1972 Ford Capri Classic Rally Car

Rally Preparation Services are thrilled to offer for sale this Ford Capri Endurance Rally Car with a proven track record on the 2016 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. The Ford Capri was originally created for the European market by the American car designer Philip T Clark who was also responsible for designing the hugely successful Ford Mustang (along with its iconic flying horse emblem) netting colossal global sales. First produced in 1968, it was offered to the world when released at the Brussels Motor Show where it was pitched as a fastback coupe for the European market to mirror the success of the Ford Mustang. Based on tried and tested running gear from other models in the Ford stable, the Ford Capri was offered in varying formats for different markets over the years ranging from 1,300cc four-cylinder engines through to the powerful 3,000cc Essex V6. Various configurations of the Ford Capri were sold over the span of the 18 years' of it being part of the Ford line up, with a staggering 1,886,647 Ford Capris leaving the Cologne factory when the last car was signed off on 19th December 1986. Enjoying the usual Ford factory support in motorsport, Capri's tackled many different disciplines from race to rally with many successes. As the adverts said back in the day and stand today - "Ford Capri: the car you always promised yourself" This Endurance specification Rally car was built by the vendor to tackle the ultimate driving challenge of them all, the epic Peking to Paris Motor Challenge traversing over 8500 miles. Having started its life as a 1972 1,600cc automatic version, the car was transformed for the event. The build included all the usual endurance rally car upgrades for a long distance event plus much more. Notable features included it being fitted with a 2,000cc OHC Pinto engine matched up to a manual 5 speed gearbox, a long-range fuel tank for those huge mileage days, different seats and competition harnesses, and that all important roll cage. The father and son crew set off from Beijing on the 12th June 2016, along with 114 other anxious crews, to tackle the route from China through the wilderness of Mongolia and then the breadth of Mother Russia (from the Altay region all the way to the outskirts of Moscow) before a final blast through Europe to the finish in Paris on 17th July finishing a magnificent 29th out of 57 cars who took to the start in the Classic car category. Along the way the car was subject to a freak incident where the tracks across the desert crossed and were unseen going around a long fast bend, pitching the car over into a roll and reshaping it from the car you see today. Never giving up - which is the spirit of long distance rallying - the crew found themselves in a workshop on the outskirts of Novosibirsk, Russia where a team of mechanics or if you like magicians ensured the car was fit for the road and the many miles to follow. Since its epic adventure the car has been refreshed to its pre-event condition. The car is currently with RPS' sister company - the SASCo storage facility and available for inspection. All viewings welcomed by appointment only at Rally Preparation Services. All enquiries please contact us on mail@rpsrally.com or telephone +44(0)1993 358009 Images subject to copyright - Rally Preparation Services Ltd Specification: Date of original registration 01/10/1972 Rebuilt Endurance Rally Spec engine 5 Speed Gearbox Axle strengthening Uprated suspension 130 litre boot mounted fuel tank Twin fuel pumps Twin coils TRS full harness seat belts Recaro seats Fire extinguisher Full roll cage Garmin GPS Terratrip trip meter Co-driver storage Interior fuses Strut bar ITG air filter Spot lamps Drinks holders Security locks Spare leaf spring - boot mounted Sump shield Winter tyres Spares kit