Random # 308: Circa 1970 Ford Capri GT

Please, p l e a s e, P L E A S E let this amazing 1970s Ford Capri GT be the vehicle that breaks the current classic car drought in Hobart! Not only was it one of the very best examples that I've seen since pre-C-word days (that other C-word!), it was absolutely perfect, especially for a boy from the 1970s who adored performance-orientated Fords.

I have grown up fractionally since then and now also appreciate GMHs and Chyslers of the era. However, I'd argue that the Capri has one up on Holden's six-cylinder equivalent of the time, the mighty Torana, because the former was purely designed as a sports car whereas the latter was also available in four-door guise. The Valiant Charger, whilst also strictly a coupe, was really a derivative of the sedan, wagon, ute and van versions of the Ranger / Regal line-up, so they don’t quite have the same cachet, either.

It's a bit vulgar to think of a car in terms of what's been spent on it but, in my defence, I'm really alluding to the total bumper-to-bumper excellence exhibited on this example. Believe me when I say that it's perfectly, immacualtely pristine - so well restored, in fact, that it's arguably better than it was when it first rolled off the factory floor! I'd venture to say that no expense was spared.

The duco is lustrous and totally without blemishes, and the panel alignment is faultless. The chrome is ... well, just look for yourself! All the era-correct badges and decals - including the iconic Aussie Super Roo stickers - are present and correct.

The only three things that I could see that weren't strictly original - the 15" Superlites, wood-rimmed sports steering wheel and the exquisite tan leather bucket seats - were all as tasteful as you could ask for and very era-appropriate. I couldn't get a shot of those seats but they featured good side- and base-bolsters but in a slim-line style that didn't overcrowd the cabin.

For me, the Capri belongs in the same category of classic six-cylinder GTs that includes the Alfa GTV6 and the Datsun 240- and 260-Z. It's a purpose designed, affordable, sports-orientated road car in the very best of that tradition and I don't think Ford - or any other manufacturer, for that matter - has really created anything significantly better in the 50 years since it was first released.

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

All iPhone images.

Comments

Random # 301: Nanna-Spec KE36 Corolla

Once upon a time - six or seven years ago, actually - there was a lovely pale yellow GC Galant station wagon getting around Hobart. It was totally nanna-spec; its paint was umarked, the chrome work and hubcaps were immaculate, and its very original interior was pristine. Then someone stuck feathers in its dashboard. Next, the windows were adorned with Tibetan prayer flags. And a hubcap went missing. And the the rear bumper was pushed in, mangling the bodywork behind it. And a mudguard got dented. And rust set in. I fear for this sweet, innocent KE36 Corolla. Somebody please save it before it's too late. Nanna needs you to do it. U M P H (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.) Photos by GlamRock.

EJ or EH Holden? (Up-dated December, 2022)

EJ or the later EH? Several years ago, I posed the question: Can somebody please explain the difference between an EJ and an EH Holden ute or van? The response at the time wasn't overwhelming, so I did a bit of Googling and ferreting through my photos and came up with my own rough guide to EJ and EH identification. Sedans and wagons are easy to tell apart ; the EH's vertical rectangular tail lights are a dead give-away. However, the workhorse versions of both models share the rear-end treatment of the earlier EJ, making it harder to identify one from the other. No super obvious hints here. Or here ... . It turns out that the main clues are in the placement of the front H O L D E N lettering and GMH lion emblems, the style of the radiator grille and the width of the vents in front of the windscreen, with all EJs - sedans, wagons, utes and vans - having one combination and the EH line-up having their own . So what exactly are those diffe

Vick Auto Prima Fiat X1/9 Brakes: An Owner’s Assessment

At the end of 2022, I fitted a set of Vick Autosport Prima front brakes to my mildly worked 1.5 litre Series 1 Fiat X1/9 . I was fortunate, having picked them up at a very, very reasonable price, brand new but surplus to the needs of a fellow X1/9 Australia member who had imported them from the US. The kit included: New single pot callipers , new vented rotors (standard X1/9 front rotors are smaller, non-vented items), DOT approved stainless steel brake hoses, and all the necessary mounting hardware. They are a value proposition, being particularly well priced compared to other manufacturers’ packages - even at RRP - with everyone I’ve spoken to saying they’re made to a high standard, too. Here's a link to a piece that I wrote about them at that time, including some costings: https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-x19-gets-prima-brake-upgrade.html . Initial Assessment: I was a little underwhelmed by the brakes' performance, finding that although they had a tiny

Upper Middle Petrol Head:

Search This Blog