RE: Ford Capri RS3100 onboard: Time For Coffee

RE: Ford Capri RS3100 onboard: Time For Coffee

Friday 15th March 2019

Ford Capri RS3100 onboard: Time For Coffee?

The Capri is 50 years old this year - no more excuse needed for a video celebration...



While overshadowed in the Ford coupe ranks by the Mustang that it owed its existence to, there can be no doubting the significance of the Capri to a certain generation of UK enthusiasts. Across three generations and nearly 20 years of sales, it captured the imagination of many; here, at last, was a sexy desirable two-door Ford, one that that was affordable and - with the right engine, at least - fast as well.

A motorsport career only aided the Capri legend, racing (and winning) across Europe against 911s, CSLs and the like, with further success in British saloon car racing. It's a legacy that's being celebrated at the Silverstone Classic this year, and one we're only too happy to get behind with videos like this.

It comes from last year's Oldtimer GP at the Nurburgring, seemingly an absolute feast of excitement for those who like classic motorsport. It features an RS3100 Capri, arguably the most iconic racing one of the lot, battling on the GP track with a BMW M1 and a Porsche 934 - it's sportscar racing nirvana, put simply. The big V6 howls and growls its way around, manipulated by one of those manual gearbox things (keep an eye on that right until the end, in fact), the effort put in by driver Stefan Mucke visible for all to see. It's an absolute treat.

For any fans of tin-top racing, of fast Fords, or just a sweet old V6, this one is well worth a watch. Or, more specifically, a listen. Just keep the tab open alongside the ones that are meant to be, and drink it all in...

 

 

Author
Discussion

loudlashadjuster

Original Poster:

5,082 posts

183 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
Whoops!

George Smiley

5,048 posts

80 months

Friday 15th March 2019
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My first cars were Capri's, I made some good mates through the club. One of them had recently bought a hotel somewhere up in Cumbria where he found, hidden in one of the barns, an old RS3100 in tip top condition. This was back in the late 90s but even then the rarity of the find made it very special

irocfan

40,153 posts

189 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
never actually owned a Capri frown I had the rival Manta - though in all honesty I'd have loved an x-pack(ish) Capri

aeropilot

34,299 posts

226 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
Cosworth GAA powered I presume from that sound track....??


CS Garth

2,860 posts

104 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
Possibly inspired by Car SOS?

LostCockney

49 posts

62 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
Brilliant .My Capri's never went as fast as that.But at least the gearstick stayed attached !

Paddy78

208 posts

145 months

Friday 15th March 2019
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CS Garth said:
Possibly inspired by Car SOS?
I was at the British Motor Museum earlier in the week and the powder blue one there is absolutely stunning! cloud9

Edit: There is a Car SOS exhibition on there at the moment.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
LostCockney said:
Brilliant .My Capri's never went as fast as that.But at least the gearstick stayed attached !
It was the way he looked at it in his hand which cracked me up.

Magnificent sound to that point though. No match for the 935 in a straight line, but caught up quite a bit in the corners.

unsprung

5,467 posts

123 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all



love the revs, the sounds

delightfully analogue -- and perhaps too much so, given the wayward stick !!






Panjy

162 posts

145 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
What a noise!
Was very funny when the gearstick broke though, i wasn’t expecting that biggrin

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Friday 15th March 2019
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Lovely jubbly! biggrin

GTI16V

542 posts

73 months

Friday 15th March 2019
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Absolute quality. thumbup

J4CKO

41,287 posts

199 months

Friday 15th March 2019
quotequote all
My first car was a Mk1 Capri back in 89, had the gearstick thing happen as well.

neutral 3

6,356 posts

169 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
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My first road car, was this 72 3000 GT, the fastest 3 Litre Capri in East London in the early 80s
We never did find out who " tweaked " it, but it would pull 128 @ 5,800 rpm and was still pulling, but was diabolically unstable @ high speed, it needed a front spoiler.
Stupidly swaped it at a horse traders garage in Croydon, with a 70 TR-6 with a bent chassis, in June 72. Those Cowboys saw me coming a Mile away!

neutral 3

6,356 posts

169 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all

Sunday May 28th 1972 and 16 identical new black 3000E Capris are going to be thrashed in 2 races by 32 top drivers of the day, inc Lauda and Fittipaldi. Only one of the 16 has survived......

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
Cosworth GAA powered I presume from that sound track....??
Absolutely, video screenshot says it all:

Dollyman1850

6,316 posts

249 months

Saturday 16th March 2019
quotequote all
I had the pleasure of being at the old Timer last year and this was simply the best sounding car at the meeting. It sounded awesome.. The old Boat anchor is a Hell of a beast in 4 Cam GAA guise biggrin

N.

EdT

5,102 posts

283 months

Monday 18th March 2019
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I rarely watch an entire on-board racing clip - but this one did it!
What an ending too smile

neutral 3

6,356 posts

169 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
quotequote all


Jackie Stewart launches the RS3100 in London’s Hanover Square.
This one was unique in that it was painted purple velvet metalic, with a steel sunroof and leather trim.
It is thought that Stewart had the use of this “
pre production “ car for six months.
( These cars were very hard to sell in 1974, so Ford handed many of them to their management to get them out on the roads. They even sent 50 to OZ ! )

Ownership of this one, then passed via SuperSpeed, of Let St. Ilford, to a good pals, Late Dad, in Chigwell, Essex. It was last seen in Chelmsford Essex, by the second owners son, looking very down @ heel and with a large dent in one of its front wings, in the late 70s. It is thought that it was then involved in an accident and was scrapped, not long after.

Edited by neutral 3 on Sunday 14th February 04:11

aeropilot

34,299 posts

226 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
quotequote all
neutral 3 said:


Jackie Stewart launches the RS3100 in London’s Hanover Square.
This one was unique in that it was painted purple velvet metalic, with a steel sunroof and leather trim.
It is thought that Stewart had the use of this “
pre production “ car for six months.
( These cars were very hard to sell in 1974, so Ford handed many of them to their management to get them out on the roads. They even sent 50 to OZ ! )

Ownership of this one, then passed via SuperSpeed, of Let St. Ilford, to a good pals, Late Dad, in Chigwell, Essex. It was last seen in Chelmsford Essex, by the second owners son, looking very down @ heel and with a large dent in one of its front wings, in the late 70s. It is thought that it was then involved in an accident and was scrapped, not long after.
Never know that one was purple velvet.....(or had the sunroof)...!
Clearly, all done at AVO in the Special Build section. So, that's at least 3 known cars that were built at AVO in Purple Velvet biggrin