Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Anthony, a good friend of mine in Shepparton, Victoria (about 160 Kms north of Melbourne) wanted to find an old Capri with the aim of turning it into a drag car; V8, 9" etc.etc. A few blocks away from his home he had found an old Capri in the front yard of a house, wedged up between a tree and the side fence. Anthony approached the guy who owned the car to ask if he wanted to sell it. The answer was maybe, but the owner wasn't too eager to sell as he had intentions to restore the car - after all, it was a genuine 1600 GT. That was January 2005. Anthony didn't give up on buying the Capri and asked me to take a look at the car the next time I was in town, as I was 'A Capri Specialist' and would know if the car was genuine.
In Easter 2005 I was driving through to Queensland via Shepparton and called in to look at the car. After a minute or so of looking at the Capri I realised that this Capri was the 1600 GT I sold in October 1985! The owner emerged from the house to see what we were doing. I ask him if he wanted to sell the car, but he said he wanted to keep it to restore. I asked him to kindly give me first option to buy if circumstances changed and gave him my card. Anthony was thrilled that I had found my old car, and gave me his blessing to buy the car back. I did genuinely want Anthony to buy the car; at least I knew it would survive in good hands, even if it was to become a drag car!
Early February 2005; Anthony asks the owner again if he wanted to sell the car; now the answer is YES and Anthony called me and said I should 'be quick'. I was in Shepparton a few days later and bought the car. The first two photos on this page were taken on the day I first saw the car in March 2005.
The car is almost complete save an internal rear view mirror, drivers door release surround (the metal trim and plastic inner), and a radiator front top cover panel.
I plan to restore the car to original. Maybe even even repaint it in the 'Yukon Yellow' original colour. Mechanically it is in pretty good order other than the brakes probably needing a complete overhaul and shuddering clutch with almost no free-play. I hope to register it with CH plates to participate in Capri Car Club Victoria events.
I have to say that I am pretty lucky to have found the old beast. It was a great car and really started my obsession with the Capri marque. My daughters still think I am a 'geek' for liking such an old bomb, but they both want to drive the car when they are driving.
There are more photos below showing more of the condition of the car. I took these shots when I got the car back to Anthony's back yard in Shepparton. The 'homecoming' to Melbourne should be early March 2006 on the back of a tandem trailer.
More news when the car comes home.
As we found the car; nestled between a tree and the fence.
The original wheel trims are still fitted.
The interior is mostly as I sold it, albeit a little worse for wear.
LHS is pretty straight but the front of the guard (not visible) has been crunched.
Door trims are good. The RA40 Celica red courtesy lights have survived. I thought they were sexy in 1983!
The motor seems really good. No smoke, oil is OK, but the idle is rough. The guy told me that he 'put a cam in it'. We will see...
Amazing that the rear louvre I sold with the car is still fitted. The Capri even has a tow bar. Pretty rare item. What would it tow with such a tall 1st gear?
Rear seat is dirty but is un-marked. Cervwin Vega speaker grilles cover the AR 8" woofers I fitted 24 years ago.
Now this is amazing. The Hitachi AM cassette I fitted to sell with the car (I removed a nice Alpine 7155) hangs from the dash. Moments after the photo was taken the radio found it's way to the bin.
