Capri XL-R 3000GT

[zahistorics]

Theuns:

I've seen the back panel here in the UK on Capris of that age, but I can't remember whether they were sold like that in ZA.

The spoiler looks very out of place to me, certainly doesn't look like a Ford item.

I think the Lucas fog or driving lights are also not standard stuff. They look a bit modern for an early 1970s car. Ford fitted lights in front of the grille XLRs, using brackets that come down fron the slam panel at the top. A few Peranas also had these lights.

[Railway]

That panel think I reckon very much a 70's accesory thing one could buy at the time be it advertised at the back of Car magazine. May even be a BG item option as he sold various things advertised in old magazines.

The spots also probably some other type. The ones you speak about I took off my car as initially I thought they were some other thing fitted. But the manner in which it was attached was abit confusing in that it looked well done almost as if it belonged there, mounted on top on that panel unber the bonnet. Fortunately did'nt giive or throw them away as I prefer to throw everything that did'nt belong on a car off. Busy right now doing that with my Firenza GT, everything and anything be it a wrong colour wire taking shortcuts must go. Mechanical fan was replaced with electric aparently makes it lighter on petrol, weg is jy, threw it away. Spotlights too.

Practicing for the big one's the V8 restorations !

Lino

[ZA Perana]

Agree it was probably an aftermarket extra, the idea probably being that the panel was used when towing to prevent stones and other items from flying up and damaging the rear panel.Must say I like the idea.

We also have a set of the orginal spot lights but dont have the bracket and I have no idea what it looks like, so Lino if you do come accross it please post up a pic.

[zahistorics]

Just checked my Ford Parts List. The decrorative back panel is a standard Ford part, not an aftermarket thing.

Next time I go to where my 69 Capri is stored I'll take pictures of the light brackets so that you can see how they fit.

[ZA Perana]

Just checked my Ford Parts List. The decrorative back panel is a standard Ford part, not an aftermarket thing.

Next time I go to where my 69 Capri is stored I'll take pictures of the light brackets so that you can see how they fit.

Thats interesting, any idea what the purpose of the panel was or was it purely decorative?

[Firenza GT]

If memory serves the spotlight bracket had a bolt fixed to it such that it was placed on that top surface and fastened with a nut under behind the grill I think. My grill has marks from the back of those spotlight's probably due to wind at speed. I'll have a look for them.

You got to just page through the back of old magazines and see what creative stuff dealers offered to jazz up the old classics which were status symbols those days. First time I have noticed such a rear Capri panel.

Lino

[zahistorics]

The extra back panel is purely decorative.

[henryk]

Sorry for late response. Only read the last couple of comments today.

1) The spotlights on the car are Lucas square eights. Although not original Ford equipment it was very much a period accessory. Check your late 60's and early 70's Car and Technicar magazines. These were "the" spotlights to have. These were also earmarked as original equipment for the Meissner 1600 GT Escort that Ford intended to market in 1969/1970. Unfortunately the car never went into production and only 3 prototypes were built, none of which are believed to have survived.

2) The front spoiler is clearly aftermarket, although quite popular in the era.

3) As for the "R" pack striping etc. Have a carefull look at some of the later Basil Green Perana adverts which also features a Perana built from an "R" pack shell. These Peranas were built near the end of production and are very rare. Only saw one in my time.

4) As for the rear panel, I've never seen one. John I note you say it was a genuine Ford part. But it was certainly never available in S A. Friend of mine restored 2 x V6 Capris and later a Perana and researched these cars to the finests detail. But even he is unaware of the availability of this panel locally. For myself I grew up with these cars and never saw a panel like this. The panel seems to follow the original contours of the standard Capri rear panel, which seems a bit senseless if the intention was to "dress up" the rear end.

But it is certainly a very rare piece and well woth preserving.

Looks a lot better than the standard "period" modification which was to fit Datsun or Dodge Colt taillights !!


Henry

[zahistorics]

I also don't recall ever seeing that panel in ZA all those years ago - but that said from seeing pictures of cars here in the UK: when it is fitted it is hard to tell the difference, unless you are actually looking, between it and the plain panel painted. The only real visble difference is a bit of extra 'chrome' around the tail lights. Maybe they were in ZA but we didn't notice?

The R pack Perana is interesting. I only have one picture - the advert in CAR. The bonnet had similar black panels, but it didn't have any stripes at all on the sides. It is hard to tell for sure, because the picture in the advert is a bit grainy, but it looks like the car has a flat 4 cylinder bonnet and not the V6 bulge bonnet.

[richard]

the rear panels were only on the 3000E in the uk i have 2 sitting in my garage from 3000E i had two scrap.