Since cars have roamed the roads, the urge has always been there to modify. Whether to improve, optimise or customise, or, as demonstrated by the millions of Civics with PepBoys / Halfords clear lamp clusters, simply to ensure that the car is slightly different to how it left the factory. I have empathy for those project team members who spend so long honing the lines, testing the powertrain and finessing the chassis; only for somebody to immediately fit lowering springs and enormous wheels as soon as they make purchase. I sometimes even shudder in revulsion at the mention of a “modified” car, unless things are done in a considered and beneficial fashion. Or at least in a heart-in-the-right-place, hoon approved way.
I love this Capri. I’m a big fan of the Sexy European in any of its forms, with special mention going to the early ’80s 2.8 Injection; but the almost stealth amendment of the model decal on the back of this one, reading Capri 5.0, makes me smile inside and get tingles at the end of my…. fingers.
Aside from the South African Peranas, there was never an official V8 Euro-shape Capri; although there bloody well should have been. The process of swapping in any from a long list of engines is relatively straightforward and is a relatively commonplace operation, and dare I say it many of the resulting machines are so well executed you might believe them to have been ex-factory.
This one probably isn’t, if we’re honest. But I like it nonetheless. I like that the builder has got slightly carried away here and there. The slats over the headlamps, for example, are totally unnecessary and probably a little gratuitous; but I always liked slats over headlamps. The same thing goes for the appliqué panel between the rear lights; a popular period accessory from the Rallye Sport accessories brochure in the 80s. I like it. Here in Yoorp we were denied such wonders as the Buick Century with its full-width taillamps. This was as close as we got!
The later, larger RS wheels, too, are controversial, being a touch over-finished by production standards, but they’re still pretty close in essence to the 7 spoke 13″ wheels which would have been found under a 2.8 Injection Special, and also allow the use of modern rubber; the better for the deployment of 5.0 litres of good old American horsepower.
I photographed this machine at a local car show the other year, and it’s been regularly appearing on my screensaver ever since. OK, it’s not quite as Ford would have had it; the air cleaner arrangement would never pass type approval and the detailing in the engine bay would never get past the bean-counters. But overall this Capri reeks of the pride and passion of its creator, and should be applauded with vigour.
![http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3700/2121/21748560012_large.jpg"](http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3700/2121/21748560012_large.jpg"){kind=link}
![http://thissongslaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/kanye-west-shades.jpg"](http://thissongslaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/kanye-west-shades.jpg"){kind=link}
![http://www.capri-klick.de/mediac/400_0/media/Anja.jpg">](http://www.capri-klick.de/mediac/400_0/media/Anja.jpg">){kind=link}
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