Ford Capri 3000E
ENGINE 2994cc/V6/OHV POWER 138bhp@5000rpm TORQUE 174lb ft@3000rpm MAXIMUM SPEED 122mph 0-60MPH 8.4sec FUEL CONSUMPTION 21-28mpg TRANSMISSION RWD, four-speed manual MoT 12 months from sale ODOMETER 22,998 miles
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
The pedals – and the clutch in particular – have a bit of weight to them and the brakes are good, pulling the car up to a controlled halt without fuss. The power-assisted steering is tight and accurate without being too heavy, but suffers from some judder over rough surfaces. The real star of the show, though, is the three-litre V6 engine, which revs easily and has huge grunt. Tap the throttle, lift the clutch and the torque does the rest, accompanied by a fantastic exhaust soundtrack. The manual gearbox shifts easily, too.
BODYWORK CHECK
The purple – ‘aubergine’ in Fordspeak – paint is excellent, having been applied in the recent past. There are no obvious defects in the form of stone chips or scratches and no signs of corrosion bubbling through the panels, which are straight and free from any dings or dents. There are a couple of exposed screw holes in the rear panel where something was clearly once mounted, but the chrome and stainless brightwork – including the bumpers and wing mirrors – are in great shape. The Rostyle wheels are very smart and wear new Uniroyal 185/70/13 tyres and the auxiliary lights mounted on the front grille are period-correct.
HOW’S THE INTERIOR?
The black vinyl bucket seats both front and rear are in amazing shape. There is no creasing or wear to the fabric and the foam padding has not been squashed out of shape. The black carpets are in excellent condition with no fading or heel wear, the door cards are straight and the headlining is good. The dash top is perfect, with no cracks, and it still has the original MW/LW radio and 140mph speedometer.
It is also fitted with inertia reel front seat belts.
UNDER THE BONNET
The Essex V6 underwent a top-end overhaul not long ago and runs superbly. It also has an aluminium radiator and a recent battery. Overall, the engine bay looks well maintained; everything is clean and it looks like things have been replaced when they were needed, so the rubber components are fresh and the plastics look bright. There are no visible water or oil leaks and there’s no sign of accident damage to the inner panels. The gearbox and rear axle are quiet and feel strong.
THE CCW VIEW
This car is in amazing condition inside and out, looks stunning in muscle car purple and the recent top-end engine rebuild means that it runs smoothly, too. It’s also huge fun driving a powerful rear-wheel-drive V6-engined car that weighs so little. That fun may come at a considerable cost in this instance – but what price nearperfection?
EXTERIOR New paint, new tyres, no rust INTERIOR Excellent seats, nice carpets and dashboard MECHANICALS Gutsy V6 engine has had recent topend rebuild