1973 Ford Capri Group1.5

VEY 323M began its journey as a 1.6-litre Capri GT, accumulating just over 51,500 miles by 2013. Having spent most of its life in storage and used infrequently, as indicated by the low mileage, the car was in ideal condition for the vendor's plans when he purchased it in 2014.

It is important to note that this ‘Turn Key’ car is brand new and has not been raced since it was completed in 2023. The car is supplied fully FIA Papered and is eligible for many forms of historic racing - Goodwood members, Tony Dron, Peter Auto HDRC Gerry Marshall trophy, plus many more events.

It was commissioned to one of the most successful race car builders, Ric Wood Motorsport, who is renowned for its expertise and success in the field of motorsport engineering and race car building.

The goal was to transform the car into a no-expense-spared Appendix K regulation Group 1.5 historic British Touring Car. Appendix K regulations are specific to historic motor racing, ensuring that vehicles are prepared in a manner that accurately reflects the period specifications and standards. This often involves meticulous adherence to historical details, using period-correct parts and techniques to preserve the authenticity and heritage of the vehicle.

Group 1.5, a category within these regulations, typically includes touring cars that raced in specific historical periods, making them highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors. The transformation process would involve extensive modifications and enhancements, all while maintaining the car's original character and charm.

The result is a stunning historic British Touring Car, ready to compete in classic racing events, offering a thrilling blend of nostalgia and high-performance engineering.

The car, which was already in great condition with minimal signs of corrosion, started by being completely stripped back, fully seam welded, and had an FIA weld-in roll cage installed.

It is finished in the distinctive Gold and White period-looking colour scheme, which sits beautifully on the Capri, and with the car not being used, the finish is superb.

Looking around the car, the panel fit is excellent; the doors, bonnet, and boot have a matching gap, with the bonnet and boot held down with quick-release clips. At the front, the corner bumpers have a couple of small scratches on the passenger side, but these would be easy to touch up with some satin black. The four headlights are in excellent condition and have the obligatory cross tape to help prevent pieces of glass from falling out. Moving up the bonnet, there is the Lifeline fire extinguisher button and battery isolator mounted to the scuttle panel. The windscreen is in excellent condition with no signs of any noticeable scratches and there is just one windscreen wiper fitted.

Around the sides, there are no dings or dents to point out. The windows are excellent, as are the trims, seals, chrome handles, and a bullet-style door mirror. You will also notice there is a side exit exhaust on the passenger side.

The rear end has a full-width chrome bumper, which has a bright, tarnish-free finish. The light lenses are in good condition with no splits or cracks, and the badges and aluminium trim around the rear panel are in good condition.

Only one wheel choice is suitable for this iconic Capri, and that is the four-spoke RS alloy wheels. These are in excellent condition and are shod with a matching set of Dunlop Racing 175/55/R13 tyres.

Inside the car, obviously, there is the welded-in FIA roll cage, as already mentioned, a fully fitted Lifeline Fire extinguisher system is fitted, with the tank residing where the rear seat once sat, and there is an Odyssey Extreme battery fitted behind the passenger seat.

The seats are a pair of Cobra Motorsport seats, which hold you tightly and are mounted to adjustable mounts. Strapping you into these is a set of Schroth Racing harnesses.

Sitting behind the suede steering wheel, which fits on an extended boss to bring it a little bit closer to the driver, the dashboard has been trimmed in leather with Yellow stitching. The instruments are a mix of original and upgraded units. The odometer is the original and shows a reading of 51,963 miles. The tachometer has been replaced with a Stack unit and the other four analog gauges remain original. Where the stereo would normally fit now rest three additional Stack gauges to monitor the oil pressure, oil temperature, and water temperature.

Like the instruments, the switchgear is a mix of original and upgraded; the original has some age-related wear to the buttons, and the upgraded parts have been attached to the transmission tunnel, which holds various switches, buttons, and fuses for the fire extinguisher, start button, battery isolator, fan, heated windscreen, fuel pump, and ignition.

Gone is the original 1.6-litre engine, and now fitted is a freshly built 3.0-litre Essex V6 Ric Wood Motorsport engine, which produces an impressive 300bhp. This is coupled to a full stainless steel exhaust system, which has a side exit, and there is also another system included that exits at the rear.

There are no issues with the running of the car; the gearbox has been built to the correct Group 1.5 specification, which has a precise change. There is a Group 1.5 specification Atlas rear axle, which puts the huge power to the rear wheels.

On the handling side, Bilstein Group 1.5 Specification suspension gives the car a purposeful stance which looks fantastic and no doubt would be great fun and handle superbly on-track. Stopping the car, the brakes have been upgraded to Group 1.5 specification. The Capri weighs in with a wet weight of 1051 kg.

Just five previous keepers had the pleasure of the Capri since 1974 before the current vendor had it transformed into this iconic Group 1.5 touring car.

There is a history file which includes the original handbook; even the original bill of sale is included at a cost of £1,592.75 in 1974, along with some previous MoT certificates and old invoices. More recently, there are several invoices for more recent work carried out and a Dyno report showing the car is producing 301.9bhp and 256.4bhp at the rear wheels.

What an opportunity to become the proud owner of this stunning, freshly built Group 1.5 Touring car built to the Appendix K Regulations by the renowned race car builder Ric Wood Motorsport.

The Capri has been developed and built to the highest standards and will be a pleasure to own for the next custodian, whether it gets used to compete, display, or parade at racing events.

This project not only preserves a piece of motorsport history but also allows it to be celebrated and enjoyed in its full glory on the race tracks once again.

We estimate this classic Group 1.5 Capri GT touring car will fetch in the region of £60000 - £90000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Pickering, North Yorkshire. 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’.