Ford Escort/Capri

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• SALOON RUNNING COSTS • SOARING VALUES • GT AND V6 MODELS

WHY BUY?

Classics with a cult following tend to be out of reach for many, but there are exceptions and Ford’s Capri and Escort are two of them. They can provide fun motoring yet with containable costs although values are starting to soar.

DRIVING

Sporting Escorts are pure old school driving delights and can be further tuned and improved. Capris are always best in muscluar V6 guise, 2.8i is quite sophisticated and fast.

WHAT TO PAY

The days of cheap and cheerful fast family Fords are over, especially rarer GT and RS models. Top Capris and Escorts, especially Mk1s, can sell for £25,000 upwards Anything with a sporting history can now top five figures!

GENERAL

Check out as many as possible as standards vary, as will originality and watch for RS fakes. Ex-pressed Steel is producing body panels and most of what you need is available.

BODY AND CHASSIS

Vet MacPherson strut top mounting, inner wings, inside edges of the bonnet and the area around the grille. The A-posts corrode. Check fit of each door where it meets the B-post. Bodged sills are common.

ENGINE V6:

oil pump is driven from the distributor by a hexagonal shaft which sometimes breaks. Another weak point is the fibre timing gear. Pinto can become tappety; Kents become noisy.

TRANSMISSION

There’s a good chance second gear will be worn. Vibration signifies the propshaft centre bearing has worn.

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES

The bushes in the inner track control arm anchorage break up, leading to a shudder through the steering. Wheel wobble on Capris common, and hard to cure.

BEST MODEL? RS and GTs
WORST MODEL? Fakes and rusties
BUDGET BUY? Mk2s
OK FOR UNLEADED? Needs an additive usually
SPARES SITUATION? Reasonably good
DIY EASE? It’s an old school Ford
CLUB SUPPORT? Very good
APPRECIATING ASSET? Yes, especially RS models