Description:

2016 Ford Capri Mk2 3.0-Litre FIA Competition Coupé
Registration no. not registered
Chassis no. n/a

*Built from scratch by Ric Wood Motorsport in 2015
Essex V6 engine
*Currently in Group 1.5 British Touring Car specification
*Comes with parts enabling it to run in Group 1 or Group 2
*Eligible for a variety of historic touring car events

• 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, though the power units used by the British- and German-built versions differed somewhat.
  
  Ford was pursuing a wide-ranging competitions programme at this time, and with its UK operation concentrating on developing the Escort for rallying and circuit racing, Jochen Neerpasch, head of the Motorsport Department in Cologne, was delegated to start work on the racing Capri. Known as the 'RS2600', this would be based on the 2600GT, Ford of Germany's top-of-the-range model at the time, although Cologne's first efforts involved modified 2300GTs. A number of successes, including class wins, were achieved in international rallies in 1969 but it was already clear that the car's greatest potential was as a circuit racer.
  
  In Group 2 racing trim the RS2600's Weslake-developed V6 engine was bored out to 2,995cc and equipped with Kugelfischer fuel injection and dry sump lubrication, in which form it developed in excess of 320bhp. The suspension, brakes and wheels were up-rated appropriately and the bodywork lightened by the extensive use of glassfibre panels. A ZF five-speed gearbox was standard equipment on the racing RS2600; the LHD-only production version, which retained the 2.6-litre engine, having to make do with a Ford four-speed unit. On the racetrack, the RS2600's finest achievement came in 1972 when works driver Jochen Mass, later to enjoy a successful Formula 1 career, was crowned European Touring Car Champion at the season's end.
  
  In the UK, Gordon Spice was one of the foremost Capri exponents, and this example has been built as a replica of one of Gordon's cars. Spice commenced his British Saloon Car Championship career in the late 1960s racing Minis for Downton Engineering, which earned him a drive with the Ford works team, CC Developments, which was running 3.0-litre Capris. Between 1976 and 1980, Gordon won his class on five occasions, securing 24 overall race victories, but never won the championship outright.
  
  This car was commissioned and built from scratch by Ric Wood Motorsport in 2015. Currently in Group 1.5 British Touring Car specification, it comes with inlet manifolds and brakes enabling it to run in Group 1 or Group 2 specification. Important features include:
  
  Seam-welded bodyshell with welded-in FIA roll cage
  Group 1.5 specification Essex V6 engine by Ric Wood 
  Correct Group 1 gearbox with quick shifter
  Correct Group 1 Atlas rear axle (choice of ratios)
  Suspension to full-race Group 1.5 specification
  Group 1.5 front brake callipers and discs (Group 1 brakes available)
  
  The engine was refreshed in 2018 by Ric Wood and has been run at two meetings since then (approximately four hours). This Capri has raced in Peter Auto HTP and the Legends HTTC Tony Dron Trophy. It is also eligible for Goodwood's Gerry Marshall Trophy and several other historic racing series.

Please contact the Bonhams Motor Car Department for further information.

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