Lot details
Registration No: WHJ 19J
Chassis No: BBECKT12400
Mot Expiry: Oct 2013

Ford's Capri was launched at the 1969 Brussels Motorshow. The fastback Coupe was intended to do for Europe what the Mustang had done for the USA - ie it was our 'pony' car, and would have been called Colt had Mitsubishi not bagged the name first. The monocoque body featured independent front suspension by MacPherson struts and a live axle with leaf springs at the rear. Braking was by discs/drums and the steering by rack and pinion. The newcomer was offered with a generous choice of engines. Initially these comprised the four-cylinder Kent unit in 1300cc and 1600cc forms, plus the 2000cc V4 Essex unit (examples of which are now pretty rare). By September a version powered by the 136bhp, 3000cc V6 Essex unit had been added to the line-up. Gearboxes, like the engines, tended to be common to the Cortina and were slick four-speed manual units for the smaller-engined cars, with the option of a three-speed automatic with the bigger engines. True to type, Ford also offered the Capri in numerous levels of trim and general specification.

This immaculate-looking right-hand drive Capri 1600 is a Halewood-built example from April of the first year of production - a very early car. The vendor informs us it has been the subject of a painstaking restoration where originality was the key - even the engine bay and wiring loom stickers are said to be exactly to factory specification. The original shades of Blue exterior and interior have been retained, and the Ford comes complete with a copy of the car's original build sheet. The vendor currently views the bodywork, paintwork, interior trim, original Kent engine and four-speed manual gearbox as "excellent". The odometer registers an unwarranted 30,595 miles and it is intended for 'WHJ 19J' to have a new MOT by the time of the sale.

PLEASE NOTE: This vehicle has an MOT until Oct 2013.