1974 Ford Capri RS 3100

Launched in 1969 as 'The car you always promised yourself', the Capri was Ford Europe's response to the mighty sales success of the Mustang in America.

To garner sales interest Ford relied heavily on motorsport in the 1970s and soon an RS 2600 Capri was commissioned and built to compete in the European Touring Car championship. However, BMW had bigger ideas and introduced the more powerful 3.0CSL and stole a march on Ford on the track. In response, Ford Advanced Operations got the go-ahead in September 1973 to build 248 Capri RS 3100's to homologate the car for the E.T.C.C. and the motorsport public were treated to some very special racing in the 74/75 season as both manufacturers showed scant regard for cost, both on and off the track.

The Essex 3.0 V6 was over bored to 3091 cc giving 148bhp and fitted as standard to the road car, along with suspension modifications, RS four spoke alloys and a shallow front splitter with an enormous rear wing added to the already comprehensive RS2600 standard spec. The world recession slowed sales of the RS3100 road car, which was only built in right hand drive for the UK market, and by July of 1974, 50 of the unsold cars were sent to Australia (also a right hand drive market), to be sold.

This particular car, VIN No. 25135, was finished in Sebring Red and dispatched to Australia in July 1974. Since then it has covered 100,000 miles in Australia, until it was imported by world renown classic car company - J.D. Classics - in 2010. Prior to leaving Australia, the engine was rebuilt by famed Australian Touring Car Driver, Bo Seaton, and upgraded to a steel crankshaft, lightened and balanced forged pistons, high lift cams, ported heads and twin side draught webers producing a highly road usable 190bhp.

There are only 46 known cars surviving worldwide today, according to the 'RS' Owners Club and, given the climate that this car has enjoyed, unlikely any to be in such rust free and original condition. A sure fire Ford Classic of the future with significant investment potential and sold with 12 months M.O.T.