MK1 Capri - Life Begins (Part 2)

Amber nectar

With the metalwork stage complete, Malcolm prepped the shell for paint, with the final coats being laid on professionally by Paul Chapman and John Holland. "I went for Signal Amber, as it's a color I spotted on an Mk3 3.0S and fell in love with," he says, "though I didn't realize there were many shades to choose from. The first try out on one of the doors was way too orange for my liking, but with some experimenting we got what I was after."

Fitting up gave Malcolm the chance to use some Capri goodies he'd stored away many years before, which included 3-liter quad headlamp housings and surrounds (now fitted with Angel Eye lamps), a top-tint screen, radiator, axle and rear brakes. "We'd raced a 3-liter Slick-50 Budget Saloon once, and for that you had to be road legal," he explains. "The car had been rolled on track and repaired, but one day I hit a patch of diesel and wrapped it round a tree, so that was then end of it. The wreck was stripped but all the salvage was kept and now I could use those bits on RLF."

Elsewhere, there are roller top mounts, an anti-dive kit and anti-roll bar plus 2-liter front legs, 2.8i calipers and single leafs plus Spax dampers and poly-bushing throughout (both in yellow to match the paintwork). The front cross member is also re-drilled to give 1.5 degrees negative camber. Touching the Tarmac are some 215/50R13 Khumos which are wrapped around 7 inch classic Compomotive CXs and finishing off the exterior is much of the car's original chrome plus a vinyl roof that stayed in place during the entire rebuild. "I think that must have been replaced when the crash repairs were done, early on in the car's existence," Malcolm says, "and it's still in perfect condition, though I do treat it to a bit of boot polish every now and then to keep the shine going."

With the metalwork stage complete, Malcolm prepped the shell for paint, with the final coats being laid on professionally by Paul Chapman and John Holland

Cabin fresh

Inside, the cabin is re-carpeted, has re-trimmed cards, an Mk2 dash and leather rim wheel fitted, and the original back seats are in place. Cobra buckets were in when Malcolm first used the Capri, but he wanted something more standard, so a pair of front seats with cloth inserts were bought and these suit the car perfectly. Finishing off is a brand-new black headlining, and the doors are centrally locked-too.

Inside, the cabin is re-carpeted, has re-trimmed cards, an Mk2 dash and leather rim wheel fitted, and the original back seats are in place

For power Malcolm has stuck with his Pinto for now The 2-liter was rebuilt, with a Burton Fast Road cam, tubular manifold and Janspeed exhaust and for a while had a Stage 3 head and- twin 45s fitted. "In the garage that set up ran and revved perfectly," he notes, "but on the road it would start cutting out under load and I just couldn't get it to work. Swapping back to the Stage 1 head and DGAS sorted the problem, but then I found the culprit. The fuel pick-up in the tank was junked up, not enough to become apparent with the single carb, but enough to starve the twin at higher revs. Replacing the tank and sender with the one from the 3-liter should allow the Stage 3 tune to be reapplied."

"Plans for the Capri include an LSD when I can find one," Malcolm concludes, "and there's a possibility I may go V6 one day, but not 2.8 or 3-liter. In the garage I have a 2.6 liter Cologne in bits, which was bought for just $7.5. It would take a lot of time and work to rebuild and fit, but it's a very nice thought." In this Capri's 40th year, we reckon the best thing Malcolm can do is to leave that thought on hold and get out enjoying his GT again. Something we know he's definitely planning to do this summer.

"Plans for the Capri include an LSD when I can find one," Malcolm concludes