1986 Ford Capri MkIII 2.8i Coupé
Registration no. D974 XAV
Chassis no. WFOCXXGAECGS34626
Engine no. GS34626

Inspired by the success of the Mustang 'pony car' in the USA, Ford introduced the Capri - 'The car you've always promised yourself' - to the European market in 1968. The Capri's imaginative fastback styling was a relatively new departure for the 'Blue Oval' but beneath the skin the car remained typically Ford, sharing engines, gearboxes and many other components with the rest of the range. The first major revision arrived in 1974 in the form of the Capri MkII, which benefited from a more practical hatchback body restyled along cleaner lines and devoid of the original's fussy detailing. The old V4 engines were dropped, the MkII options being 1.3 and 1.6-litre pushrod fours, 1.6 and 2.0-litre overhead-cam fours and the 3.0-litre pushrod V6. Built from 1979 to 1987, the final (MkIII) Capri featured a new quad-headlight front end with chin spoiler, wide rubbing strakes on the flanks and black external 'brightwork'.

This Capri MkIII has the fuel-injected 2.8-litre V6 engine that replaced the old 3.0-litre unit in 1981. The copy of an old V5C document on file records that it formerly belonged to 'Costello Gears Ltd, Kenneth Costello', the latter being Ken Costello, creator of the first V8-engined MGB among many other achievements. 'D974 XAV' had been dry stored for the preceding seven years when it was offered for sale at Bonhams' Oxford Sale in June 2012 (Lot 201) where it was purchased by the current vendor. At that time a total of 204 miles was displayed on the odometer, which accompanying expired MoT certificates confirmed to be an actual 100,204 miles. We are advised that since its acquisition in 2012 the Capri has been stripped down, the body restored and all mechanical items checked. In particular, the engine has been rebuilt, balanced and tuned to produce 20% more power, while the gearbox, rear axle, braking servo, alternator and starter motor have been overhauled. In addition, all the suspension bushes and ball joints have been replaced, the interior leather re-upholstered, new tyres fitted and the radio renewed. The restoration was completed in 2014 and there are some, though not all, bills available. Described by the vendor as 'a fabulous car to look at and drive', this highly collectible modern Ford is offered with current MoT and a V5C document.