1979 Ford Capri 3.0 Ghia

Originally a Ford-registered demonstrator, this 3.0 Ghia has been owned by the vendor, Wayne Morris, for just under three years, with him covering circa 1000 miles in it purely for pleasure. “The car drives as it should and the engine pulls very well. It needs nothing doing to it as to get it through its last MoT, which it did with no advisories, I put new track control arms and leaf spring bushes on it. More recently, I added a new fuel pump, fuel sender unit and heater motor”.

Prior to Wayne taking ownership, the immediate prior owner ] bought the 3.0 Ghia as a lockdown project during the Covid-19 pandemic and immediately set about refurbishing the vehicle.

With the help of a mechanic friend, they set about the task at hand, which began as a small project but quickly snowballed into a full bare-metal re-spray, with other remedial work carried out. The whole process took around a year and a half to complete.

The Capri still retains its original dealership stickers in the rear window and after its time as demonstrator back in the early Eighties, it passed from the dealership to the showroom owner’s son who immediately placed it in long-term storage, accounting for the car’s still-low, original mileage.

After that, the Capri passed through two owners before the chap that restored it took the reins. He spent £9,520 on that process, with Wayne maintaining the car to a high standard since then. “It’s a lovely example but unfortunately, I am moving house and no longer have the space to keep it”.

Fancy a bit of old-school hot Coupe action? 

Then read on.

Is there a more evocative car of the Seventies than a Ford Capri?

No need for an answer.

With its long-snout/short-bottom outline and a thoroughly aggressive stance, this 3.0 Ghia is a proper bovver boy’s car. Toss in a gamut of period appearances in all manner of Blighty’s finest television crime programmes and its considerable legend continues to resonate in the modern day. 

Re-sprayed in 2020-21 from its original Bronze, this example’s Red paintwork remains in superb, almost-fresh condition. Given that the car didn’t require much welding, it’s no surprise that panel fit remains pretty much 1970’s factory perfect.

There are some very minor stone chips, but these are only discernible up close. 

Both doors were replaced prior to the re-spray, with the windscreen replaced and a fresh seal added. The sunroof received the latter at the same time, too. 

The bumpers, wing mirrors and plastic flank trims are all in good nick, as is the grille, and Wayne has replaced the cracked front numberplate with a new one. Light lenses are good, the sunroof lends cabin inhabitants a soupcon more light when fully opened, or a smidge more fresh air when tilted, and is in good order. 

Alloy wheels remain in excellent refurbished order with tyres that have oodles of tread remaining. 

Overall, it’s a wonderfully clean example.

Inside, you will find a lovely original cabin. It retains the period-correct stereo unit and has a wonderful patina commensurate with both the car’s age and the mileage covered. 

That means there’s a touch of wear visible on the front seats, primarily on the outer driver’s seat bolster and both bases. There’s a smidge of sagging to the material but it’s indicative of easy use and the overall impression is of car that’s been cherished.

The headlining remains clean with no signs of water ingress around the sunroof aperture. It itself, functions correctly and smoothly. Carpets are clean and all Ford-tastic dashboard and centre columns plastics are holding up very well indeed. 

Wayne reports that all electrics function exactly as they should.

In the boot, you will find clean metal and a matching spare alloy wheel.

Tip-top.

During the car’s refresh it underwent a considerable overhaul with the engine receiving new gaskets (including the head gasket), new valve covers, a new Weber carburettor, a fresh coil and battery. In addition, the radiator was re-cored, and a fresh power steering pump added. 

On the starting front, the ignition system saw a new alternator, ignition module and H/T leads fitted. 

Since then, Wayne has simply had the car serviced regularly and carried out preventative maintenance when necessary. The result is a car that still drives beautifully and provides a very original driving experience. 

The underside presents very well with a straight, well-protected chassis. There’s just a slight touch of surface corrosion here and there, most notably on the suspension leaf springs.

Up top, popping that long bonnet reveals a nice, clean engine bay – ‘tres smart’, as Del Boy might say. ‘Governor’.

The Capri’s history file is limited to car’s V5c Registration Certificate, which shows 5 former keepers, some expired MoT test certificates, an old RAC HPI report and more recent online vehicle check. The latter shows no issues with outstanding finance, the car having been written off or import- or exportation.

This is an opportunity to buy a low-mileage Ford Capri 3.0 Ghia that presents in very good condition. The owner prior to Wayne could have fudged the refurbishment/restoration but they didn’t, instead deciding to embark on a bare-metal re-spray that the car still benefits from to this day. 

It has a nice history as showroom demonstrator and wears its original supplying dealer stickers. With the earlier 3.0-litre engine it’s a lusty old beast and it’s ready to provide its next custodian with a consummate Seventies Coupe experience. We think that somewhere between £12,000 and £16,000 should be enough to secure that.

Once in your garage you can then decide whether to take the other ‘alf for a spin, or leave her indoors, pick up your closest geezers and go looking for a bit o’ bovver.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Reading. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.