Then the rolling shell was taken to C.G Coachworks of Horam where they fitted the new wings and arches they resprayed the whole car. At the end of April 2005 the car came back to the work shop where the rebuild started. The car was booked in for the first show of the season only four weeks away and with only two days off a week for those four weeks I had to enlist some help from some good friends Dave Jackson, Wayne Jeffs and Matt Skerritt (Retro Ford Int.) The car was booked in for its MOT at 10:30 on the Sat morning of the show. As Dave and I collected the car on the Friday we thought we only had a couple of things to do on it. Ha, wrong! didnt get home till 3am and even then the rear seats and back bumper were missing - but she still passed. A quick trip to the Post Office for some tax and I attended the Crockstead Spring Show with her that day. Sunday was spent putting the rest of the car back together despite the 'finished look' for the show.

So there is the story of A80 FHN.

This restoration included the following modifications :

• Big discs and granny brakes with Land Rover mater cylinder, 2.0ltr servo and braided hoses.
• Strut brace on the front and axle relocation on the back.
• Stainless steel magnex exhaust and K&N filter.
• Moulding strips taken off and no pin stripes.
• Chrome door handles and window frames.
• Revolution five spoke alloys.
• One off reccaro interior.

My first Capri was a V reg 1.6L Capri with many faults including an inbuilt swimming pool and sheet bodyfiller in the drivers door. Having given up on this motor I later saw this 2.8i advertised in Autotrader back in March 1991. It lived at a chippie in Astwood Bank near Worcester, but one test drive later it was mine! With my modestly customized Sierra sold I was able to haggle the chap down to the amount I had. Good old Dad put it in his name for insurance purposes and I officially had a base model Allegro to smoke round in! – They were the days! However, living in Birmingham, a four year old 2.8i attracted the wrong attention and five attempted thefts later I got fed up with it and reluctantly sold it. Many cars and years later I decided to look round for another and despite having a couple of grand cash on me nothing was available at the Capri Club International Summer Camp  show in 2005. I decided if I saw ‘my old 2.8’ again, I’d buy it. Fate struck one lunchtime in early October 2005 when I was looking on the internet and guess what?! Yep, there she was, sitting in Crawley waiting for me! One phone call and two days later, a nice man with a recovery lorry came to deliver it to my house. The missus was really not best pleased, as is often the case, but too late now! After 14 years I’d got my 2.8 back!!!!! It needed the rear brakes re-building, duff electrics sorting and a new stereo and we’re in business. Over the years its had some subtle modifications by the owners which I have retained as these are the sort of things I’d do to make the difference. However, its never lost the roof mounted carphone aerial fitted when it was new in August 1986. The mods are:

• 15” RS seven spoke alloys
• Stainless steel door treads
• CD player
• Sonic shelf with 9" by 6" speakers - enough
• Veneer fascia and trim
• Powerflow stainless steel exhausts
• K&N filter
• High lift cam and unleaded heads
• Mondeo front brake conversion
• Axle location kit
• Rear disc conversion
• A/R bar & TCA’s polybushed 
• Braided hoses
• Upgraded servo and master cylinder

Owners Name: Gavin
Capri: MKIII 2.8 injection                                                    Reg/ year: A reg, 1983
Owned since: July 2008
Fords currently owned: 2 x MKIII Capris
                                          

Fords previously owned: 2 x MKIII Capris
                                             1 x MKII Capri

Its a credit to the previous owners. It had been parked up in a dry ventilated garage for about 15 years before coming to the attention of the club. It was covered in thin plastic sheeting and decorators cloths, so hasn't sufferred from the old metal worm. However, it needed to be mechanically recommissioned and did take time as it needed most things oily. Totally stock and with history, I'm rather happy with this find. Apart from being transported to the workshop where the recomissioning work was undertaken, this photo was the first time it been out of the garage since 1992! Used everday and runs sweet as a nut.

Owners Name: Andy
Capri: MKIII 2.8 injection                                                          Reg/ year: A reg, 1983
Owned since: Dec 2007
Fords currently owned: 1 x MKIII Capri                                                          

Fords previously owned: To follow
                                             
                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                                                  
Comments: 

Owners Name: Wayne
Capri: MKI RS3100
Reg/ year: M reg, 1973
Owned since: 2007
Fords currently owned:  1 x MKI Capri  
                                           1 x Transit Connect

 Fords previously owned: 11 x MKIII Capris
                                                                            2 x MKIII Escorts                                                    1 x MKV Escort
                                               2 x MKII Orions

Comments:

Its an RS3100 - need I say anymore eh???! Bought this standard car in 2007 and was fairly original. Having finished a complete restoration by Stuart at Restore-A-Ford & myself its first trip out was to the Eastbourne Classic car show. It was also one of the display cars on the Classic Ford Magazine stand at Santa Pod on 31st May 2009!

Owners Name: Andy
Capri: 1.6 Laser
Reg/ year: D reg, 1987
Owned since: 2002
Fords currently owned: 1 x MKIII Capri

Fords previously owned: 1 x MKIII Capri

Comments:                                                   

She is my second Capri. Previously owned a Paris blue 2.0 Laser. Bought this one back in 2002 with 47k on the clock (genuine) about five years ago and now has well over 100k. She's standard apart from the Weber carb and the Brookie alloys. Had new wings in 2007, 12 days later someone thumped my rear quarter so I got that sorted plus both arches repaired so she looked as good as new. And I can get a five-piece drum kit in her with a full rack system! Unfortunatley I had a small bump in it but the insurance has covered it and its now back on the road fully repaired with a shiny new coat of paint & has been seen at a few shows already!

Owners Name: Gavin
Capri: 3.0 Sport
Reg/ year: W reg, 1981
Owned since: 2007
Fords currently owned: 2 x MKIII Capris
                                          
Fords previously owned: 2 x MKIII Capris
                                             1 x MKII Capri
 
Comments:

Replaced my 2.8i with this one which is my everyday driver. Totally stock now as the correct wheels have now been put back on. I'm not into the Punto/ Saxo school of thought and wanted a car with grunt and enough room to customise or tweek as and when. I just really like the old school looks of the Capri which is why my first car was a Capri. Always wanted an Essex V6 Capri and a Stratos Silver 2.8i which is my other Capri. This has now been fully resprayed and the only modification is the clear front indicator lenses I've had off Matt at Retroford International. Now done a couple of shows and won the Best MKIII Capri (voted by visitors) at the summer Capri Club show in Evesham in July 2008. Well happy with that!!!!! Totally brill car, but unfortunatley some idiot has hit the passenger door and put  a great dent in it. I'm sure it was done on purpose as its not your average car park kiss. So back to the bodyshop for it.

After writing off my Paris Blue 2.8i (it will be rebuilt eventually), I wanted to get another classic Ford to attend the shows. Had a look at a few motors such as RS turbos, a Sapphire Cossie and a Cortina. This only confirmed it had to be a Capri! Spoke at Kevin at Surrey Capri Club and he directed me to Nic, a Surrey Capri Club member selling his car. Emails exchanged and then went to look at it. Its in remarkable condition considering it had sat outside for 18mths and has been off the road for a couple of years. Got it going and took it for a short spin, the price was agreed and thats my 19th Capri bought (all MKIII's). The really car is a credit to the previous owners as its got all original panels and apart from a couple of scabs on the O/S/R arch, one on the tailgate and a small one on the N/S wing which need catching, its fine. Needs an MOT, but no rush as it looks like its just one back box which needs changing and the show season doesn't start for another couple of months anyway. See you at the shows with this one. 

Not sure which way to go on this straight original solid 2.8i - either: cossie whale tail, 18"  chromes, slammed, neons and stripped interior, roof spoiler, straight through exhausts, side window louvres, de-bumper - sorted :-) - or should I strip it and go for the rat look???  Hmmmmm.... Thats got you all worried .........