My Capri years

The life story of a Ford Capri Special (October 2018) reminded me of my first car – a 1973 Capri MKI in poverty L specification. It didn’t even have a rev counter, but made up for its lack of kit by its Ford Le Mans green colour. Bought for £300 in the early Eighties from a mate in a pub, it was relatively tidy with two previous owners and a mileage of approximately 65k. It was a tough old car – I boiled it dry twice and on both occasions it got me home. Once I managed to squeeze in six friends for a trip to the pub.

I changed it for a nearly-new Capri MKIII Calypso in a more sombre two-tone grey and silver, which did have a rev counter! I sold the MKI to a trainee estate agent in the well-heeled area of Clifton, Bristol. He took great pleasure in ensuring the Capri was parked in front of any house that was being marketed so that it appeared in the photographs of the property details. Matt Benoy