Lot details
Registration No: D128DDU
Chassis No: WFOCXXGAECGM17968
Mot Expiry: None

Arguably the brainchild of ex-Lotus F1 driver and Autocar journalist John Miles, the Ford Capri Tickford Turbo was unveiled in prototype guise at the 1982 Birmingham Motor Show. Developed by Aston Martin Tickford Ltd (the famous Newport Pagnell manufacturer's special projects wing), the newcomer was based on a standard MKIII Capri 2.8 Injection. Visually distinguished by the lift-reducing GRP mouldings that Simon Saunders (latterly of Ariel Atom fame) devised for its nose, flanks and tail, the fixed-head was credited with a 0.37 drag coefficient. Reworked via the addition of an IHI turbocharger and Garrett intercooler, its 2792cc Cologne V6 drove the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox. Upgraded with four-wheel disc brakes, the muscular 2+2 coupe also benefited from power-assisted rack and pinion steering and A-frame reinforced rear suspension (while early cars boasted a limited slip differential). Credited with 205bhp and 260lbft of torque, the high-performance model was reputedly capable of 0-60mph in 6.0 seconds and 139.8mph. Priced at an immodest £14,985, it came with Recaro front seats and a leather-topped walnut dashboard as standard. The plan was to reconfigure 250 examples and an initial batch of 100 Injection Capris was purchased from Ford. However, at some 200 man-hours per conversion, the cars proved expensive to build and expensive to sell. Ultimately just 85 or so are understood to have been completed.

The Black example on offer was allocated build number 91 and delivered new to Mark Squires in October 1986. The second keeper, Laurie Bradley, acquired the Capri just under two years later, by which time it had apparently covered some 18,000 miles. Bradley retained the fast Ford for 14 years, relinquishing it to the vendor in October 2002 with around 95,400 miles displayed on the odometer - it still shows under 96,000 to this day. Having been stored for a while, the Tickford is now running and driving but will require a level of recommissioning prior to road use. The vendor regards the coachwork, paintwork, transmission and interior as "good".