1974 Ford CAPRI

This remarkable car was bought new in Liverpool in 1974 and its first owner had covered only 29,000 miles before he sadly died in 1979. The Capri was obviously a treasured member of the family too as it was carefully stored in a warm dry garage, leading its current owner to tell us that its condition was “truly outstanding” when it was recovered in early 2017.

The firm that bought it simply fitted new spark plugs and ignition points to the Capri before it fired into life for the first time in 38 years. Remarkable. It was then sold as a barn find project to a man in Bury who intended to restore it. However, lacking the necessary skills to do the work himself, he decided he didn’t want to pay the £3-4,500 he was being quoted, so he contacted the current owner and they worked out a deal that involved a rather nice MKIII Capri.

The bodywork was in excellent condition other than some cracking and surface scabs; no welding was needed, meaning the underside is completely untouched and in original condition, having only been wirebrushed down and carefully coated with stonechip to protect it; painting it to match the bodywork would be a relatively straightforward job as there are no big gobs of underseal to remove first.

The current owner is lucky enough to have the skills, experience and facilities to be able to restore the car’s paintwork himself. His first job was to strip the Capri down to bare metal and he decided to remove the engine and transmission while he was at it to give himself decent access to the engine bay.

The metalwork was prepped and the car resprayed in its original colour of Copper metallic; the owner is clearly a perfectionist as he only rates the finish as an 8.5/10, although he does say he is “very happy with it. A nice even basecoat with a good shine and no runs, although for some reason there was a slight reaction (crinkle) on some areas inside the door shuts.” (Please see photos, he is being picky.)

Nothing whatsoever was done to either the black vinyl roof or the inside of the boot area as both were still in perfect condition, and while the sills were repainted in the original satin black finish, the trims that were refitted are the same ones it left the Ford factory with.

While the chromework is all original, it isn’t perfect. There is some slight pitting on the front and rear bumpers but given their originality and provenance, the owner has (rightly, in our view) left them as they are, viewing them as displaying a satisfying patina. The plastic ‘chrome’ window trims have started to delaminate too, and would need replacing if the new owner is looking for a concours finish.

The wheels were shot blasted and repainted before being fitted with new tyres. Sadly, one of them is a different make to the rest as the supplier only had three in stock, so you might want to keep an eye out for a new/old stock jack and wheel brace while you’re sourcing a matching fourth tyre as they’re both missing. The tyre on the spare wheel is almost new.

As you might expect, the interior is in time-warp condition. While the offside footwell trim is slightly marked and the base of the driver’s seat has a couple small cigarette burns (how very 1970s!), there are no rips or tears and the rest of the low-back tan vinyl seats are remarkably fresh and original.

The dashboard has no unsightly holes or additional switches or instruments, the headlining is taut and clean, and the boot looks like it has barely been used. Find another as original and clean as that! Boasting XL trim, this example comes with reclining front seats, moulded rear seats, an extra interior light and reversing lights. Enough for any owner of a mere L to lower their head in shame….!

The only other negative we can see is the steering wheel, which is ever-so-gently patinated but we think it just adds to the charm and provenance of this delightful car.

The engine was serviced with a new timing belt, fan belt, and fresh oil and filters. Other than that, it was found to be in great condition – the seller’s brother is a certified master mechanic - needing nothing more than a lick of paint on the ancillaries to freshen them up. Even the exhaust is believed to be the original. Look at these underbonnet photos and weep.

The result is an engine that looks and runs like new; “it really is the sweetest 1600 Pinto I’ve ever heard” according to the owner, a Ford enthusiast that has heard more sweet Pintos in his time than is good for him.

The car’s original paperwork was lost at some point during its slumber, meaning that the paperwork trail unfortunately only starts in 2017. And, while we’re giving you the bad news, now is probably the time to tell you that the Capri’s V5 registration document shows three previous owners (the firm that unearthed it and the chap that bought it as a barn find project earlier in the year) when, in reality, it’s only had two ‘proper’ ones; the original purchaser who bought it new and the man selling it now.

So, while there is hardly any paperwork with the vehicle, there are plenty of photographs to support and evidence both the original mileage and the quality of the restoration and recommissioning work that the vendor has carried out.

With a guide price of £8000, this is a rare opportunity to buy what is essentially a barely run in Ford Capri. Now fully sorted, it could either continue to be used on a regular basis or turned into a concours winning example of the breed.

And, just in case you need any more encouragement, keen students of the classic Ford market will know that the price of good cars (and the odd basket case…) has been soaring for some time. Our database shows a consistent rise in Ford Capri prices, so now might be the time to jump aboard before this particular ship has sailed. After all, as Ford itself so eloquently put it at the time, the Ford Capri is the car you always promised yourself…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Sheffield; 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’.