1988 Ford Capri 280 Turbo Technics

The lovely Capri we have on sale here was first registered in January 1988. Before the first owner took delivery, the car was dispatched to Turbo Technics HQ for the full treatment.

In amongst the paperwork you will find the original bill of sale from Brooklyn Ford in Redditch, Worcestershire. This shows the additional cost of the turbo upgrade, oh and a purchase price of £12,096.99, a fair old sum some 35 years ago.

Being a conscientious type, the car was returned to Brooklyn Ford for all servicing and maintenance and was clearly much enjoyed, the milometer ticking up to 157,000 miles or thereabouts.

Come 2007, the original owner sold the Capri to a chap in Dorset who was going to restore it. Where have we heard this one before? It remained untouched in dry storage until it was purchased by Paul, who was a past owner of an accident repair centre and an avid classic car restorer.

Our seller got to know of the car’s existence and agreed to purchase it. He then worked alongside Paul to bring the car back to its former glory and the result is excellent. The work was completed in October 2022 and the car has only been driven short distances since.

In reality, the Capri's first owner is the only person who has used the car as its maker intended and our seller hopes that the car’s next owner will continue to enjoy this exciting, classic performance coupe.

A slow and steady restoration of the Capri’s bodywork was undertaken by the experienced Paul and the result is really rather splendid.

There are a few marks, however. The sunroof has some scratches (pic 188) we have noticed a tiny blemish under the front windscreen (pic 154). We are being picky though!

The seven spoke alloy wheels have been refurbished and look good and a set of Aplus A609s tyres are fitted, all with ample tread.

The sliding steel sunroof works as it should but clearly needs some adjustment to avoid causing any more scratches. It does allow for wind-in-the-hair motoring though.

The rubber rear spoiler looks to be the original and does look a little jaded. Some cleaning/refurbishment may well be in order.

Shut lines are good and all the period stickers appear to be present and correct. Note the Turbo Technics badge on the rear, a small sign as to what a special car this is.

Our car boasts the full leather interior and yes, those Recaro sports seats are as comfortable as they look. Gently patinated, they show the car’s history. We would be inclined to feed and treat them regularly to stop them drying out in places.

Door cards and dashboard look fine, though the headlining is a little tired, with a tear by the sunroof handle. Carpets and mats would undoubtedly benefit from a steam clean, but this is an easy DIY task. They show their age.

The boot does bear the scars of luggage moving around, not unexpected really. Under the boot floor sits a proper alloy spare wheel and modest tool kit.

Reassuringly the rear parcel shelf is intact, so many are modified to fit aftermarket speakers and replacements are hard to find.

Pictures of the Capri’s underside await your inspection in our gallery. It all looks excellent to us, as befits a car that has been newly and properly restored. See for yourself!

The engine bay presents well and the motor itself was reconditioned in 1994 at 127,000 miles. The gearbox was also redone at 157,000 miles.

Although only driven briefly, our seller report that the drives well and that everything works as it should.

The Capri’s original owner was clearly very organised as a raft of invoices for work carried out are displayed in our gallery. He entrusted all the work to the supplying Ford dealer, who clearly knew the car best. Servicing, extensive maintenance, all documented as he was initially a high mileage driver. This slowed down in later years, with another car we assume being used instead.

We note that the car had a new gearbox fitted under warranty 18 months after delivery and as mentioned, its replacement was rebuilt in 1997.

Many of the parts needed for the rebuild were supplied by Paul and no invoices are available. However, there are some for parts purchased by our seller from the Capri Club (we recommend joining) and Tickover at Dartford.

A raft of old MoT certificates accompany the car which document the car’s early mileage. 97,542 miles proclaimed the 1992 paperwork.

From 2007 when the car was taken off the road, until 2nd March of this year, there is a gap in testing. It is reassuring to note that the latest certificate is advisory free and shows the mileage recorded at 60,200. Of course a further 100,000 miles must be added to this.

The original service book is present and correct, with lots of lovely stamps filling its pages and the handbooks and a pile of Capri Club magazines will provide enjoyable bedtime reading.

“The Ford Capri, the car you always promised yourself”, went the advert.

Well maybe now is that time. The 280 Brooklands Capri is undoubtedly the one to have and to have one with added oomph from a turbocharger will just add not only to the driving pleasure, but also the car’s exclusivity.

With a few small details attended to, this low mileage Capri is likely to become one of the very best around.

So, how much for all this Ford loveliness? We estimate the car will sell for between £20,000 and £25,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. The car is located at our Abingdon headquarters; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’