blubs

Ok - flame suit on

I've been thinking about getting a classic car for some time and have never owned a Capri. In my 'youth' I have owned classic Escorts (RS, Mexico etc), also owned Corolla GT 16V (the proper RWD LSD one) and Scoob. Also various rally cars (all RWD).

I would use the car and not just mothball it, might even have the occasional commute to work (60 mile round trip - no bad traffic).

Have been looking for a couple of months and had help from some previous owners and they reckon the 2.8i Special is a good bet. It has the LSD (and I'm not sure what other differences there are!), and is a later model. The Brooklands/280 looks pricey just for a bit of exclusivity and some big alloys and leather.

Budget is £4,000 max as this will be third vehicle on the drive. And, before we start - I know I could consider other classics in this budget, but the Capri is something I would like, unless there are terrible ownership pitfalls!!!

Anyone comment, owned one?

Cheers

blubs

scooby-tc

iTrader: (2)

I've had a 1.6GL,2.8i and 280 Brooklands and although very dated compared to todays cars they are the most fun ive ever had in a car.The 280 was very refined for its age with heated leather seats as one of the perks but a 2.8i was a very good car although it did like eating headgaskets if pushed too hard.I'd have another one if i could find a decent one

Adidas

Having gone through 3 Capri's (2 as 2nd cars whilst I've owned the Scoob). I'd say one thing 'BEWARE OF THE RUST'. As the latest cars are now rapidly nearing 20 years old the tin worm could be rife . The main places are the front wings, especially around the lights, the rear arches and oddly enough on the roof by the hinges to the hatchback.

The good thing is that most mechanical parts are still readily available, but some things are getting expensive. I.e: good conditon parcel shelves, un-cut dashboards etc. A fantastic place for spares is: Home page

You'll get sick to death of people coming over to you and telling you how they used to own one

I say, go for it. It'll bring a big grin to your face

Eddie1980

I have heard the bottom of the A frame is a well known tin worm home.

stilover

Grew up with my Dad buying Capri's. The only 2 I can really remember (due to being so young) were his White 3.0S, which he had for 4 years before getting knicked. He then bought a Black 2.8 Special, which he had for about 6 weeks before it got knicked.

pslewis

I had a 'Roman Bronze' MK2 2.0GL with Tan Vinyl Roof .... tan interior - needed a de-coke, but that job done and it was a really fine car.

The 2 litre Pinto engine is non-interference, snapped cambelt does not result in any damage.

I looked at some Cortina Mk2's Mk3's and Capris at a car show in the summer, I thought the heart strings would pull ....... they didn't - there is a reason we are driving superior cars now - those old gems are ****, basically!

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Still quite quick, handling has moved on but a roadworthy maintained one is much better than you would give it credit for, most people experience a ratty 2.0 on bald remoulds and say they dont handle, set up right they are adequate.

They do rot but at four grand you should get a decent one, prices are going up so if you buy right you wont lose too much,might even appreciate, just dont buy a shed to do up, its getting expensive to do.

slim_boy_fat

Always wanted a 280 Brooklands but as you say they are way too pricey for a good one. And the only way to hold its value would be to hardly use it.

blubs

Thanks for the advice so far.

Have seen a few advertised this week. Really good 2.8i Special with low miles and loads of history going for £4,250 (from a classic trader).

Private 2.8i special going for £2,950 (looks good in photos but you never can tell).

Decent trader 280 going for 5k 'ish. This seems a bit cheap for how good the desciption is). The 280s seem to vary the most in price. Have seen them for 2.5k and 15k!!

I'm willing to pay for a decent one as I have no time to pay extensive 'attention' to it. Don't mind tinkering though.

blubs

andythejock01wrx

Capris are way cool. Makes me think of "The Professionals" !

Be prepared for lots of opposite lock if you try going round roundabouts fast in the wet.

dazdavies

iTrader: (22)

My first car as a 19 year old was 2.8i capri.

A few years later i bought another 1 a 2.8i special with half leather recaros and a Limited slip differential.

I always wanted a Brooklands 280 or the Aston Martin Tickford Capri.

I too am fancying an older classic as a my next project it will either be a Mk1/2 escort rally style or a Capri.

If it was going to be the Capri it would have to be the Brooklands 280.

Daz

paulcupra r

worked at someones house once who had a tickford in the garage very nice and very cool didn't think much of it at the time but now i'd love to own one ! How many people would know what it was !

Granby

iTrader: (5)

I loved both of my 3lt Capri's that i had, and seeing that link above which is a company just round the corner from me has got me tempted again especially with that Cosworth conversion

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Lad at work had a Red Tickford, went for a run in that, felt pretty quick, certainly felt more than 204 bhp. The interior is all wood and leather, prefer the standard one, it doesnt smell of Hearse.

billyray911

iTrader: (4)

I've had three over the years-last one was a 2.1 pinto with twin 45 side draught Dellorto's and princess twin pot callipers!great fun-driving position is not to everyones taste-especially with that bonnet.When i had mine,the tail happyness was sorted with a "scorpion A frame",which att ached to the front and rear axle(i think!).
I always wanted a 280.Only 1038 built,and in brooklands green-nice!
As the advertising went..."Capri-the car you always promised yourself!"

VTR Bondy

I'd love Capri. Dad used tpo have one. Some fond memories of it

VTR Bondy

Classic Ford Cars For Sale, Fords Car Wanted. Used/Private/Trade, Vintage/Veteran/Old Cars on Car and Classic Co UK

Check this out. Takes some searchin but some nice ones in there.

bighead

iTrader: (1)

I've had 4 capris (a 1.6gt, three 2.8 injection )

gr8 car in its time ..........

CrisPDuk

This is how I arrived at my wedding



It belongs to Olly, occasionally of this forum, and had spent a fair few years languishing partially restored in his garage until my popping the question (not to him I hasten to add) inspired him to get his finger out and bring the old girl back to her former glory
Every other car in our neck of the woods is either a Porsche, an AMG Benz, or an M Sport Beemer, and that particular wee beastie draws more admiring glances than any of the German clutter ever does

PS; Pre-empting the inevitable questions, the Karmann Ghia behind it is what MrsD arrived in, it belonged to another mate of mine, and was (still is in fact) as mint as it looks

CrisPDuk

Why

Never seen the point myself, paying way over the odds for a run-out model that is mechanically no different from any other Special, and who's paint was notoriously thinly applied over a practically non-existant anti-corrosion treatment

Myself, I'd by a Special, in Red, and spend a fraction of the money I'd be saving over a Brooky on some full leather chairs and a set of 15" tyres and rims from ebay

Oh yeah, and some actual working brakes, because they're always nice to have, and seemingly weren't fitted as standard

Adidas

They could do one in TFL red!!

Granby

iTrader: (5)

although the 2 Capri's i did have started out life black and ended up red (not TFL red)

Olly

Looks a half decent one

Funnily enough, I took my 2.8 out on Saturday for a thrash and some stress relief after work. It was cold and crisp, the exhaust sounded crackly, and to be honest it has never felt better. Had it 12 years now: restored it a few years ago to pretty much concours, probably better than new. But I hade concours cars, despise the way they become objects to look at, never to be driven in anger. So after too many years of pampering and looking at mine in the garage, decided to dust it down and dig it out. Now I don't bother about stonechips or rain, don't worry about flicking it sideways, the cats use it as a climbing frame, and am now enjoying it just as much as I did all those years ago aged 21, when it was the car I REALLY learned how to drive in.

My only advice Blubs is to get one bought. Early 4 speeders are a wee bit quicker, 5 speeders without LSD (like mine) added longer gearing, 2.8 Specials added the diff, 7 spoke RS rims and half leather. IMHO Brookies are just not worth the ridiculous premium for the sakes of a set of rims and full leather: colour now looks dated to me and they rot for fun. An LSD is A Good Thing in a 2.8, yet a brand new Quaife into a standard narrow atlas is now similar money as a well used LSD'd back axle off Ebay.

Find one with the best shell possible. Panels and bodywork are a fortune, yet mechanicals are still cheap and easily available. And these are still very simple cars, so anything mechanical bolts on or off easily.

Don't assume that the car will be mint if the price is strong. And don't be tempted with anything shiny looking on Ebay without a VERY thorough inspection: do the old fashioned thing and go and view, get grubby with a magnet and hammer, poke around the floorpan, wings, front panel, boot. A very well known Capri guy in Blackpool fettles my car: the last time I was up there, he was re-shelling a shiny looking Ebay purchased Brookie that some punter had paid £6k for, only to have it condemned as dangerous when he took it for a service: there were holes underneath you could fit your fist through. The shell was beyond repair, a new one the only solution...

2.8's are drivers cars. Ignore the bull about them not handling: they will never grip like a modern car, but were always very progressive on the limit and easy to catch, and your fun arrives at slower, more sensible speeds. And fun can be had aplenty. A new Astra diesel would probably eat you, but if you are sad enough to worry about these things, then buy a new Astra diesel. Brakes are a known issue, but are easily upgraded. Personally I never found them a problem, probably because you rarely used them: just throw it at a bend, and as Roger Clark once said, if you ain't looking through the rear window, everything should be OK.

Buy a good one and it should prove a good investment too: I reckon 2.8's are now of similar value to RS2000's were 4 or 5 years ago, yet look at the value of the Escorts now. And be prepared for some attention: went for a night out with the missus the other Sunday and dumped it right outside one of Alderley Edge's posher gaffs amongst the Porkers and Beemers. The smokers outside wandered over, made knowing nods and approving noises, and asked questions. The 2 kids in the Caymen who pulled in right behind at the same time were ignored.

Just get one. Bored of being the only Scoobynet Capri owner on here apart from paulpalmer. And he will never get his finished

j4ckos mate

i had two and really enjoyed them both
a red 1.6ls and 2.o laser

slim_boy_fat

Good post worth repeating.

j4ckos mate

j4ckos your man for capris.

CrisPDuk

It was alright, as ratty old Fords go
You could tell it had been thrown together in a bit of a rush though


That's a bit rich

Remember, if it wasn't for me getting several steps beyond really, really p!ssed and doing something silly on one knee, yours would still up on axle stands under a mountain of dust

A personal sacrifice for which you've still never thanked me by the way

beef-on-the-bone

iTrader: (5)

there's a very early one down here (orange with tan vinyl roof!!) with a v8 in it!!!

sounds amazing

wilffive

I've owned 3 of them. Lovely machines and v reliable too if you choose carefully.

Agree re condition and brakes - most are dogs and bad cars drive really awfully compared to a good un.

In their day the Mar 3 2.8s were rated very highly as drivers cars and for their handling - Ive got all the back issue road tests.

From my personal experience they are fun and reasonably quick.

Holy grail for me has to be an original X pack (wide arch) 3.0S with fishnet recaros. I nearly bought one in 1999 that had been languishing in a garage for 20 years but didnt and was going for a song - i regret that one.

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Olly, bet it really confuses them in Alderley Edge, the thing is that the kids, i.e. anyone under twenty five probably wont really have any experience of them.

Will keep my eye out, must live pretty near you.

Me and J4ckos mate were on about them the other night, if I had the space I would probably get one, I missed out on one a couple of year back, lad at work had one (and a Tickford), I asked him to give me first refusal should he sell it and I had a couple of weeks of and the get sold it !

The other time I nearly bought one, went to see it, drove it and loved it, went to get a deposit fromt he cash till and got back, it had been sold.

So, its an itch, unscratched for me.

Would love a standard-ish looking mk1 with a YB fitted, might be a handful but people put them in Anglias which are even smaller and less of a suitable recipient than the Capri.