1985 Ford Capri Tickford Turbo
Number 71 (of c.85 examples)

Registration No: B474 BCW
Chassis No: WF0CXXGAECET93277
MOT: None

• Number 71 (of c.85 examples)
• In family ownership from new until 1st September 2017
• 16,588 miles which is understood to be correct and last running in c.1992
• Offered with a current V5C.
• Recommissioning work has already been started on the brakes and the suspension

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.

After much anticipation, following the car’s resurfacing recently, after it was thought to have been lost, Tickford Capri number 71of (86 built) now awaits a new owner following a period of dry storage following the ill health of the previous owner. In family ownership from new until 1st September 2017. The Capri was registered to a business owned by the previous owner before being registered to him from 1991. The car hasn’t been run since c.1992 due to the previous owner’s ill health, explaining the low mileage of just 16,588 which is displaying on the odometer. Anecdotally, the car is said to have had work done on the fuel tank and it is currently in a rolling state. In addition, recommissioning work has already been started on the brakes and the suspension.

This Tickford even featured in an episode of BBC’s Crimewatch programme, starring as itself, along with its owner, following an incident when the Tickford was stolen from Mr Johnson and then recovered. The segment represented the story of how the car was stolen, used in a robbery and then abandoned a few days later, with the presenters appealing to the public for sightings in order to track down the robbers.

For more information, please contact:
James McWilliam
james.mcwilliam@handh.co.uk
07943 584760