Is this the real McCoy and worth a punt? (Mk2 Capri race shell)

[Al Weyman]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

[MGDavid]

1. dunno
2. definitely!

[josvandeperre]

Looks as if it could be a factory shell from the plate but the build is not the same as the UFO car - fuel filler location appears different (UFO wider apart) as do the wheel arches (UFO top edges lower relative to shell)

[terence]

I think the arches to be a later addition? But for a resto project,wish I had room for it!

[Peter Mallett]

Certainly not the Blackburn UFO car because that's for sale elsewhere. The wheelarches place it at 1976 though. Prior to that year they ran the "X-Pack" style.

[terence]

But not "Works" arches Peter [as fitted]?
Still a VERY interesting car though.

[chunterer]

Just wondering if either CC or Broadspeed had anything to do with this beast?

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by terence bower

But not "Works" arches Peter [as fitted]?
Still a VERY interesting car though.

Terry,

The arches are correct for works or private entries in Grp 2 in 1976.

[terence]

Thanks Peter,just dont remember them looking like that.I going to dig out my Ford Works Cars book,curious to know more about this one.

[Peter Mallett]

It looks to me like a Spa Grp 1.5 car. In '76 I believe they were allowed to run wider arches but the original engines/carbs al la Grp 1. Also the if it were a Gp2 car I suspect the rear brakes would be discs and there'd be centre lock wheels. Although I appreciate the whells etc. may be changed over time.

If you look at Frank De Jong's site you'll see the difference between 75 and 76. Interestingly (Anorak time) the works produced a front air dam and x pack wheel arches and these were used in 1975 on the Grp 2 cars. In 1976 it looks like Group 2 ran to square arches and you had to use the original front valance which meant it was bent down (straightened) to form an air dam.

If you get a peek at the Grp 2 Jag in Motorsport mag you'll see the same arches. Likewise the Beemers had them too. Thinking further the Broadspeed Dolomite and the Rover SD1 Group 2 cars also have those wheelarch extensions.

[terence]

I might be wrong,but wasn't one of the Hermetite cars fitted with the arches as fitted to the E-Bay car.Seem to recall one/two of those in a shot at Eau Rouge?
Cant find the Ford book,only the G Robsons "Works Escorts",I know its here somewhere,not where I thought though!!!!!!!! Arrrrrg!

[Peter Mallett]

And Holman Blackburn's car is for sale for 60k Euros. It was one of the '75 cars and indeed Group 2 with the x pack arches.

http://www.motorsportads.com/race-ca...ars/18083.html

The UFO car he ran in 1976 had the square arches.

http://homepage.mac.com/frank_de_jon...976%20Spa.html

You'll also see my point about Group 2 Beemers etc. It must have been a regulation to run those type of extensions.

[terence]

I see what you mean Peter,dont ever recall seeing those arches before,but back to topic,be nice if the seller had been more successful in his research.
Looks like a 20>30k resto,obviously depending on if the original mechanicals are still in place.

[Al Weyman]

Dont think he is too bothered is he, he just wants to out it which is fair enough!

[grantp]

That's an interesting find Al.

Nothing really related but dabbling with Google for a few minutes turned up this.

http://homepages.ezysurf.co.nz/~collx/RS3100GP2.pdf

An interesting article I thought though of no help in this case.

I do wonder about group 2 though. Were many Gp2 cars developed independently from Ford?

I would have imagined that all the intended chassis would have been LHD. And the photos in the article linked above include one of what looks like a 'normal' chassis plate despite the obviously extreme spec changes for Gp2 racing requirements. (I love the plastic rear leaf springs - think my Mk1 Escort GT might have had the development units fitted judging by the way the springs went concave. ;-) )

Of course the article relates to an earlier racing year and spec so perhaps the Ford Competitions link is not much of an issue for this particular car.

[Al Weyman]

Glass Fibre leaf springs are available for the Camaro as well, meant to work quite well but doubt if legal for most historic stuff, certainly not what I do anyhow.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

Glass Fibre leaf springs are available for the Camaro as well, meant to work quite well but doubt if legal for most historic stuff, certainly not what I do anyhow.

Ah, but Al they did not work at all on the Capri's (according to the article) but the regs called for original suspension set up to be in place though it seems that original could be 'assisted' by additions.

If nothing else racing over the years must have spawned one heck of a lot of lateral thinkers.

Now I think about it I have no idea how my Escort managed to stay on the road at all. Concave rear leaf springs with Spax adjustable shocks and 25% uprated AVO front struts. The things we used to do ....

[midgetman]

If it's a genuine car, why's it RHD with an LHD cage? That should fail scruting?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

You'll also see my point about Group 2 Beemers etc. It must have been a regulation to run those type of extensions.

From 1976 only small extensions allowed in Gp2. Boreham prepared an Escort for Derek McMahon which used standard Rally extensions, but Zak's were a little bit more sophisticated! See pics on recent Zakspeed thread on HRT.

And when (earlier) rules allowed extra links and springs they stated that original spring had to be retained. If you look at a Pre 76 Gp2 Escort or Capri now you will still see plastic or another lightweight material for the non functioning leaf.

That Capri is certainly interesting, and would guess a private Gp2 entry. The tank installation looks 'right' for the long races.

As Terry says, some more research & info could have got a better price!

[Al Weyman]

Maybe he did the research and didnt like what came back though!

[terence]

Dont see how that could be so Al,that chassis plate looks like its been on there from day one,anything "Works" with provenence is worth so much more. I'm sure that some research using the numbers would show the car for what it is.

[Alex E]

As has been said the body is to `76 on ETCC Group 2 rules which went through until the end of Gp 2 in 1981. But Spa 24 hours only used this ruleset for `76 and after that were Group 1-1;1/2. BTCC never used these rules so hard to see why anyone would buld a RHD Capri to these rules. Seems more likely it was a Group 1 car & someone added the arches ? AS not much else on the car is Group 2.
Not sure that is a chassis plate, looks more like an production line info plate.
Still possibly interesting though.

[Peter Mallett]

Without looking at the pic I think that plate is on the inner wing. Aren't the chassis numbers to Be found by the driver's seat mounting?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Without looking at the pic I think that plate is on the inner wing. Aren't the chassis numbers to Be found by the driver's seat mounting?

The plate is the 'body plate' which every Ford shell had at that time. It has nothing to do with chassis number / vin plate. In mid 70s Chassis plate on slam panel to left of centre line, body plate to right and painted with body. Normally it would give colour, extra equipment etc and if it was a special shell it would be stamped as such. A 'service shell' for parts department would say as much, also I think Escort shells scheduled to go to Gomm for build were marked so. A shell marked 'Comp Dept' has my curiosity, and as they were built in Germany even more so!

Looking at the pics again would say arches are adapted Mk2 Escort rally, so think Alex right that a later addition. The panhard would not have been allowed in 1976 Gp2, so again possible later added. Which leaves that relatively sophisticated big fuel tank, pump and filter?

[terence]

Perhaps one of the privateer companys?