1987 Ford Capri 2.8 Injection Special

In 1984, Ford's 2.8 Injection Capri was the subject of a substantial upgrade and became known as the Capri Injection Special. This development used Recaro half leather seats and included a limited-slip differential. Externally, the car could easily be distinguished by the 7-spoke RS wheels and its colour-coded grille and headlamp surround. Packed with performance and character, it paved the way for the Capri 280. Whilst a young man, our vendor used to often pass by his local Ford dealership and dream of the day he would own a brand new Capri Special. Nonetheless, despite much hard work and scrupulous saving he was never in the position to buy one from new, the model discontinued and the dream passed.

Inspired by a visit to the NEC Classic Motor show in 2006, he viewed a very special Rosso Red 2.8 Injection on display and that proved to be his inspiration to create the Capri you see here, 'A New Capri!' Having owned eight other Capris subsequently, he set himself the unenviable task of creating the car you see here. He acquired a base car in his colour of choice, Mercury Grey, and then set about building a 'new car', using every new/old stock part he could find. Engaging the renowned Stuart Baldy, owner of Restore A Ford, to do the bodywork, the car was built up over a period of over five years. Stuart himself had recently stated that the car is a complete one off even by his standards. Whilst it might be possible to list the parts fitted, it may be more prudent to suggest that pretty much every part of this remarkable car has been disassembled, prepared by hand and put back together.

New/old stock rear spoiler, Goodyear Eagle NCT Tyres, bumpers with over-riders, headlamps and all lights, brake pipes removed, hand-finished and then repainted in olive green, the sunroof refitted with a new/old stock seal that is almost impossible to find. A new rear parcel shelf was acquired at extraordinary cost, a new spare wheel cover created using the same grade chipboard supplied by factory and much more. Incredibly, given the normal discolouration that occurs to the leather interior on these cars, the leather was unstitched completely, replaced with matching hide as needed and the seats re-stuffed as new. Likewise the steering wheel, Aston Martin leather now adorns the wheel and feels just right. In fact, looking around this car today, it feels like we are observing a brand new, reborn 1987 Capri, just as it left the factory. The only tell-tale sign that it's a little different is the headlamp wash wipe fitment on the front bumpers. Only fitted to European cars typically, as the left-hand drive format left space for the fitment of the pumps, our vendor wanted that replication and so cleverly managed to route the system through the chassis rail, completely hidden but absolutely operational. Otherwise, as was 'de rigueur' at the time, the clocks were reset to zero and the car shows minimal usage since, having only been to shows and cosseted ever since. This remarkable transformation took well over five years to complete, but what a result. Were a figure to be calculated as to the build cost, it would be in excess of £70,000 more at today’s prices, but that is not the point.

This car has won Best in Show at various events across the years, and it's really no wonder why. Bearing in mind the restoration was completed in early 2015, it's condition today bears witness to the quality of that restoration at the time. It has been stored lovingly in recent times, other cars have joined the Collection and have also been shown successfully so that now the time has come for our client to part ways with the Capri. Coming to sale with a fresh MOT, for our vendor the thought of seeing the car being shown again would be payment in itself. For any fan of the Capri, this is a remarkable reference piece. For any enthusiast who would wish to show their classic, this is an example that could be taken home today and shown tomorrow with an almost guaranteed chance of success.