Tickford Capri '83

'Ultimate 80'

When I was a child our family friends had a golden mk1 Capri that I jused to drool over. It still is a cool car drawing its styling cues from US, extremely long hood, somewhat odd dimensions, rear wheel drive and classy air vents in rear fenders. Somehow Capri always looks extremely British for me. Well, the mk2 wasn't that cool...dimension and characteristics are there, but classy and light impression was totally gone. If the cool cars bad transformation was not enough in the beginning of the 80's, Aston Martin's subsidiary Tickford was offering ultimate kit to convert Capri to little Aston!

This car is almost too 80's! Source: storm.oldcarmanualproject.com

Perhaps the intention was great, when Victor Gauntlett from Aston took the crazy idea of transforming Capri to almost Aston. Aston Martin tweaked the engine by adding turbo, tailored 'luxury' retrim and made minor chassis changes, but the bodykit they added is just awful. "at that time the design side was not valued" -John Miles (chassis development engineer working in a project)

In details

 

Engine

V6, 2972cc, fuel injection

Compression 9.2:1

IHI 'RHB6' turbocharger

Garrett intercooler

Large bore stainless steel exhaust

Transmission

Modified 5-speed manual, RWD

Ford RS -limited slip differential

Numbers

205hp/5000rpm

352Nm/3000rpm

0-100km/h: 6s

Top speed: 225Km/h

1245kg

Drag coefficient lowered from original 0,39 to 0.37 with the bodykit

Chassis

Bilstein dampers 

Additional locating 'A' links rear

Polymer pushes

Upgraded brake pads front and 10.43" rear disks

7x15" alloys with Pirelli 'P7' tires

Exterior

Front air dam and grille blank

Side skirts

Rear spoiler

rear lower valance

Coach finish paint in any sincle plain or metallic colour or special pearlscent white paintwork

Wheels painted in body colour

Interior

Connolly leather interior

Wilton interior and boot carpet

Grey wool headlining

Walnut panels and matching center console

Boost gauge and quartz clock

Other
Electrically operated door mirrors and adjustable rear wiber delay
Digital electronis stereo cassette system
approx. 100 cars were manuafactured