mk1 capri experts i need your help

[mscott]

Hi chaps ive been looking at buying a mk1 3000gt capri but im not sure if shes a real gt or not can anybody help me out by telling me how i can check it is the real deal?

the car is modena green and was registered 1971. The v5 is present and lists the car only as a capri but engine size is three litre.

[capriaddict]

Hi. Have you any pictures as this would help

Firistly i would want to check it was a genuine 3.0L, in 1971 only two versions of the 3.0L were available GT's and E's. The only real differance between the two is the interior.

The colour sounds a bit wrong as i don't think pre-Facelift Capri's were available in modena green. (pre-facelift being 1969-1972).

To check if its a genuine 3.0L, on the chassis plate where it says engine it should be stamped 'H' or 'HY'.

Body wise the main check is in the engine bay, where the suspension tops mount through the inner wing there should be a big sqaure strengthening plate, also where the inner wing meets the bulkhead there should be 2 triangular plates in the corners. Then look up under the front wheel arch, at the top of the suspension strut mount there should again be a triangular strengthening plate.

As i mentioned earlier if you can post some pics it would help to identify if its a genuine one or not.

All the best with your potential purchase, i hope i have been of some help

[mscott]

thanks for the reply capri addict can you tell me if the engine size reference is part of the chassis number or is the engine size reference seperate on the chassis plate. The car doesnt have the chassis plate on the car.

 

can you decode capri chassis numbers of his age? the chassis number starts with BBECLL.

Many thanks for your much needed help in identifying the car.

[capriaddict]

Hi. The engine code referance is seperate from the chassis number.

Yes i can decode the chassis number for you....

BBECLL =

B= Britain

B= Halewood

E= Capri

C= Coupe

L= 1971

L= May

 

The last two letters are when it was built not registered

 

Without the chassis plate and more information or seeing the car i would be wary of it as there is several later Mk1 capri's about that have had their identites changed for earlier ones so they qualify for free tax

[mscott]

thats excellent thanks for the information. The car definately has no chassis plate which is making me a bit worried. would the engine reference be on the logbook or will it be only engine size? I have the reg number too would that help?

[capriaddict]

All the log book is, is in essance, an I.D. The Reg number will match the chassis number on it (1971 should be a J or K) The only reference on the document to the engine is engine size and this should be changed if you change the engine in any car but doesn't always get done.

If you can get some pictures of the car and post them up or e-mail them to me i'll check it out for you

[caprinerd]

is it a straight gt or l, xl, or xlr as each have there own specs eg. xlr should have black bonnet tilt mirror reverse lights and a few other bits as well as a brake servo

[mscott]

the guy and the logbook say just a straight gt. I have found that its was repainted modena green at some stage and should be brown.

[capriaddict]

is it a straight gt or l, xl, or xlr as each have there own specs eg. xlr should have black bonnet tilt mirror reverse lights and a few other bits as well as a brake servo

 

The early 3.0L were only 'E's or 'GT's the differance between 3.0 GT L, GT XL or GT XLR is just a matter of trim and equipment level. To me the real question is... is it a genuine 3.0L pre-facelift Mk1 Capri.

 

Oh and before you ask all the 3000 'E's were based on the GT XLR spec with added bits to make them unique

[caprinerd]

the 3.0E i owned had the fuse box mounted inside the car but dont know if this was done on all the 3.0Es

there are a lot of gt`s that arnt even gt`s they were a lower model kitted out as gt`s, there are no real definitions to say it is a genuin gt or not only a chassis number or plate but even these could have been changed over the years like a lot of old fords did. as early capri`s had the chassis number stamped on the inner wing suspension top mount and as every one knows these rot and get repaired so the number will get cut out and replaced with new metal so that will leave the chassis plate which is easy to remove and replace,