1980 Ford Capri 3.0 Ghia

First registered in 1980, this 3.0-litre V6 Ghia was purchased as a ‘lockdown project’ by the vendor and current owner in 2020, who immediately shipped the car to a mechanic friend who set about what began as a small restoration, and turned into a full-on rebuild and refurbishment.

Carried out as a ‘when you have the time’ job on the side, the project took around 1.5 years to complete, though the resulting work includes a full bare-metal respray, along with plenty of other remedial work.

Originally a Ford-registered demonstrator car, the vehicle still retains its original dealership stickers in the rear window, and passed from the dealership to the showroom owners’s son, who placed the car in long-term storage, hence the low mileage.

It then passed through two further owners, before coming in to the hands of our vendor as a project last year.

As a result of the work the total cost of which came to £9,520 - car now drives “spot on” and presents wonderfully, making this a very attractive example of the desirable 3.0-litre Ghia indeed.

Re-sprayed from its original Bronze paintwork before coming into the hands of our vendor as evidenced by the HPI report below, the car was then re-sprayed once again in red during the restoration that took place during 2020/21.

The result is a Capri that presents in fantastic external condition, with nearly-fresh paintwork throughout and only the most minor of stone chips visible on the front end of the car, along with some very faint marks on the nearside front wing.

Both doors were replaced during the respray, and any welding that was required was taken case of at a cost of £1,250. The windscreen was replaces (along with a fresh seal) and the sunroof seal was also replaced during this time.

The bumpers are also in good condition throughout with light wear, though the front registration plate is cracked and in need of replacement to tidy up the appearance of the car. As far as we can see, there are no signs of any damage or moisture ingress to the light lenses, and the tin-top sunroof is in good order with no visible bubbling on the outside.

All four wheels have been refurbished and present in pristine condition, wrapped in matching rubber with plenty of life left.

Whilst the exterior has been extensively overhauled, the interior has been left largely as-was and therefore is wonderfully original throughout, with even the correct stereo unit remaining in place.

Thanks to its originality, there is some wear visible on the front seats in particular, with a healthy dose of sagging and creasing, particular on the outer driver’s seat bolster and both bases, though there does not appear to be any rips, tears or damage beyond the odds scuff to the bases, and the same is true of the rear seats.

The carpets are wonderfully ‘of their time’ and wear their years of service with a refreshing honesty, though a deep valet or potential replacement set would take years off the car’s appearance.

The dashboard, centre console and door cards are all in good shape and look to be complete, displaying only light commensurate wear in keeping with the car’s age.

Up above, the headliner is in good order, and the sunroof is in full working condition, whilst the sunroof rails themselves look to be free of any corrosion or blockages as far as we can see.

There are no reported faults with any of the car’s switches, dials or electrical systems.

In the engine bay, the 3.0-litre V6 engine presents well for its age, and has seen plenty of remedial work as part of the restoration process. We can’t see any signs of oil or fluid leaks, and there have been no reported mechanical issues by the vendor or our photographer.

As part of the overhaul, the engine received new gaskets (including the head gasket) new valve covers, a new Weber carburettor, and a new coil and battery, along with a re-cored radiator, new power steering pump and a general service. 

The ignition system was also refreshed with a new alternator, ignition module and H/T leads. 

Looking underneath the bodywork, the chassis looks to be in very good order throughout, with only a few patches of crusty paintwork and - what appears to be - surface corrosion to note, though the extensive gallery of images provided below will allow you to make your own assessments, or, better yet, why not book to come and take a look at the car in-person?

The car does not currently have a valid MOT certificate on account of its age and lack of use, though the most recent exam in 2019 showed a clean pass, after significant attention to the chassis.

Rather light on history, what is included is the V5 showing 4 former keepers, one set of keys, some old MOT history and the aforementioned HPI report, all of which can be viewed below.

Benefitting from extensive recent work, this Ghia is arguably one of the more desirable models from the Capri catalogue, with the earlier 3.0-litre V6 engine and smooth suspension, perfect for soaking up the roads around the UK in top-spec comfort.

Presenting in very good condition throughout and ‘on the button’ from a mechanical standpoint, we estimate this Capri to reach in the region of £17,000 to £23,000 when the hammer falls.

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’.