Cherished Capri: Rare classic Ford going to auction with one owner in 52 YEARS

A rare 1971 Ford Capri with one new owner will be offered to the highest bidder at a UK auction next month.

The keeper bids farewell to his beloved 1971 Ford Capri 3000GT XLR ‘Comanche’, which is not only incredibly unusual but featured in the 1990s BBC show The car is the starhosted by former Top Gear frontman, Quentin Willson.

With Capri values ​​skyrocketing in recent years and breaking auction records in 2022, the seller has decided that now is the best time to say goodbye to his beloved bike.

With just 36,946 miles on the clock and a fully documented history in the hands of its sole owner, Classic Car Auctions expects it to sell for between £50,000 and £60,000 over the weekend of March 25.

What makes this Capri a ‘remarkable find’ is the fact that it is a ‘Comanche’ conversion, which was performed by the legendary Jeff Uren.

An engineer, Ford team manager, 1959 British saloon car champion and entrepreneur, Hours is probably best known for his custom conversion of Ford Cortinas, Capris and Escorts in the late 1960s.

About 1,700 modified Fords – about 1,100 of which were Cortina ‘Savages’ – came from Jeff Uren Ltd at Hanwell in the London Borough of Ealing.

However, the Capri Comanche, a sole proprietorship, must be one of the few remaining, especially since very few were converted by Uren, who died in 2007 at the age of 81.

The car is an extremely rare 1971 Ford Capri 3000GT XLR ‘Comanche’ conversion. As well as being incredibly unusual, it has featured in the 1990s BBC show The Car’s the Star hosted by former Top Gear frontman Quentin Willson

With just 36,946 miles on the clock and a fully documented history in the hands of the single owner, Classic Car Auctions expects it to sell for between £50,000 and £60,000 over the weekend of March 25

The car is a Jeff Hours special. The engineer, Ford team manager, 1959 British Saloon Car Champion and entrepreneur is best known for his custom conversions of Ford Cortinas, Capris and Escorts in the late 1960s

This 1971 car is finished in ‘Maize Yellow’ with a black vinyl interior and matching black vinyl roof.

It played in The car is the star in 1994 and has featured regularly in magazines over the years.

Coming off the production line as a Mk1 Capri, the ‘Comanche’ conversion consisted of upgraded gas flow heads, high compression pistons, larger camshaft, re-jetted carburetor and was topped off with an oil cooler and electric fan giving an additional 55 bhp. about the standard Essex 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine.

With three engine options – 170, 180 and 190 hp – ‘FYB 846K’ was the lucky recipient of the most powerful 190 hp package.

Owned by one owner, Capri Comanche must be one of the few remaining, especially since very few were converted by Uren, who died in 2007 at the age of 81

three engine options were available as part of the Hours conversions: 170, 180 and 190 hp. Registration ‘FYB 846K’ was the lucky recipient of the most powerful package at 190hp which only adds to the value

The Ford was originally delivered in 1971 by main dealer Whites of Taunton. The one true keeper of new has averaged just 710 miles a year since then

The suspension was also improved and some changes were made to make the car lighter.

They were delivered in 1971 by Whites of Taunton – a main Ford dealer – from new to their sole keeper and have averaged only 710 miles per year since then.

Classic Car Auctions says the car has been kept a secret for much of its final life and the seller, whose identity is not revealed, has decided to give it to the highest bidder, knowing that the value of high-end Capris is staggeringly high these days . .

“It has never been for sale until now and is therefore fresh to the market and a true piece of Blue Oval Fast Ford history.

“At only 36,000 miles, it’s an unrepeatable number,” said a spokesman for the motorcycle auction house.

Hagerty UK says a standard 1971 Mk1 Capri 3000GT in showroom condition is worth £37,500 today. However, the rarity and incredible history of this car is so rare that it will likely dwarf that figure when the hammer drops next month.

CCA says the owner has decided to give his long-term pride and joy to the highest bidder, knowing that the value of quality Capris is staggeringly high these days

The ‘Comanche’ conversion featured upgraded gas flow heads, high compression pistons, larger camshaft, rejetted carburettor and was topped off with an oil cooler and electric fan giving an additional 55 horsepower over the standard Essex 3.0 liter V6 petrol engine

Hagerty UK’s classic car valuation tool – which is based on auctions and private sales of collectible cars – says a standard 1971 Mk1 Capri 3000GT in showroom condition is worth £37,500 today.

However, the rarity, single management and full history boasted of by ‘FYB 846K’ will likely yield a winning bid much higher than that.

The record winning auction bid for a Ford Capri is a whopping £74,250, achieved in June last year, also in a CCA sale.

The record-breaking Capri was a unique model – dubbed Fast Ford’s ‘holy grail’ – eclipsing the previous record price paid for a unit by £20,000.

The Capri will be offered during CCA’s first sale in 2023 at the Practical Classics Oldtimer and Restoration Show March 25 and 26 at the NEC in Birmingham.