Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the NEC Classic Motor Show 2024 - Cars on Saturday the 9th of November, NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT. Arguably the brainchild of ex-Lotus F1 driver, John Miles, the Ford Capri Tickford Turbo was unveiled in prototype guise at the 1982 Birmingham Motor Show. Developed by Aston Martin Tickford Ltd (the famous Newport Pagnell manufacturer's special projects wing), the newcomer was based on a standard MKIII Capri 2. 8 Injection. Visually distinguished by the lift-reducing GRP mouldings on the nose, flanks and tail, the fixed-head was credited with a 0. 37 drag coefficient. Reworked with the addition of an IHI turbocharger and Garrett intercooler, its 2, 792cc Cologne V6 drove the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. Upgraded with four-wheel disc brakes, the muscular 2+2 coupé also benefited from power-assisted rack and pinion steering and A-frame reinforced rear suspension.
Credited with 205bhp and 260lb/ ft of torque, the high-performance model was capable of 0-60mph in 6. 0 seconds and 139. 8mph. Priced at an immodest £14, 985, it came with Recaro front seats and a leather-topped Walnut dashboard as standard. The plan was to reconfigure 250 examples and an initial batch of 100 Injection Capris was purchased from Ford, however at some 200 man-hours per conversion, the cars proved expensive to build and expensive to sell. Ultimately just 85 or so were completed originally although it's understood that the final 15 were finished a little later.
Purchased by our vendor, a marque enthusiast and a member of the Tickford Owners Club, in 2019, the decision was taken to rebuild #56 with the intention of creating the best example of these rare cars that he possibly could. The shell was completely taken back to bare metal and new metal and panels fitted where required. The engine, although having only covered some 42, 600 miles, was also completely rebuilt and a new wiring loom fitted at the same time. Naturally, the underside was fully refurbished to a simply remarkable standard and when preparation was complete, #56 was treated to numerous coats of that distinctive Pearlescent White paint. The process was painstaking and comprehensive taking over two years and an investment of over £50, 000.
It's accompanied by a substantial history file including detailed photographs of the restoration and a copy of Classic Ford magazine (16th March 2024), in which B99 NLS is featured, further enhancing its desirability, along with a fresh MOT. This beautiful Tickford would make a great addition to any Performance Ford Collection or indeed would turn a few heads on the show circuit. Either way, at today's guide, this surely represents great value for money for what is almost certainly the best example on offer in todays - don't miss it.
