1973 Ford Capri 1.6 XL MK1

This lovely Capri is an intriguing car in many ways. It is a MKI, post-facelift car from 1973 and is fitted with a 1600 pinto 1.6 engine mated to the three-speed automatic gearbox. It is in XL specification and reveals a fascinating backstory.

The current owner discovered the car in a lockup in London. The car had been partially cannibalised by the previous owner who had intended to do a 5-litre conversion of the car. The engine, gearbox, front suspension and rear axle had all been removed and sold. The project had stalled due to a family bereavement and the car left as it stood.

The current owner had the foresight to see past the car’s deconstructed condition and focus on the fact it was a 22,000-mile car which had stored since 1992. The car’s body and interior appeared to be excellent and warranted a rescue mission.

The current owner acquired the car in May 2021 to become the car’s fifth owner and went about recommissioning the Capri. He was able to source a period correct 1.6 pinto engine and automatic gearbox from Ray Turner, renowned Capri owner. The donor mechanicals had covered just 35,000 miles. The bodywork, paintwork and interior have simply been valeted such were their stunning original condition. The underside was cleaned and, with no welding discovered, it was undersealed, primed and painted in the body colour.

Uwe Bahnsen designed in plenty of Mustang-esque detail and character into the MKI Capri. There’s that signature, bonnet length power bulge for example, even optimistically included on the 1,300cc entry level “L” specification cars. Then there’s the twin, vented “gills” ahead of the rear wheels and the prominent swage line which drops down to encompass the rear wheels. The bigger “D shaped” rear windows were included to make rear passengers feel less claustrophobic as it was predicted that more passengers would be carried in a Capri than in its transatlantic inspiration.

This car looks amazing in its bright Miami Blue making it hard to grasp that this is reported to be the original paintwork applied in Halewood some 50 years ago. Every panel seems to exude a high shine and there appears to be little or no colour variation between panels. The bodywork looks to be in an equally fine condition with the panel gaps looking tight, straight and symmetrical throughout. The doors, bonnet and boot are reported to open and close positively and easily.

The XL model was second from the bottom in a four trim-level line up. As such a few nice extras were either specified by the original owner or sourced during the recommissioning. Both vinyl roof and Rostyle “sports road wheels” were extras on the XL but really add to the visual appeal of the car. This example is noted to feature the quad headlamps of the range topping GXL. These weren’t an official extra for the XL so, we assume, added by the current owner.

The XL specification was, perhaps, more obvious on the inside as compared to the exterior. The additions may seem modest by today’s standards but would almost certainly have enhanced the ownership experience back in 1973. XL interior refinements extended to reclining front seats and twin bucket style rear seats. There was an illuminated heater control panel, dipping rear view mirror and a parking brake warning light.

This interior is finished predominantly in blue vinyl which closely matches the Miami Blue of the exterior. The front seats feature deep bolsters which are finished in smooth vinyl. The centre panels and the inner edges of the bolsters are finished in perforated vinyl and are arranged into horizontal padded pleats. Again, the original condition is impressively good with just a minor degree of wear noted on the driver’s seat. These seats fold forward to afford access to those charming “twin bucket style rear seats.” Unlike many fastback sports models, the Capri could actually seat four average sized adults.

The carpets are black hued and original. The condition is great with a small 10p sized hole just ahead of the automatic gear selector. The door cards are finished in the same blue vinyl with padded panelled centre sections. The white, perforated vinyl headlining is in good overall order. The black vinyl finished dashboard features a wood effect fronted instrument and control binnacle. The twin instruments consist of a speedometer and a multi-function twin. A number of switches and a later Pioneer head unit are housed in the centre of the dashboard. The familiar twin spoked steering wheel is fitted complete with a bound and perforated rim.

The well-shaped boot currently lacks a carpet or floor mat. This does afford a clear view of the car’s floor, however, and it looks in great order. A full sized Rostyle spare wheel sits neatly in the dedicated aperture in the floor.

The 1.6L pinto engine fitted to this car is a well-known and durable unit. This engine was originally rated at around 72bhp and 87Ib-ft of torque. Modest sounding numbers but cars were a lot lighter back in the 1970’s so these numbers could push the Capri close to 100mph on a good day, with a tailwind……whilst driving on a slight decline.

The engine and gearbox were sourced in period-correct trim and having done around 35,000 miles in another car. This gearbox is a three-speed automatic example making for a much rarer Capri configuration with the vast majority of the smaller engine cars being manuals.

Like the rest of the car, the engine bay is a bit of a revelation. Firstly, the inner panels look so good, it is easy to assume the car has been restored. The engine itself is admirably clean and a number of new ancillaries can be spotted as required to get the car back into its current condition.

The underside has been attended to by the current owner. He reports thoroughly cleaning and checking this area and finding no signs of deterioration or welding. He then undersealed the car and finished it in body coloured Miami Blue. The replacement rear axle can be seen and is in a nicely presented condition.

When our current owner found the car, all earlier paperwork had been long lost, and a new V5 registration document was obtained from DVLA. This is in the name of the current owner and shows 4 previous owners. Other than that, there are a couple of earlier MoTs on hand with the land one having only expired earlier this year. A certificate of MoT exemption based on its Historic Vehicle designation is also present.

Like many Fords of this period the Capri has undergone somewhat of a phoenix style resurrection. Once these were relatively workaday cars and, consequently, ubiquitous. As values hit the floor many bit the dust as they became uneconomic to repair if they went wrong or, as was more often the case, rusted significantly. Numbers then dropped and ubiquity became a thing of the past. Values rise and people start to repair, recommission and restore again.

That’s basically what happened with this delightful Capri. A potential owner saw past the downsides of a partially deconstructed example and focused on the amazing original and unmolested condition of what was there. A lesson for life, some would say. What we have now is a really fine example of a facelifted MKI Capri. As such it is a rare and desirable car, especially in this automatic configuration. It’s bound to be popular and selling with no reserve. If the Capri really was “the car you always promised yourself” then bid today to secure this uniquely back-storied example.

We estimate for this Ford Capri to reach anywhere between £9,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.