Mk1 3 Litre Capris, How Many Survive ?
Discussion
We took the Old Sunday, May 28th 1972, FordSports Day Warrior back to Brands ( Top Hat Races ) last bank Holiday Monday weekend.
It was 39 years ago almost to the day, that she was thrashed around there in two 10 lap races.
She aroused a lot of interest and amazeingly one of the Marshalls from the race recognised himself in one of the race photos. Had a great chat with him.
It was 39 years ago almost to the day, that she was thrashed around there in two 10 lap races.
She aroused a lot of interest and amazeingly one of the Marshalls from the race recognised himself in one of the race photos. Had a great chat with him.
Shocked and sadened at these numbers. I had so much fun in these cars and met many friends through them . When I got my first , a Daytona Yellow 3000GT, EVC 289L from a pal for £550 I'n Jan 82, there were plenty still around Essex and East London , but not so many Facelift cars.
But even then there were some very rough ones and many hideously Customised ones as well.
I desperately tried to save a very scruffy every day driver Sebring Red RS3100 that I found on a council estate I'n Debden I'n 82, he was shocked that I knew exactly what it was and said he would call me when he decided to sell. I never did get that call and I have since been told that it was scrapped, I was gutted!
I lived and breathed 3 Litre Capris back then, ( less agg than Girls ) I had 6 MK 1 3 Litres , until I moved on to TR6s , 260Zs etc in 1986 , then Stingrays, E types R5 GT Turbos etc and largely forgot about Capris.
At the begining of last year the memories of them and sideways fun came flooding back and I just had to have another. Researching the Market , I just couldn't believe how few were left/ available and the prices being asked for RS3100s , Broadspeed Bullits etc.
I well remember reading about the FordSports Capri Races years ago and was very lucky to find my one last year .
I really would love an RS 3100, but to my mind they are overrated / overpriced and not much of an improvement over a standard 3 Litre GXL.
Ford really could have and should have made the RS something really special and exclusive . Although with only aprox 150 built, rarity makes them expensive.
However, BMW made their competitor , the 3.0 CSL Very Special, with its thinner gauge steel body, alloy boot and bonnet,
even making the fuel filler flap from alloy ! Discs all round, fabulous Scheel seats, the list is endless !
But even then there were some very rough ones and many hideously Customised ones as well.
I desperately tried to save a very scruffy every day driver Sebring Red RS3100 that I found on a council estate I'n Debden I'n 82, he was shocked that I knew exactly what it was and said he would call me when he decided to sell. I never did get that call and I have since been told that it was scrapped, I was gutted!
I lived and breathed 3 Litre Capris back then, ( less agg than Girls ) I had 6 MK 1 3 Litres , until I moved on to TR6s , 260Zs etc in 1986 , then Stingrays, E types R5 GT Turbos etc and largely forgot about Capris.
At the begining of last year the memories of them and sideways fun came flooding back and I just had to have another. Researching the Market , I just couldn't believe how few were left/ available and the prices being asked for RS3100s , Broadspeed Bullits etc.
I well remember reading about the FordSports Capri Races years ago and was very lucky to find my one last year .
I really would love an RS 3100, but to my mind they are overrated / overpriced and not much of an improvement over a standard 3 Litre GXL.
Ford really could have and should have made the RS something really special and exclusive . Although with only aprox 150 built, rarity makes them expensive.
However, BMW made their competitor , the 3.0 CSL Very Special, with its thinner gauge steel body, alloy boot and bonnet,
even making the fuel filler flap from alloy ! Discs all round, fabulous Scheel seats, the list is endless !
A neighbour in Chingford bought a Marine Blue 3100, VUN ???N , in around 85 or 86,, think he found it in exchange and whotsit, it was the only Marine Blue one either of us had ever seen
I have a photo somewhere of it.
Lost touch with him when I moved I'n the late 80s, but Apparently it hasn't survived either.
I have a photo somewhere of it.
Lost touch with him when I moved I'n the late 80s, but Apparently it hasn't survived either.
Wondered if it sounded familiar ! and yes, Marine Blue was the rarest colour, I remember chatting to him about it , as neither of us thought Ford made them in that colour. It didn't really suit the cars shape. But it was a genuine one.
If I do find one it will be Daytona or Olympic .
It could well be the one you saw, it was a nice one then ,so i am suprised it hasnt survived
I well remember him saying that he was going to join one of the Owners clubs. Trying to rack my memory as to a date, i had just exchanged my Gold 3.0 S for a complete dog of a 323i, which was June 86.
My old album is I'n my parents loft somewhere, I def have photos of it
If I do find one it will be Daytona or Olympic .
It could well be the one you saw, it was a nice one then ,so i am suprised it hasnt survived
I well remember him saying that he was going to join one of the Owners clubs. Trying to rack my memory as to a date, i had just exchanged my Gold 3.0 S for a complete dog of a 323i, which was June 86.
My old album is I'n my parents loft somewhere, I def have photos of it
Really interesting reply, those figures make interesting reading.
Any idea How many are known to survive now ?
Several have been sent to Oz in recent years ( CSLs to ).
Re the Jimmy Saville one, he loved his cars, ( he had 15 E types aparently and an ultra rare / hugely expensive Carawagon Range Rover. Any idea what happened to his RS ?
Any idea How many are known to survive now ?
Several have been sent to Oz in recent years ( CSLs to ).
Re the Jimmy Saville one, he loved his cars, ( he had 15 E types aparently and an ultra rare / hugely expensive Carawagon Range Rover. Any idea what happened to his RS ?
Hey DBSV8 , yes I really must get cracking on the old warrior, but my new biz has taken priority plus the CSL is hopefully going in for long overdue treatment in January.
My youngest has taken a shine to her as well, so she's in good hands. I still havnt had a chance to get her running since I fitted the rebuilt mildly tweaked engine about 18 months ago.
I have So many fantastic memory's attached to the MK 1 Capri 3 Litre and I am really looking forward to hearing that gorgous noise that an Essex lump makes and of course smoking those rear tyres !
My youngest has taken a shine to her as well, so she's in good hands. I still havnt had a chance to get her running since I fitted the rebuilt mildly tweaked engine about 18 months ago.
I have So many fantastic memory's attached to the MK 1 Capri 3 Litre and I am really looking forward to hearing that gorgous noise that an Essex lump makes and of course smoking those rear tyres !
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Chingford, circa May 1982, EVC 289L had a reputation as being the fastest 3 Litre Capri in East London. I never did uncover her Engine spec and despite a bottom end knock and a small Chrome pancake air filter, she would pull an indicated 128 mph @ 5,800 rpm.
Note the stoved in rear 1/4, caused by a terrifying high speed spin on a motorway....
Hi Rumple , re my old 3000GT. In aprox June 82, My great pal Peter and I spent a sunday morning in a Woodford Green pub car park ( anoying the neighbours ) with a large club hammer trying to bash out the dent in the rear 1/4 !
I smoked her around for a few more weeks when I saw an advert in Motoring News for a Damson 69 TR6 at a garage somewhere in Croydon. So I drove down ( got chased en route by plodd in an SDI and nicked for no rent ) had a quick look at the 6 which didn't run and agreed to do a swap.
However , They saw me coming a mile though , as the Tr had been put hard into a tree on the drivers side a couple of years before ( I rang the previous owner ) and the chassis was bent like a banana !
But a month or so later I flogged the 6 to an acquaintance for almost what I had paid for the Capri , so happy days !
Later that year or early 83, I was in STH London when a Yellow Capri with a black power bulge bonnet went the other way, I turned round and tried to catch up but it disappeared . I'm sure that was EVC . From memory she was last taxed in 93, so guessing she is no more......
The memory's attached to that car ... 100 mph through a " certain tunnel " with a FSie hanging out of the boot, a blast back down the M1 with a Kawasaki Z 900 hanging out of the boot.....
I smoked her around for a few more weeks when I saw an advert in Motoring News for a Damson 69 TR6 at a garage somewhere in Croydon. So I drove down ( got chased en route by plodd in an SDI and nicked for no rent ) had a quick look at the 6 which didn't run and agreed to do a swap.
However , They saw me coming a mile though , as the Tr had been put hard into a tree on the drivers side a couple of years before ( I rang the previous owner ) and the chassis was bent like a banana !
But a month or so later I flogged the 6 to an acquaintance for almost what I had paid for the Capri , so happy days !
Later that year or early 83, I was in STH London when a Yellow Capri with a black power bulge bonnet went the other way, I turned round and tried to catch up but it disappeared . I'm sure that was EVC . From memory she was last taxed in 93, so guessing she is no more......
The memory's attached to that car ... 100 mph through a " certain tunnel " with a FSie hanging out of the boot, a blast back down the M1 with a Kawasaki Z 900 hanging out of the boot.....
This one certainly shouldnt still be around.....
Silverstone TT July 73 and Dave Mathews is seconds away from being thrown out of his somersaulting / disintigrating Broadspeed Capri, after a horrific high speed ( 130 mph ) shunt which involved Dave Brodie in his Escort and Gavin Booth in his Mini Cooper.
Very sadly , Gavin passed away from his injuries in hospital.
Edited by neutral 3 on Tuesday 11th December 00:34
Gavin Booth, the poor Mini Cooper driver, who very sadly died from head injuries, either later that day or the following day, barely gets a mention ( if at all ) in articles on this shunt. Its as if he never existed at all!!
And yes Plug, indeed that idiot in the beard is smiling at the remains of the Capri.
And yes Plug, indeed that idiot in the beard is smiling at the remains of the Capri.
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