Capri-the development & competition history of Ford's European GT car

display_5689f27b5a

by Jeremy Walton. 311 pp. 91/4″ x 63/4″ (GT Foults & Co, Sparkford, Yeovil„ Somerset BA22 7JJ. £14.95).

It was very perspicacious of the Haynes Publishing Group to bring out this new edition of Jeremy Walton’s Ford Capri history just as this famous GT car has gone out of production — for the Capri will be seen on our roads for many years to come and will continue to rank high with enthusiasts. Launched in the summer of 1980, the book has been fully revised to cover all Capri models and their competition histories (which include the author’s races!). So here is a valuable record of a covetable car, by a person who knows his stuff as well as anyone.

When you have digested the story , there are some 220 mono illustrations to enjoy. Specifications of the race cars of 1969-1980 are given, along with those of the RS & X-Pack road Fords from 1970. Performance figures are quoted for the various editions of the Mk I, II and III Capris, landmarks are listed, and a nice touch is a table of personalities who helped to make it all happen, from Rauno Aaltonen to girl racer Hannelore Werner. The foreword is by Stuart Turner. Personal experiences are often the most fascinating part of such books, and Walton gives his likes and dislikes of the thirty varied Capris he has driven, some of them provided by Motor Sport.

There will be no need to look further for all you need to know about Ford’s successful GT model. WB

Former car salesman James Rupport lets us into the secrets of his trade in Dealing with Car Dealers! (Haynes,£2.95), but I think it may amuse these gentlemen as much as it will instruct the customer-buyers. WB