1973 Ford MK 1 Capri

The vendor of this lovely 1973 Ford Mk1 Capri 1300 XL, purchased the car in 2020 after seeing it for sale whilst on holiday in Italy. The car is reported to be a one owner car which was found in a garage by the family of a gentleman who passed away.

The car was then sold to a classic car dealer, who carried out some restoration work to freshen up the already extremely good condition Capri. The car was stripped back and repainted in the original Modena Green, and given a new vinyl roof. The trim for the windows around the car is all original.

Once the dealer had the car ready it was then offered for sale, and was spotted by the seller, who already has an immaculate 1971 Capri, but couldn't resist the temptation to own another as it was in such brilliant condition. And so a deal was struck, and the car made its way to the UK.

A slight change in plans has forced the seller to regrettably put the car up for sale. The unit where he was going to store the car is now being sold. All the covered spaces at home are taken with no room for the Capri, other than outside, which he is very reluctant to do.

The Capri is finished in Modena Green, which anyone in the Capri world will already know is a rare colour, and nowadays extremely rare in the UK. The restoration work was completed in 2019, and so as you would imagine is in excellent condition all over. There are an odd few blemishes in places from what looks to be when the car was prepared for paint, but it has to be said that these are very small and take some spotting.

Starting at the front of the MK1, the bumper is in excellent condition with no corrosion to be seen. The separate corner indicators (as fitted to the facelift model), have no cracks, the same as the headlights, which are nice and bright with no corrosion to the reflectors or surrounds. The grille is in good condition with just one small crack on the silver finish to the second slat up. The bonnet aligns straight, and the panel gaps are uniform. Another feature of the facelift model is the famous Capri bonnet bulge, giving the fastback coupe a more sporty look. Further up is the windscreen which is free from any cracks or chips, and the chrome trim and rubber seal are in good condition. There is just one tiny blister on the offside scuttle panel, just below the rubber.

Around to the sides and you can’t fail to appreciate the lines of the MK1 Capri, it is in excellent order with no dinks to spoil the smooth lines. The door gaps align evenly and the doors open and close as they should, with a firm hand. The 1300 badges are in brilliant condition, as are the optional side vent covers on the rear quarters. The roof has been treated to a new vinyl covering, which has been fitted superbly and looks like the original. The chrome trim around the edges is all in nice order. There are a couple of marks on the rear quarters that look like something under the paint. Feeling the inside of the quarter in this area shows no signs of any corrosion from the underside.

Around to the rear and again, like the front, the bumper is in excellent condition, with no corrosion or pitting to the finish. The light clusters are the bigger facelift style, and free from any chips. The FORD letters and the Capri XL badge finish off the back end nicely.

The wheels are the standard Ford choice as used on many Fords from this era. These are in good condition with just some slight surface rust in a few places, but nothing that couldn't be rectified very easily with a rattle can and a weekend. The tyres are matching and in excellent condition with plenty of tread remaining.

The inside of this stunning car is just like being back in the 70’s, a very nice untouched interior resides in the Capri. As the car has come from Italy, the miles are in Kilometers and it is a left hand drive.

The seats are believed to be the originals and are in excellent order, with just a very small touch of wear on the passenger side. Sitting in the driver’s seat and the steering wheel has some light age related wear to the rim. The dashboard is in good condition with just a couple of cracks to the top of the dash, but they are just cracks and have not split open. The wood facia is in good order and the instruments are in good condition and reported to be working as they should, with the odometer showing a reading of 19,013 kilometers. This is believed to be 119,013 kilometers or 73,951 miles, which would be in keeping with the condition of the car. There is some light wear to the buttons as you would expect, but you can still clearly see what each switch is for and everything is working correctly. The only thing that has failed is, like many classics, the clock, but this may be because it's been standing for so long.

The carpets have some signs of age, but have no real wear to them. They are also covered with some nice mats to protect them. The headlining is in good condition, with no sagging to be seen. In the boot, the carpet is just as you would expect, and the spare wheel lies underneath, with a warning triangle to the left. There has also been a generous coating of waxoyl to the rear quarters and seams inside the boot.

For a 1973 car, the underside of this Capri is in exceptional condition. There is very minimal surface corrosion to the suspension components and running gear, and the floor is in excellent order to say the least.

Inside the engine bay is well presented and the 1300cc engine looks to be in excellent order, with no leaks to be seen. The engine fires up at the first turn of the key and ticks over nice and happy. A recent service by the seller has ensured the 1300 cc is kept in tip top condition, with new oil, filters, HT leads, spark plugs and distributor cap.

Out in the car, the drive is smooth and it has to be said, the 1300 cc pulls remarkably well. There are no noises from the transmission and the gear change through the 4-speed gearbox is nice and smooth. The car comes to a halt quickly and, importantly, in a straight line.

Believed to be a one owner car found in Italy as part of an estate being sold off by the family. The car was restored by a local classic dealer and sold to the Vendor after spotting it on holiday.

Unfortunately, the car has come with no history. It has been UK registered but does require a set of registration plates, number FWX 299L. It has been serviced ready for use and would now be in use if it wasn't for the lack of storage space.

Old Fords never die and this one is far, far away from that!

A lovely Modena Green, 1973 Mk1 Capri 1300 XL, repainted just 2 years ago and with the added bonus of coming from Italy, where it has been garaged for many years. This has kept it nice and free from the dreaded tinworm setting in, as the underside shows.

A definite must for any classic Ford fan to add to their collection, or it could be the start of your collection. It would be nice to see the car used, as it won't look out of place on any show field at a classic event.

We estimate this classic Ford Capri will bring in the region of £8,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor at Harrogate, UK. 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’.