1962 Ford Consul Capri

Our Capri dates from 1962, the first year of manufacture. Thanks to some nicely considered and well engineered modifications which have taken the original 1.5 litre engine’s capacity up to slightly over 1.6 litres, this particular one has a turn of speed that was never envisaged by Ford’s designers back in the early 1960s. 

But that’s only one aspect of this car’s comprehensive rebuild history. We’ll talk more about that later. Its most obvious and unique feature is of course the mild custom restyle. Anyone around the motoring scene in the 1970s will know just how vibrant the customisation scene was back then, centering around iconic magazines such as Custom Car. We believe this car was subjected to a 1970s or ‘80s bare-metal restoration, period-correct right down to the must-have Wolfrace slot mag alloy wheels. 

The lady running the car at the time was married to the owner of a Vauxhall Cresta, another wonderfully evocative late-‘50s/early ‘60s American-style cruiser. As they grew older, their interest in the custom scene waned and the Capri found itself in a dealer’s stock. 

The vendor bought the Capri in spring 2018, having decided that it was an important car deserving of rescue. Between then and now he has spent over £5000 on bringing the car up to the standard that he demands for his small but perfectly formed stable of (mainly British) classics. Most of the recommissioning work was carried out by Stewart Walker, the highly respected Thatcham-based independent Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists trusted by George to look after the rest of his collection.

As mentioned, the Capri was taken back to bare metal and during the restoration the owners took the opportunity to include some minor modifications. Bumper iron holes and the boot lock were smoothed in and door deadlocks plus an internal boot release lever were added, and a new rear valance from a Jaguar S-type enhanced the back-end look. 

After priming and undersealing, many coats of Ford Panther Black were applied with a subtle metalflake that really pops in the right light. The finished paint was then sealed by a deep lacquer coating. 

Clearly it was a very good job all those years ago as we can describe the bodywork as very solid, with little or no visible bubbling, and the paintwork responds exceedingly well to a good polish. There are a couple of minor blemishes here and there, but nothing you wouldn’t expect of an older resto. The worst blemish is probably the leading edge of the drivers’ door which has a slight bend and cracked paint, but the door bottoms look to be intact.

One of the joys of these Fords is the US influence in the styling inside and out, and this one does not disappoint. The dash is a wonderful array of chrome and shows a little of the space-age cues of the time. Happily the gauges and switches appear to mostly work too!

The cabin’s theme of bright red reflects the original owner’s tastes, but in 2019 it gives the car something of a GTI feel. A new headliner was part of the original refurb and it still looks fine today. It is not all original in there, but, like the exterior, they are generally changes that would have been made in period, and which could be reverted if preferred. 

Dunlopillo foam was the norm for car seating back in the 1960s, but it rarely lasts for over half a century. That was pretty evident to George when he bought the Capri last year. As part of his improvements he had the front seats fully reupholstered in high quality vinyl at a cost of £750. 

Curiously, that’s why the car is now being sold. George had no plans to sell the Ford, but he is a tall man and the combination of the restuffed seats plus the fixed sunshine roof eating slightly into the headroom means that George no longer fits into the car!

The smoked glass ‘sunroof’ could do with some cosmetic tidying, but we would probably take the opportunity to remove it and fit something more age-appropriate. The rubber boot mat looks original, so like any 57-year-old rubber mat it’s not pristine. Searching for a replacement would be one of the quests to engage the next owner if concours status is important, but it’s perfectly serviceable as is.

The original 1970s modification programme was both comprehensive and intensive. The visible list of new parts and work included new door glass, screen rubber, door seals, bespoke stainless steel exhaust, rechromed trim, Ripspeed grille, and new badges, but the hidden bits were just as thoroughly gone through, with a custom made subframe with quick-rack steering, adjustable coilovers with Corsair 2000E struts and road/rally top plates, uprated disc brakes plus remote servo, and front suspension that we are told can be lowered-to-standard without removing the wheels.

The original 1.5-litre pre-crossflow engine was bored out to 1640cc and fitted with a Burton head, Vulcan high-lift cam, Weber carb and a Ford Mexico oil pump. The gearbox is again a highly favoured 2000E item, as is the rear axle, which has an uprated differential. The final touches were the addition of electronic ignition, alternator charging, adjustable Kenlowe fan cooling and the re-siting of the battery into the boot. 

The view under the bonnet and in the boot is obviously not up to concours standards, but we can report that it is solid and perfectly workmanlike, ready for many years to come – or an opportunity to improve the car’s visuals for added value in the future. The Fiamm air horns are a lovely period touch: the trumpets are not mint, but for every owner wanting to replace them there would likely be another one keen to retain them as part of the car’s original charm. There are some smashing old stickers in the engine bay too! 

Unsurprisingly the Capri has made several appearances in enthusiast magazines and the relevant cuttings will naturally be included in the history file.

When George bought the Capri last year it still looked the part, but it was a non-runner. He engaged highly respected Thatcham-based independent Rolls-Royce and Bentley specialists Stewart Walker (who also look after the other classics in his enviable collection) to carry out a refurbishment programme on the car. 

The incorrect starter motor was replaced and the Weber carb was overhauled and set up to run with a correct air filter. George also asked SW to go through the electrical system and remedy any faults, which included stripping out the steering column to rewire the indicator mechanism, modifying the horn push, tracing faults in the rear lights and remaking the earths. All the old hoses were replaced with new silicone items, the coolant system was backflushed and the entire brake system deglazed and lubricated. The dashboard wiring was tidied up and the inoperative vacuum and voltmeter gauges brought back to life. A new steering wheel was fitted, remedial paint was applied where needed, and the roof was machine polished.  

By the end of last summer the car was up to a standard that George was happy with. “I’ve done what I needed to do to make me feel comfortable that I’ve looked after the car,” he says. “Sadly I don't fit into the car any more so it has to go.”

On our brief test drive, we can vouch that the engine starts up instantly and runs very sweetly with plenty of pizzazz. Feel free to make an appointment to see it for yourself and establish this car’s exact condition.

These are extremely rare cars, and especially so when they’re in such good condition as this one. Purists may say it’s not original, but fans of the 1970s custom scene will be delighted not only by this car’s unique look but also by its solidity. 

With the recommissioning work already done for you, and bearing in mind that concours Capris go for between £25-£30,000, the estimate of £9,500 - £13,000 seems very fair – and remember that the reserve is always set lower than the estimate. this unique Capri owes the current owner over £19,000.

The new owner can choose to drive it as it is, enjoying the same admiring looks and smiles that George was enjoying last year, or (if they are a purist) treat it as a great base for a rolling ‘de-customisation’ project, returning the car to its original ‘milk bar and Spangles era’ glory. Cosmetics apart, pretty much all that would be needed would be new wheels and a simple adjustment to the suspension if you felt the need to restore the stance to standard. 

Either way, you would have a car that not only encapsulates all that was great about Britain in the early 1960s, but also one that – thanks to the engine upgrades – would have no difficulty fitting comfortably into any modern motoring environment. 

As ever, The Market always invites prospective bidders to view any of the cars on auction. This one is at The Market HQ near Abingdon. To organise an appointment, just use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. 

Our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ sections is designed to answer any generic questions you may have, but we’ll always respond to any specific questions or observations put in the Comments section below the images.

If you need advice and help on car purchase-financing, storage, transportation or classic car insurance, we regularly work with Classic & Sportscar Finance, Thames Valley Car Storage, AnyVan and Footman James.