What was/is your dads coolest car?
Discussion
My dad's was a Broadspeed Bullit Capri, like the one in the pic but his was black with round lights and a silver bonnet. Fantastic car and really pretty quick, even now it wouldn't be bad. He sold it and the tw*t who bought it took the engine out and put it into a Granada! :-/ I wish I had one...
BROAD SPEED BULLIT CAPRI
THIS Capri was probably one of the most exciting Capri’s of the early 1970’s, apart from the RS2600, RS3100, Commanche 190, Atlard V8, Lumo Capri and Perana Capri (the last four modified by specialized firms). It’s called the Broadspeed Bullit. It was first available in early 1970. Based on either a 3000E, 3000 GT and also a 1600 GT. As Broadspeed was a Ford dealer they could price the Bullit competitively with the standard range. These were the prices for a 1971: £1995 for the 3000E, 3000GT was £1825 and £1575 for the 1600 GT. The Bullit was definitely not a kit because you could only buy the Bullit as a complete car.
The modifications were as follows: Stage 2 engine conversion, which involves modified cylinder heads, high lift cam shaft, new gasket and bearing, re-choked and jetted carburettors, new inlet manifold and a redesigned exhaust system. Suspension mods include Armstrong Adjustable 22 telescopic shocks at the rear. At the front smaller roll bar was fitted to reduce the cars normal under steer. Brake pads were DS11’s these considerably improved stopping power. Externally, the front end was altered. This entailed the deletion of the front bumper and replaced with an anti-lift spoiler. The lighting included quartz iodine Cibie headlamps and fog/spot lights built into the spoiler. At the back of the car the rear window had louvers. To complete the Bullits macho look was a top-side two tone paint job.
Broadspeed has a choice of worthwhile extras. Among them were Minilite Wheels, (most shod with Goodyear’s), Restall Bucket Seats, Electric Fan, Air Horns, small diameter leather steering wheel, alternative centre console to the standard and stereo cassette player.
As you can see there was plenty to choose from. The electric fan was considered then to be essential rather than an extra. This was due to the increased power making the standard work extra hard.
One of the Bullits strong points was its mind-blowing performance. Read on and you will soon see why:-
The Bullit could reach 60 mph in just 7.2 sec’s compared to pre 71 Capri 3000GT’s 10.2 secs. Maximum speed was past the 126 mph barrier in calm conditions. A quarter of a mile could be done in 16.1 sec’s or in other words it could steam down the local high street in the same time (Sunday’s only).
To get this kind of performance into perspective I am afraid I will have to mention some deadly rival to the Capri. The Porsche 911T could just do 0-60 in the same time as the Bullit, but the Bullit could beat an Aston Martin (shock horror) a Jenson FF (ha ha) and a Triumph TR6 (too bad) to 60 mph so there!! Please note the performance figures were tested on an early 3000 Bullit before Ford up rated their engine so the performance would be even better.
I suppose you all want to go out and buy one now. Well there are not many about so you will have to be careful what you buy. The 1600 Bullit is probably the rarest. Don’t be fooled by some shark selling a sooped up Capri as a Bullit, beneath all those extra’s and spoilers it could well be an ordinary Capri.
BROAD SPEED BULLIT CAPRI
THIS Capri was probably one of the most exciting Capri’s of the early 1970’s, apart from the RS2600, RS3100, Commanche 190, Atlard V8, Lumo Capri and Perana Capri (the last four modified by specialized firms). It’s called the Broadspeed Bullit. It was first available in early 1970. Based on either a 3000E, 3000 GT and also a 1600 GT. As Broadspeed was a Ford dealer they could price the Bullit competitively with the standard range. These were the prices for a 1971: £1995 for the 3000E, 3000GT was £1825 and £1575 for the 1600 GT. The Bullit was definitely not a kit because you could only buy the Bullit as a complete car.
The modifications were as follows: Stage 2 engine conversion, which involves modified cylinder heads, high lift cam shaft, new gasket and bearing, re-choked and jetted carburettors, new inlet manifold and a redesigned exhaust system. Suspension mods include Armstrong Adjustable 22 telescopic shocks at the rear. At the front smaller roll bar was fitted to reduce the cars normal under steer. Brake pads were DS11’s these considerably improved stopping power. Externally, the front end was altered. This entailed the deletion of the front bumper and replaced with an anti-lift spoiler. The lighting included quartz iodine Cibie headlamps and fog/spot lights built into the spoiler. At the back of the car the rear window had louvers. To complete the Bullits macho look was a top-side two tone paint job.
Broadspeed has a choice of worthwhile extras. Among them were Minilite Wheels, (most shod with Goodyear’s), Restall Bucket Seats, Electric Fan, Air Horns, small diameter leather steering wheel, alternative centre console to the standard and stereo cassette player.
As you can see there was plenty to choose from. The electric fan was considered then to be essential rather than an extra. This was due to the increased power making the standard work extra hard.
One of the Bullits strong points was its mind-blowing performance. Read on and you will soon see why:-
The Bullit could reach 60 mph in just 7.2 sec’s compared to pre 71 Capri 3000GT’s 10.2 secs. Maximum speed was past the 126 mph barrier in calm conditions. A quarter of a mile could be done in 16.1 sec’s or in other words it could steam down the local high street in the same time (Sunday’s only).
To get this kind of performance into perspective I am afraid I will have to mention some deadly rival to the Capri. The Porsche 911T could just do 0-60 in the same time as the Bullit, but the Bullit could beat an Aston Martin (shock horror) a Jenson FF (ha ha) and a Triumph TR6 (too bad) to 60 mph so there!! Please note the performance figures were tested on an early 3000 Bullit before Ford up rated their engine so the performance would be even better.
I suppose you all want to go out and buy one now. Well there are not many about so you will have to be careful what you buy. The 1600 Bullit is probably the rarest. Don’t be fooled by some shark selling a sooped up Capri as a Bullit, beneath all those extra’s and spoilers it could well be an ordinary Capri.
Edited by mattski on Monday 29th October 22:37
Before my parents had kids, my dad had a series of cool cars, the most iconic of which was a 65 Fastback Mustang in black..
He also had a Frogeye sprite, modified VW Beetle, Opel Manta and a variety of 80s BMWs, back when that badge meant something other than 'increase previous models dimensions by 10% and relaunch'
His latest car purchase was a diesel renault megane convertible. not sure what went wrong there
He also had a Frogeye sprite, modified VW Beetle, Opel Manta and a variety of 80s BMWs, back when that badge meant something other than 'increase previous models dimensions by 10% and relaunch'
His latest car purchase was a diesel renault megane convertible. not sure what went wrong there
And maybe the convertible rear-drive Mini he built himself, which also had the coolest death, being stored in a barn that was crushed when lightning struck the tree next to it. An original Lotus Elite, Lotus Elan+2 and a Lotus Cortina which had just completed the Welsh Rally when,this being my fathers only means of transport at the time,he used it to pick me and my mother up from the hospital after I was born(some 35+ yrs ago).
Mother said she would not of minded,but there were no back seats,there was a large amount of spotlights,and he had not got around to washing it either!
Mother said she would not of minded,but there were no back seats,there was a large amount of spotlights,and he had not got around to washing it either!
He had a few, thinking back:
alfasud, i think it was a 1700, it was definatelt red anyway.... I was only 4!
Alfa 164 3 litre cloverleaf..... feck that thing shifted!
A Variety of Saab turbos, from 1987 900 turbo to 2001 9-5 2.3
1964 E type series 1 Fixed Head ..... The 'Grey Lady' that he remortgaged his house for!
Ferrari 308 ... now mine and awaiting engine rebuild
Its his fault I turned out how I did!
alfasud, i think it was a 1700, it was definatelt red anyway.... I was only 4!
Alfa 164 3 litre cloverleaf..... feck that thing shifted!
A Variety of Saab turbos, from 1987 900 turbo to 2001 9-5 2.3
1964 E type series 1 Fixed Head ..... The 'Grey Lady' that he remortgaged his house for!
Ferrari 308 ... now mine and awaiting engine rebuild
Its his fault I turned out how I did!
Edited by Adam_BGT on Monday 29th October 23:24
Loved his 1976 Rover P6 2000TC in red with a black vinyl roof and (what seemed like, as a 7 year old) 6 million dials and switches on the dash. Should be my favourite. But no. Back in 1992 he bought a brand new Jag XJ40 3.2 Sport in burgundy with cream leather int piped red 
Bloody lovely.
Made me want a Jag ever since. Got one earlier this year
Bloody lovely.
Made me want a Jag ever since. Got one earlier this year
Austin Healey 3000 MKIII in BRG. He owned it in the 60's - before I was born sadly...Smashed it into a lampost racing a lotus cortina on the A127.
Had loads of Bikes too, Vincent Black Prince, various Triumphs and a velocette
Had loads of Bikes too, Vincent Black Prince, various Triumphs and a velocette
Edited by juice on Monday 29th October 23:45
Edited by juice on Monday 29th October 23:46
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