Well Bought Ford Capri 3.0S

How one buyer snapped up a great Capri below reserve

It’s a Capri, but not not one that’s on most buyers’ radar.

The fast Ford phenomenon saw 2.8is driving the Capri charge a few years ago, its 3.0 predecessor hardly forgotten but very much overshadowed by its successor. But the 3.0-litre Essex engine remains the way to go for those who wanted something more ‘raw’. Finding a good one is the problem, however, especially for anyone craving a MkII with a manual gearbox. The secondgen Capri had the shortest production run ( just four years) and survivors of any kind are rare. Today it’s easier find a MkI than a MkII.

The condition made this one a great car for the money.

Capri-fanciers would have found this example particularly appealing for several reasons. It had been drystored for 17 years, so had escaped the downward spiral into neglect and banger status, and it had subsequently undergone body restoration with a Capri specialist, with work including a re-paint in the original Strato Silver. Panel fit and finish was good and the external trim was in the same order. The looks were completed by a set of genuine Ronal four-spoke RS alloys.

The history helped its case, too.

There were further plus points – the odometer showed 43,800 miles (which was thought to be correct) and it came with service history, old MoT-test certificates and even old tax discs. While MoT-exempt, it had a test until October this year. Purists would have been pleased to know that the specification was original bar a custom stainless steel exhaust system.

It deserved to sell for more.

There was a lot going for this Capri but just how much today’s buyers – bar the performance Ford enthusiast – gets the 3.0-litre is another matter. It has a rawness the later V6 models lack, but that adds to its personality. Condition-wise it was just right, with the benefit of restoration and re-commissioning. It lacked any meaningful modifications too, which certainly helped its case.