The Iconic Sale at Supercar Fest 17th May 2025

114 The Iconic Sale at Supercar Fest 2025 Cars Ford were and still are experts in using their motorsport involvement to keep their showroom doors creaking, particularly so in the 1970s and soon an RS2600 Capri was commissioned and built to compete in the European Touring Car Championship, initially with considerable success. However, BMW had bigger ideas and introduced the more powerful 3.0 CSL, rapidly stealing a march on Ford at the circuits. In response, Ford Advanced Vehicle Operations got the go ahead in September 1973 to build a batch of Capri RS 3100s to homologate the car for the E.T.C.C. and the motorsport public were treated to some very special racing in the 1974/1975 season as both manufacturers showed scant regard for cost, both on and off the track. The Essex 3.0 V6 was over bored to 3,091cc, developed by Cosworth and when fuelled through a Weber 38DGAS, produced 148bhp and 187lb/ft of torque. The gearbox was a standard Granada unit with an Atlas diff and this combination when fitted to the road car resulted in 0 - 60mph in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 125mph. The suspension was modified with stiffer front springs and competition rear springs and Bilstein gas dampers were fitted all round. Slightly flared arches, twin tailpipes, RS 4-spoke alloys, a shallow front splitter and an enormous rear wing completed the look. The interior was pure 3000GXL with a flat 2-spoke steering wheel. The RS 3100 was offered in a number of bright colours and they were all decaled in gold around the power bulge, the rear panel and a triple line down the side. We now know that 248 were built, however in the middle of a world recession, sales were slow and Ford wanted the space for the Capri II, so production was ended and the last 50 of the unsold cars were sent to Australia. Our vendor purchased this example in May 2007 and although it was on the road, it was showing signs of corrosion in a few places, so he decided in 2010 to have it restored. He stripped the car himself and the bodyshell went to be soda-blasted and delivered to Restora, a Ford specialist in Newhaven who have an excellent reputation and have rebuilt a number of RS3100s. New original panels were extensively used in the restoration including complete new doors, rear panel, inner and outer sills, whilst other panels were expertly repaired including the wings. While the body was being restored, the engine was rebuilt, a new gearbox added and the rear axle overhauled along with the suspension. To complement the ‘as-new’ bodywork, as many new/old stock parts as possible were used to create the best RS3100 example possible. The bodywork restoration was completed in 2014, whilst the mechanical work went on until around 2020. The car has done less than 1,000 miles since being restored and is always kept in a dehumidified garage. Earlier in its life, TBL 636M featured in Jeremy Walton’s book RS, The Faster Fords and in a magazine The RS Fords . There is also a notable article in Autocar , where it is shown photographed with the last Capri ever made, a photo that was later recreated with both cars and Jeremy Walton when he and the last Capri attended an AVO show. Corgi, the well known maker of scale diecast models, were keen to commission a model of a notable RS3100 in Dimond White, so Len Peirce, RS Capri Registrar of the RS Owners Club, recommended TBL to them and the car was photographed and measured, subsequently appearing as a scale model and offered initially as part of a presentation set and still available now individually (VA13314). Corgi-modelled and magazine-featured, this rare RS3100 has benefited from a long term professional restoration. Registration: TBL 636M Chassis No.: BBECND10803 Estimate: £55,000 - £65,000 Specialist: Lionel Abbott Telephone No: 07831 574381 Lot 864 1974 Ford Capri RS3100 More Details Lot 864 Bid On Lot 864