1971 Ford Capri 3 litre Comanche

“I inherited the car from my neighbour and best friend, Keith Clapp. He bought it new and had the supplying dealer ship it to Jeff Uren for conversion to Comanche 190 specification,” explains the vendor. “It’s beautiful example, has been kept as it was originally purchased and comes with all its original documentation. Keith himself was a trained mechanic, and the car was his baby; he enjoyed driving it and would take it to shows by trailer, hitched up to his Land Rover Discovery”.

Given Keith's profession, the vendor says the car never wanted for anything and was always meticulously maintained. As you would expect it remains in pristine condition. “It is superbly presented with no rust, and in the best possible mechanical state of repair. Nothing was too good for it, and he often used the Comanche for ferrying friends, both brides and grooms, to weddings”.

The vendor herself hasn’t registered the Comanche in her own name, so it remains a one-owner car on the supplied V5c certificate. “It’s not a car I’ll ever drive,” she admits. “It reminds me too much of Keith. Since taking ownership three years ago, it’s been wrapped up in cotton wool and stored at a secure site in an air-conditioned container. I pay for the storage, which includes the dehumidifier being emptied regularly.

“I feel it’s now time for the car to come out of storage and to go to someone who will love it as much as Keith did. It should be treasured again, as it has been all its life, and hopefully owned by a person that wants to show it off – I feel it deserves to be seen and not shut away as it is now. If Keith were still with us then it would not be coming on to the market, as he would never have parted with it”.

Let’s be clear here, this is a very rare opportunity to bag a very rare Ford Capri indeed. 

The Comanche is one funky looking beast. Period colours don’t come much more 1970s-tastic than Maize Yellow and it suits the car to a T, showing off its power bulge, creases, long flanks and squat derriere perfectly. It also provides a great contrast to the many black details including the vinyl roof, sills, rear panel and front grille. 

The paintwork looks to be excellent with a wonderful depth to its shine, while the panels line up beautifully. Bright work retains a deep shine and all aforementioned black items (both painted and covered in vinyl) are similarly excellent. The five-slot alloy wheels too remain very clean. A pair of spotlights (also part of the R section of the XLR pack, alongside the black panels) is fitted to the car’s nose. 

It wears its 3000GT and XLR badges with pride, with added Comanche items on both front wings and the boot lid being the only indicator of the added fruit under the bonnet. 

There is only one word for this car’s exterior and that’s glorious. 

The Black vinyl interior is basic, as befits the model’s in-period persona, but reflects the low mileage and is in superb condition. The seats are, save for one very small area, rip- and tear-free; there is also tiny graze on the driver’s seat bolster, but it’s a surface imperfection and hasn’t impinged on the material’s integrity. There are another couple of small scuffs on the bottom of the driver’s door card but these look like they may clean off. And there is a small area of discoloration on the otherwise clean headlining.

That’s it. The rest is a time warp presentation of a Ford Capri cabin; carpets are good (there’s a protective plastic mat covering the driver’s foot well), woodwork is aged but nicely presented. The leather steering wheel is excellent, sills and door-shuts immaculately clean and at the back, popping the boot and lifting the carpet reveals corrosion-free metal.

You get a map reading light and inertia reel seatbelts (also part of the £39 3s 4d R-Pack), too! 

With the car not having been used in recent years, including towards the end of Keith’s life, there may be some light recommissioning to do. However, given its stunning condition, and meticulous maintenance throughout its life, that should hopefully run to no more than a general fettle to include a change of fluids, and checking of the fuel pipes, brakes and tyres. A quick tune-up would likely also be beneficial. After that, the Comanche should be good to go.

And how does it go? Well, over to the vendor, “Keith’s best friend Richard drove the car several times over the years and remembers it being fast and a great fun – a real driver’s car”.

Mechanically, the Capri has covered just 36,947 miles from new and as such, remains in unrepeatable original condition. This is reflected both in the beautifully presented engine bay, that still retains the original stickers, and the well-protected underside with its fresh-looking suspension components and exhaust system.

As a testament to Keith’s superb custodianship, it simply doesn’t get better than this. 

The V5c document in the Capri’s history file confirms just one owner from the date of its first UK registration on the 24th of August 1971. You will also find the original invoice, in the name of Messrs. White Brothers, for the basic engine and suspension conversion to Comanche 190 specification to include an engine balance and fitting of a Kenlowe fan and oil cooler. 

There are also two original pieces of correspondence, one from White Bros to Jeff Uren (dated 3rd June 1971) officially ordering the upgrade for its soon to be delivered Capri 3000 GT XLR, and the other in the opposite direction from Jeff Uren confirming the order and the respective costs. These were:

• Basic conversion to Comanche – £382.00
• Cost of engine balance – £30.00
• Cost and supply and fit Kenlow fan – £26.00
• Cost of supply and fit oil cooler – £24.25

The latter also confirms that the car would be required for approximately three weeks for the work to be carried out. 

There are two later documents from the Nineties both from Jeff Uren; the first (dated 16th November 1992) confirming that his company built converted the car to Comanche specification, and the second (dated 3rd March 1995) sent with a new 11-page Savage Register portfolio (produced on 23rd February 1995) for the car that included many copies of records held by the manufacturer.

Two documents from The Savage Register are also present. The first with regards to a show arrangement, with the second (dated 24-05-93) more important of the two confirming that the vehicle is a genuine Comanche and in first class condition; it also states that ‘this is a very rare car, only two are known to the Register’.

A BBC Birmingham letter (dated 23rd October 1997) from director Chris Richards, thanking Keith for allowing the Comanche to be included in the television series The Car’s the Star is included, as is an invoice for payment of £60. Complementing this are photographs of the car with presenter Quentin Willson on set with the vehicle. 

A wealth of other memorabilia is also supplied, as well as a whole host of expired MOT test certificates. 

It’s an impressive history file.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this car is a one-owner from new example Comanche Capri that has been maintained fastidiously.

One of possibly just two remaining examples of Jeff Uren’s legendary Comanche Capris – tick. One mechanic owner from new – tick. Low mileage of just 36,947 miles from new – tick. Stunning original condition – tick. All its original paperwork, including invoices and an 11-page Savage Register portfolio – tick.

As a tick-box exercise for purchasing a rare classic car it simply does not get any better than this. If you are a Ford Capri fan, then be in no doubt that this is an opportunity that arises but once in a lifetime. This superlative Comanche will slot into any model (or marque) collection with consummate ease and hold its own against all others. Alternatively, it could be purchased as one heck of a classic car to enjoy, drive and show. Both scenarios work, as do a multitude of others.

Given all the above, we think the Comanche will command somewhere in the region of £45,000 to £55,000. For that, the next owner will receive custodianship of a near-perfect, time-warp example of one of the rarest Ford Capri variants in existence.

It’s a big responsibility, but one that surely guarantees Blue Oval satisfaction. 

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located in secure storage in Taunton, Somerset. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, 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, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.