Minder Capri

Christmas might come early for the TV star Mk2, reckons Matt, as its rebuild in the hands of the pros is progressing rapidly.

If you’ve restored a car at home you will know how long it takes, how many small parts are needed to make the big thing, and how some things cant be rushed. It’s no surprise some projects take years or even decades, so its incredible how quickly a car can come together in the hands of the professionals.

In the last few weeks, Terry the Minder Capri has come back together at a great pace. Once the wings were welded in their final position the engine bay and the front panels, the areas that will be hidden behind the headlights and behind the bumper and grill were painted in the correct white, taking a fresh gloss and so Tony could start fitting smaller items around the engine bay and running the new-old stock wiring loom into place.

All those original Ford parts which have been hidden away in a dusty garage for so long are now finally being opened up and put to the use they were intended for and making the Capri look like new. When things like the washer bottle, coil, horn and the shiny new bonnet prop with its fresh clips are fitted it starts looking like a real car. Along with various other undamaged parts, the brake servo has been painted and the original master cylinder refitted for mock up purposes — the brake fluid reservoir melted — to use as a position template while the new brake lines are made up and fitted in place, a shiny new master cylinder has now arrived and is ready to go on with final assembly.

Wet paint

It’s not just Diamond White paint that’s been shot with a paintgun this week. Lots of small parts, the suspension components that needed refurbishing have been cleaned up and gone through the clean up process before gaining a gloss black finish, the steering rack is

HT leads and various gaskets and a new carburettor have all been fitted along fresh oil and spark plugs and other service and perishables, and the engine has been painted in the correct factory colours so it looks superb. It’s almost a shame to have to hide it away under the bonnet.

Getting the exterior of the car perfect is a slow process, preparation is everything and so lots of time has gone into blocking and sanding all the panels to get a surface as smooth and flat as possible and ready for paint. When we called in just before going to print, the glass and vinyl roof had been masked up and a first base coat had been applied and then rubbed back in preparation for the actual white paint to go on to the car.

Next time we see Terry’s Capri it will be gleaming white and the running gear will be starting to go back in, making it a rolling car once again.

New wings fitted? Check? Engine bay repainted? Check. The rebuild is moving along at lightning speed.

The vinyl roof is masked off prior to final bodywork prep and paint. not only cleaned up but all the rubber boots and track rod ends replaced ready to be refitted and the engine is also now ready to go back into the car. Luckily, the engine didn’t need a massive rebuild as it didn’t take much damage. It was running well beforehand so it didn’t need a full strip down, though cosmetically the rocker cover and sump were taken off for cleaning and painting and obviously anything plastic or rubber has been changed, so a new timing belt,

Engine gets new seals, timing belt, and a lick of paint.

Refurbished parts are going back on at a great rate.