Imagine being a fan of 1970s GT racing and opening up a shipping container only to discover that it contained not one, but two Ford Capri RS2600s in the exact same livery (and probably on the same tyres) that they wore when last on track more than 40 years earlier.

That was the case with this remarkable ‘time warp’ RS being sold on behalf of a client by competition-car expert Duncan Hamilton. The ‘sister’ Capri, which was resting alongside it when the container was opened around a decade ago, turned out to be the 1972 factory Le Mans car driven by Jochen Mass and Hans Stuck, which managed 14 hours and 152 laps before retiring with an oil pump failure.

That has now been restored to its correct Le Mans blue and white works colour scheme – but the car being sold by DH Rofgo remains in its unique silver with red and blue stripes that signifies it as having been part of Clayton Dopke’s Rok-Stock-sponsored IMSA team.

USAF Major Clayton ‘Clay’ Dopke, who died in 2010, was a B-52 bomber pilot during the Vietnam War who took to saloon car racing when he retired.  Dopke campaigned the Capri – which was discovered on America’s east coast – during the mid to late 1970s when European cars dominated IMSA’s popular GT series. It retains the livery of America’s leading Capri tuning house Rok-Stock and still bears every sticker and scrutineering label from the days when it last raced.

“The cars are thought to have been put into the container around 1980 and simply stayed there,” says DH Rofgo’s Jack Tetley. “At the time they were probably worth very little, but of course the value of all historic racing cars has since soared.”

The RS2600 was launched in late 1971 and was one of the hottest versions of the celebrated Capri available from the factory thanks to its Weslake-assembled 2.6-litre Cologne V6 engine, Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection, close-ratio gearbox and its lightweight body panels.

Although it was originally a road car, its 150bhp output, 7.5sec 0–60 time and beefed-up brakes meant that it was quickly adopted for Group 2 racing and achieved a string of spectacular results in the European Touring Car Championship in the hands of notable drivers including Mass, Jackie Stewart and Klaus Ludwig.

Tetley says that the car clearly needs recommissioning before being run, but emphasises the fact that parts are readily available – as is the expertise of top race Capri tuner and restorer Ric Wood Motorsport of Stockport, Greater Manchester. Once up and running, the car will be eligible for a host of race and rally events –and, if kept in its current zany 1970s colour scheme, will also be the only IMSA-liveried Capri in Europe.

One other thing’s for certain, too: it will certainly serve as a withering riposte to any Capri-ribbing medallion man jokes.

1973 Ford Capri RS2600

On sale with Duncan Hamilton Rofgo, Winchester. dhrofgo.com. Asking: £120,000

Dealer news

DeLorean ‘time machine’ is ’80s fresh

● In 1986, mere months after Marty McFly uttered to Doc Brown in Back to the Future, “Are you telling me you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?” this 1983 dmc-12, inset, was placed in climate-controlled storage with just 5397 miles on the clock. Offered by Florida’s podium auto sales for £85,000, it is itself a time machine and still has its original factory Goodyear tyres.

● If your collection lacks a genuine grand prix winner, then Brabham BT26A chassis 3, below right, might fill that embarrassing void. It was driven to victory in the 1969 Canadian GP by Jacky Ickx – indeed, the car bears the name of the 1969 F1 runner-up – and was the racer that Jochen Rindt put on pole at the 1968 Canadian GP. On sale at speedmaster cARS in Wetherby – £POA.

● The publication of Warrantywise’s annual Reliability Index of used cars under 10 years old may come as a shock. Range Rover, BMW and Porsche take six places in the UK warranty provider’s top-10 league of shame. Worst of the lot? The previous-generation Range Rover due to the frequency and cost of repairs – average £1607.

● The average age of cars on British roads is now 8.7 years, reports Halfords – up by a year in a decade and rising. The cost-of-living crisis could see this figure hit 10 years. “It represents a risk to road safety,” says company CEO Graham Stapleton. “Older cars are more likely to develop faults.”

● Porsche owners looking to save on future holidays should visit their local dealer in November for a Weissach-developed roof tent – cost £4400. UK campers note: a heated blanket is to follow. LG