Thursday 24th May 2018

Tickford Ford Capri: Spotted

Not an Aston Martin built by Ford, but the other way around - and that's not the only surprising thing about the Tickford Capri...

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You may not have heard of Tickford, and even if you have the odds are you won't be aware of its near 200-year history of coachbuilding. Founded in the 1820s by Joseph Salmons and known at the time as Salmons & Sons, the firm was based at Tickford Street in Newport Pagnell. Over the decades it enjoyed notable success, and by the 1930s its customers included Daimler, Rover, Triumph and MG.

By the time war broke out, Salmons & Sons employed over 450 people producing 30 car bodies a week - it wasn't until the company was acquired in 1943 that the name was officially changed to Tickford Ltd. In 1955 it caught the eye of David Brown - himself predisposed to Tickford's work - who purchased the company as part of Aston Martin Lagonda. It then remained dormant, however, until 1981 when Aston decided to create a specialist engineering subsidiary under the banner of Aston Martin Tickford - which is where the story of our Spotted really begins.

The Tickford Capri arrived at the very end of the iconic Ford's production - in fact, the final Capri ever registered was a Tickford. An initial build run of 250 cars was later revised down to just 100, with only 85 being produced. These figures alone go some way to telling the story of the Tickford Capri, but don't rush to judgement just yet, there's more to it than meets the eye.

The Tickford made use of the standard Capri's 2.8i Cologne V6 engine, which here developed 205hp thanks to the addition of an IHI turbo - chosen over a Garrett for improved low-speed torque - and Garrett intercooler. This delivered a 0-60 sprint of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 137mph.

It wasn't merely a case of slapping on massive turbo and heading to the pub, though. The decision was made to mount the blower at the front of the engine to improve its performance, which meant removing the V6 entirely during the upgrade. If that wasn't enough, the front end had to be redesigned to accommodate the new setup.

All in all Tickford ploughed around 200 man hours into every car, six of which were devoted solely to altering the profile of the bonnet to sit correctly with the new Vantage-style solid front grille. Early cars had a ZF differential fitted, although later examples of the 2.8i Capri came with an LSD as standard so were deemed not to require the upgrade. The brakes and chassis were both enhanced, too - and an additional rubber seal was even added to the front window frames to reduce what Tickford deemed to be unacceptable levels of wind noise above 100mph.

Initially, Tickford Capris were in fact built by Aston Martin proper, before production shifted to a dedicated facility and then petered out all together, largely due to the emergence of the faster and cheaper Sierra Cosworth. It certainly wasn't the end for Tickford, though, which went on to work with Ford on its road-going Sierra Cosworth RS500, as well as the homologation version of the RS200, and the creation of both the MG Maestro Turbo and the Jaguar XJS.

The seemingly immaculate, 63,000-mile example we have for sale here is listed for a fiver shy of £50k. Seven years ago you could have had a lower mileage example for just £20,000 but, in today's fast Ford market, the only way is up for anything fast and rare, and it doesn't get much faster and rarer than the Tickford Capri.

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SPECIFICATION - FORD TICKFORD CAPRI

Engine: 2,792cc, turbocharged V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 208@5,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 260@3,500rpm
MPG: 22.8 (Motorsport magazine test figure)
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1985
Recorded mileage: 63,000
Price new: £14,985
Yours for: £49,995

See the full ad here.

Source: http://www.a400mod.com

[Gameface]

My ex-girlfriends mum had an all white (even the wheels) one of these in the late 80's/early 90's.

Was a rather Essex colour scheme. Which was handy because it resided in Brentwood.

[cobra kid]

Those skirts kill a decent looking car.

[Leonardo101]

Not even rarity or a link to Aston could justify £50k for such a hideous creation!

[M666 EVO]

I do love that but I have 2 issues.

It isn't worth 50k. 20k tops.

And surely with the grill blocked up, will overheating not be an issue?

[anonymous-user]

Despite all the hours put into these, it still looks like a 'that'll do' effort bashed out on a Friday afternoon at 10 to 5.

Give me an old Capri and some MDF planks and in return I'll give you something that looks equally appealing.

You can't polish a turd, but you can spray it silver.

[P-Jay]

I think it's wonderful, very of it's time and yes a bit cheesy by 2018 standards, but in the 80s I'd bet it was pretty on fleek, just look at the skirts on the contemporary Aston!



I'm not surprised they couldn't sell many though and not just the price or the fact the Cosworth had arrived, the Capri had been around for 20 years and was really out of vogue by then.

[Car-Matt]

M666 EVO said:

I do love that but I have 2 issues.

It isn't worth 50k. 20k tops.

And surely with the grill blocked up, will overheating not be an issue?

I'm afraid with price you have to put personal opinion aside and let the market tell you the price, its simple supply and demand, like the article says they were fetching £20k+ many years ago and given the price of other Fords and 80's specials the prices have rocketed.

[blade7]

I had the Turbo Technics version back in the 80's. Fitted the TT kit myself. Nice as the Tickford uprates were, it was aimed at a market that was tiny for a Capri. I replaced my TT Capri with an 87 Cosworth,though the Capri engine was smoother and had less turbo lag. It was also a match for a standard Cos up to 140mph. I think someone that worked on the Tickford produced a very similar bodykit under the KAT name, I tried to buy one, but I heard Tickford shut him down.

[S100HP]

Where do I send the money?

I had a 1986 Capri in about 2004. it was white with an awful bodykit too. Got pulled over on the Avenue in Southampton, clocked at 86 (was a 40). The copper let me off as he was impressed I managed to get a ratty old capri to go that fast!

Lasted 6 weeks before I sold it. I didn't appreciate old motoring back then.

Edited by S100HP on Thursday 24th May 10:10

[V8covin]

A mate bought one,it was the dogs danglies of modified Capris back then,the car every Capri enthusiast drooled over.
I recall it being particularly quiet and refined inside by Capri standards

[Shewie]

blade7 said:

I had the Turbo Technics version back in the 80's. Fitted the TT kit myself. Nice as the Tickford uprates were, it was aimed at a market that was tiny for a Capri. I replaced my TT Capri with an 87 Cosworth,though the Capri engine was smoother and had less turbo lag. It was also a match for a standard Cos up to 140mph. I think someone that worked on the Tickford produced a very similar bodykit under the KAT name, I tried to buy one, but I heard Tickford shut him down.

I think Simon Saunders, the guy behind the Ariel Atom designed the bodykit for these and is the bloke you're talking about??

[pSyCoSiS]

I do like an old Tickford.

The body kits look a bit weird now, but very period for the time.

[Plug Life]

Looks like ste.

[Dave Hedgehog]

cobra kid said:

Those skirts kill a decent looking car.

its of its time period, cheap and nasty bolt on body kits were all the rage back then

[73RS]

Wikipedia (normal health warnings apply) gives an interesting history of Tickford. Apparently built the Puma Racing and did engineering work on the original Focus RS and fast Fords in Australia, before being bought by Prodrive and finally by Intertek plc (a big testing company) in 2013, where the name seems to have eventually died.

[blade7]

Shewie said:

blade7 said:

I had the Turbo Technics version back in the 80's. Fitted the TT kit myself. Nice as the Tickford uprates were, it was aimed at a market that was tiny for a Capri. I replaced my TT Capri with an 87 Cosworth,though the Capri engine was smoother and had less turbo lag. It was also a match for a standard Cos up to 140mph. I think someone that worked on the Tickford produced a very similar bodykit under the KAT name, I tried to buy one, but I heard Tickford shut him down.

I think Simon Saunders, the guy behind the Ariel Atom designed the bodykit for these and is the bloke you're talking about??

Sounds familiar. I think he sold a few kits before a threat of legal action stopped him. I bought RGA front and rear spoilers instead, that were designed by John miles I think.

[J4CKO]

I went in one years back, a chap at work was into Capris, as was his dad, he had a red one and he took me for a spin, was amazed how quick it felt, though the cabin ambience was a cross between a Capri and Daimler hearse. Funnily enough, our paths have crossed again at a new employer and apparently he sold it his dad who sold it before prices went daft for not much money.

Anyone remember the Autocar issue that pitted it against the Sierra Cosworth, for a 16 year old me it was better than my prized Razzle Readers Wifes special

[cayman-black]

Gameface said:

My ex-girlfriends mum had an all white (even the wheels) one of these in the late 80's/early 90's.

Was a rather Essex colour scheme. Which was handy because it resided in Brentwood.

Lol really who?(Mascall Lane) as mine was all black and lived in Brentwood Too.

[Gameface]

Yes Sue, who lived on Mascalls Lane.

[belleair302]

The much missed John Blackman had one of these alongside his DB5 and easy 911SC. Popadom brakes and shocking build quality. However in a straight line it was quite the drive. Certainly a unique early 80's car!