loot.

Had it a few weeks and am out late one night when a White H plate 5 Turbo pulls up on my right.... The lights change and we are both smoking our front tyres. Unfortunately I didn't get a good start and he has the edge on me, we head towards Lambourn End , Chigwell when he suddenly turns sharp left, I follow , but must have clipped the kerb, as my 5 is up on 2 wheels ,( drivers side ) she seams to be balancing forever when suddenly she slams back down again...., another lucky escape ...!!

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Wednesday 7th September 2011
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They sound familiar......

Remember BFG Lifesaver Radials ?

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Wednesday 7th September 2011
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3000 S . I moved on to those ( had 3 I'n total , a Red T plate, with hideous Glass sunroof and Recarros ,, a Velvet red S reg one, Vinle roof and steel sunroof and then the last one I'n early 86 , I'n Oyster Gold , with sunroof , but GL brown seats ( Recarros had been nicked ! ) I'n late 85 , but I disliked them intensly .
Far too heavy, a major step backwards for Ford. A Huge dissapointment for me . Their only redeeming feature to me was the Optional Steel sliding Sunroof, The Superb Recarro Seats and Power Steering , which sapped power. But Many 3000s were Poverty Spec and the Recarros and Sunroof were not common extras due to their cost . Pas was standard though.

At the time their were lots and lots of 323is around , maily driven by Greek or Turkish enthusiasts and they were quicker.

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Friday 9th September 2011
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LS7 Into a Capri, i Can't wait to see it . Is that the All Alloy O H Cam small block Chevy Lump ? Think this is the Lump that can be fitted to TVRs ?


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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Tuesday 29th May 2012
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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 ?

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Wednesday 30th May 2012
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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

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Thursday 31st May 2012
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Re the Deiter Glemser smash , he was lucky to walk ? Away from that one !
Was it 73 ?
Capris don't take a whack very well, in the early 80s , my Sis very sadly lost 3 friends when their 1600GT rolled .

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Thursday 31st May 2012
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Re Cologne Replicas, i have Just found a great little write up with photos by Jeremy Walton . In early 72 he visited the Cologne Comps Dept to see the 72 RS 2600 Race Capris being built .
It apears that the Blue / White colour scheme was introduced for 72 . The photo shows a stunning Silver with a Blue Bonnet 71 RS Capri , still on rectangular headlamps, which is in the w shop to be built up to the 72 spec.


That colour scheme really suits the Capri.

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Friday 1st June 2012
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Happy Capri days ......yes, I don't know how I got through them either.....lol !! My nick name for a while was "wheel spin willy " as my first 3000GT, a Daytona Yellow 72 Pre facelift , would smoke its tyres for a long way . I had many more 3 Litre capris after her, but only 1 was almost as quick .

I had that first one up on 2 wheels as she span round and round at nearly 100.... How she didn't go over I still can't understand...

That dice with with a Blue Big Block Shelby GT500 Mustang ....She would regularly show up far more expensive cars....
How I wish I hadn't swapped her at that "Horse Traders " in Croydon for that Damson TR6 with the bent chassis .....they saw me coming a mile away.....


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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Saturday 2nd June 2012
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Very interesting post RS Capri, love it !
Shame we didn't meet in the early 80s , your 3 Litre Capri addiction is even worse than mine lol ! Great photos, Allways wanted a 2600 or a 3100 .

In 82 I tried very hard to save a crusty / scruffy / faded/ everyday driver Sebring Red 3100 from Debden ( Loughton ) but he just wouldn't budge .
I can still picture it as clearly as it was yesterday , where has the time gone , It had gaping holes at the base of the screen, faded paint etc etc .
When I spoke to Len Pierce about it a couple of years ago, he thought it may have been scrapped ?

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Original Poster:

6,503 posts

171 months

Thursday 7th June 2012
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Slim jim, i remember a mint Red GXL that had a V8 fitted. Last time i saw it was High Beach, circa 1983, is this the car ?