Description
H&H Classic Auction @ The Imperial War Museum, Duxford/ Cambridgeshire
9th October, 2024 13:00
1987 Ford Tickford Capri 2. 8i
1 of 15 'Lost' Capris sold by Tickford after Turbo production was cancelled
Estimate
£18, 000 - £22, 000
Registration No: D985 FKV
Chassis No: WF0CXXGAECGA91687
MOT: None
1 of 15 2. 8 Injections sold as 'Tickford Capris' but were never converted as part of Turbo Production
Retrofitted with many original Tickford Turbo fittings by a previous owner
The subject of a recent article by the Tickford Owners Club
Arguably the brainchild of ex-Lotus F1 driver and Autocar journalist John Miles, the Ford Capri Tickford Turbo was unveiled in prototype guise at the 1982 Birmingham Motor Show. Developed by Aston Martin Tickford Ltd (the famous Newport Pagnell manufacturer's special projects wing), the newcomer was based on a standard MkIII Capri 2. 8 Injection. Visually distinguished by the lift-reducing GRP mouldings that Simon Saunders (latterly of Ariel Atom fame) devised for its nose, flanks and tail, the fixed-head was credited with a 0. 37 drag coefficient. Reworked via the addition of an IHI turbocharger and Garrett intercooler, its 2792cc Cologne V6 drove the rear wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.
Upgraded with four-wheel disc brakes, the muscular 2+2 coupe also benefited from power-assisted rack and pinion steering and A-frame reinforced rear suspension (while early cars boasted a limited slip differential). Credited with 205bhp and 260lbft of torque, the high-performance model was reputedly capable of 0-60mph in 6. 0 seconds and 139. 8mph. Priced at an immodest £14, 985, it came with Recaro front seats and a leather-topped walnut dashboard as standard. The plan was to reconfigure 250 examples and an initial batch of 100 Injection Capris was purchased from Ford. However, at some 200 man-hours per conversion, the cars proved expensive to build and expensive to sell. Ultimately, just 85 of the original batch are understood to have been completed. So, what of the missing fifteen cars? It is understood that the final fifteen of the 100 Injection Capris purchased by Tickford were never converted and remained as standard 2. 8is, yet had already been registered as 'Tickford Capris' with the DVLA and subsequently sold through a Northampton Ford Dealer to the general public.
Subject to an article by the Chairman of the Tickford Owners Club in August 2024, it is now understood that 'D985 FKV' is one of the fifteen Capri 2. 8i's that were sold during 1987 as 'Tickford Capris' but never converted to be sold as one of the 85. However, the muscular Ford has been confirmed to be fitted with a number of genuine Tickford parts that would mean a home-brew 'retro-fit' may not have been entirely possible to bring it (at least cosmetically) up to full Tickford Turbo specification. The Ford has had four previous owners, and although one of them might have got extremely lucky by finding all the cosmetic parts needed to convert the car; this would be like winning the lottery and it is also likely that it was sent back to Tickford during its early life to at least have these fitted and/ or the parts were acquired directly from Tickford. The Capri features the correct wooden dashboard and special gauges and leather recaro bucket seats internally, to match the bodykit with correct Aston Martin badging externally. Under the bonnet however, things are a little different and the IHI turbocharger mounted on the front of the engine is none existent... However, another (believed to be a Turbo Technics unit) has been mounted slightly further down in the engine bay to give the same boosting effect.
Upon inspection it was noted that 'D985 FKV' was running well when positioning for photography, and although it has been dry stored for some time, the vendor has advised that the car appears to be in 'very good' mechanical condition. The vendor has also advised that cosmetically, the exterior bodywork is in overall 'good condition', and the Tickford-style interior presents in a 'very good, charmingly patinated' condition.
Now offered to the market to make space for other vehicles in the vendor's extensive collection, this interesting Ford is the perfect opportunity for any prospective owner who has also hankered after the desirable Tickford Turbo, but doesn't want to outlay double what this example is estimated at for a good example.
