What's a Cologne Capri?

Well?

One that smells nicer than normal Capris because it's been owned by a hairdresser?

Sorry Peter...


Seriously, I think it's because Cologne was the base for the Ford works team for the European Touring Car campaign in the early seventies. As well as being the base of Ford's series production effort in Germany.

Of course I could be wide of the mark on one or other of the above explanations.

Possibly even both...

Originally posted by TimD
One that smells nicer than normal Capris because it's been owned by a hairdresser?

Sorry Peter...


Seriously, I think it's because Cologne was the base for the Ford works team for the European Touring Car campaign in the early seventies. As well as being the base of Ford's series production effort in Germany.

Of course I could be wide of the mark on one or other of the above explanations.

Possibly even both...

Generally that's correct Tim. The cars were built in Cologne to a Ford UK design. The engines were originally Weslake before Cosworth got involved and developed the GAA 3.4 litre engine.

There was a pic of one but somehow this new system has wiped it. Its still on my website though.;)

Hi Peter,

If you were meaning that fine picture of the restored/preserved Antipodean one you placed on Francesca's thread last week - my computer is still reading it AOK.

PS. I've just acquired a Scalextric Mk3 Capri in need of restoration. Needless to say, its new livery will be yellow and red, bearing the lucky #36.

It'll go very nicely with the black-with-red-pinstripes SD1 Rover I'm reassembling.

Yep.

This is actually one of very few originals left.

http://www.angelfire.com/pe/mallett/images/Caprigp2.jpg


BTW. I know the man who owns that black SDi with the red stripes.;)

Guess what? I'm going to mention Combe. :)

Anyway, I asked because I heard the commentator say that a Cologne Capri will be at the 50th Anniversary meeting in July. I guessed you Capri nuts would know what it was.

Cheers.

More details please. Dates meeting who can we contact to find out more.;0

Not sure of the date (shameful, huh?) - look on the Combe website @ http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk

Downright devious Graham, you'll try anything to make Peter go to Combe. :)
Peter, do you know where in Aus that Cologne Capri is?

Have to trawl through some old e mails to locate the car and owner. will do so later. Can't go to Combe because I'm moving to the Netherlands on Monday and the only return trips will be for race weekends.;)

This is the e mail. Sorry folks its in NZ not Oz. Thousand apologies.

Peter, Thanks for your email. No problem you using the photo of the Capri.
It is an ex Lauda, then later went to South Africa for Jody Sheckter, then to Australia with Allan Moffat before going back to the UK when Ed Hubberd bought it and Norris Miles drove it before I bought it in 1994. There are three Cosworth powered works Cologne Capris left, one with Tom Walkinshaw, one with Ford Germany I believe. There are two similar spec Capris in the South Island of NZ but were originally weslake powered cars I believe. Roger Townsend of Christchurch is his name I don't have a contact in front of me.

Nelson Marshall email nelson.marshall@xtra.co.nz is building a Cosworth powered Capri replica and may be able to help with technical data, all we have is engine details. You may be interested in a motoring event we run look at http://www.targa.co.nz I also have an RS 3100 road Capri which I intend to sell shortly

Regards Mike John

There you go.;)

Pete, Is this for real??

I'm moving to the Netherlands on Monday

Permenant? Work-wise? What what?! ;)

Its real and .......... I'm here already. Should be here for about a year (which means three weeks to my company). Still, I'm not far from Snetterton or Spa or even Zandvoort!!!

Will be racing at Thruxton 2 July though.;0

So how much faster is the Cologne Capri than a non-Cologne version of the same era?

Back in the early seventies Ford decided to enter its 3.0 litre Capri as a works entry in Group 1 Saloon car racing. It was doing very nicely in the hands of privateers like Holman Blackburn and Gerry Marshall. Group 1 is basically production class racing. You know most of the background to that class.

However, the FIA (or FISA as it was then) introduced Group 2 Touring Car racing for a European Championship. The regs for this demanded a silhouette to be as the original car and engines diffs and gearboxes produced from production components. They could be relocated and gearing was free. However, the term “production” means that they had to produce for sale the required number of original cars and components to achieve homologation.

At the end of 1972 BMW introduced the Batmobile 3.0CSL (3.2 and later 3.4 litres) and started winning. Ford decided that it needed to get back to the front and thus the RS 2600 Capri was produced. This introduced fuel injection to the range. However it wasn’t that fast so for 1974 they produced the RS 3100. This one came complete with ducktail and fuel injection with an overbored engine. Therefore Ford now had an aerodynamic package (remember the silhouette requirements) and fuel injection on an engine that could now legally be enlarged to 3.4 litres.

Ford PR people didn’t like this because they were by now pushing the Mk2 Capri three door hatch.

The cars ran on slicks, had exceptional aerodynamics and yes, they were seriously fast.

I’m doing this from memory cos my books are back in the UK. Will check over the weekend.

Hope this is of interest Graham.;)

Hey, Gerry Marshal - I reckognise that name. Plus, I've just read he's back racing in a (I think) Firenza.

I must admit the Capri looks a pretty serious beastie, and I'm not a lover of Fords...

Thanks for the info - sadly it's all before my time. Wish I could have seen that type of car racing contemporarily.

Would you race a Cologne Capri if you could afford it, or would the running costs be too high (and the car too precious)?

Dunno about Gerry being back in a Firenza. He's never stopped racing though. You may well have seen him in the JC Bamford Astons. He sometimes comes out to play with us and also the MG Car Club where he started his racing career.

If I could afford it of course I'd race a Cologne Capri. They may be precious but so are the old Ferraris and Astons et al that people race.;)

Maybe I'm thinking of someone else. It's in Autosport this week, in the Club (national) section.

But I do recognise the name.

Is Paddy Hopkirk still alive?

So how much would a Cologne thingy cost to buy? £30,000?

Graham, you do have the knack of making someone feel very, very old!

Gerry Marshall was an absolute fixture of British club motorsport in the 1970s, along with Tony Lanfranchi and Barrie Williams. All of whom are still racing to a greater or lesser extent.

Gerry was quite seriously ill a few years ago, which put a hold on his racing activities. Put it this way, he's a big man, in his early sixties, and he was noted for his excesses and adventures as a youngster. His biography, which if you can find it, is an absolute cracker, is called "Only Here for the Beer".

But he's most certainly back, and has been bloomin' quick again for a couple of years now. As you rightly spotted, he has just lately returned to the Droopsnoot Firenzas of his heyday, but as Peter says, he is most regularly seen in one of a pair of fearsome modsports Aston Martins, a DB5 and a DBS V8.

This very afternoon, he scored his 597th professional race win with a lights to flag run in the DB5 at Silverstone.

With a competitive drive in the Top Hat saloons as well, with a '65 Ford Mustang, I think that before the season is out, the magical 600 will be his.

Originally posted by TimD
But he's most certainly back, and has been bloomin' quick again for a couple of years now. As you rightly spotted, he has just lately returned to the Droopsnoot Firenzas of his heyday, but as Peter says, he is most regularly seen in one of a pair of fearsome modsports Aston Martins, a DB5 and a DBS V8.

This very afternoon, he scored his 597th professional race win with a lights to flag run in the DB5 at Silverstone.

With a competitive drive in the Top Hat saloons as well, with a '65 Ford Mustang, I think that before the season is out, the magical 600 will be his.

He's er. A drinking "buddy" of mine, (when I can afford to meet up with him;)

Apart from the reputation he's always been good company. I read the Autosport article today (can't get it in Holland). He was at Lydden after a break of 20 odd years.

Glad he got another win.

BTW. Barry Williams presented me with a prize at the Classic and Sportscar Show in May. Another nice bloke and a hero of mine.

Would that be Barry 'Whizzo' Williams? ;)


BTW, do you have a speed-related middle name Pete?

Peter 'Mad-Man' Mallett... Hey! It's got a certain ring... ;)

Wow! Peter, I'm dead jealous about the company you keep. I've been a fan of Gerry Marshall since I saw him batting around Thruxton in the "Big Bertha" Vauxhall Ventora. Must have been about 1974, and I was knee high to a hubcap.

If there's one person whose autograph I've been after, it's Gerry. But he's such a presence that I've genuinely chickened out everytime.

I've got to say, standing at Copse this weekend, I enjoyed some sublime racing from that Aston. Gerry was not only seconds faster per lap than anyone else, but the line he was taking was absolutely perfect. Just the right amount of drift, allowing a gentle kiss onto the kerbing to set him up for the straight, it was absolutely mesmerising to watch.

He is still absolutely one of the greatest.

I had a TVR a few years ago, around the time the Tasmin came out ... I was under the impression that the "Cologne" was just the engine design. The Taimar (which I had) was an "Essex" V6, whilst the Tasmin was a "Cologne" V6.

The Capri 3.0 was an "Essex" V6, and the later 2.8 was a "Cologne" V6 ....

Correct me if I'm wrong !!

I go all wibbly when someone mentions TVR ;)

Go to :

http://www.pistonheads.com/tasmins/tasmin.htm

(I AM allowed to post that URL here seeing it's on-topic, aren't I ???)

Originally posted by skidmark
I had a TVR a few years ago, around the time the Tasmin came out ... I was under the impression that the "Cologne" was just the engine design. The Taimar (which I had) was an "Essex" V6, whilst the Tasmin was a "Cologne" V6.

The Capri 3.0 was an "Essex" V6, and the later 2.8 was a "Cologne" V6 ....

Correct me if I'm wrong !!

The Cologne engine was the 2.8 and later 2.9 V6. So called because it was built in cologne. The Essex V6 was actually designed to fit into the Transit van. It was based on the German V4 engine and built in er, Essex.

The Cologne reference in respect of the Capri was due to the location of the factory where the car was built. Nothing to do with the engine which, as stated previously, was actually an Essex V6 with fuel injection and overhead camshaft. Originally Weslake built an developed this engine as a 3.4 litre fuel injected engine. However Cosworth got involved and built a more successful motor which became known as the GAA.;)

Have vans ever been raced (apart from the Supervan, and that hasn't raced I don't think)??

I just saw a TVR Tasmin 280i convertible at Hallet Motor Racing circuit near Tulsa last week. It was parked at the Eurointernational US F3 team pits area. Very rare to see a TVR stateside, much less around Oklahoma.

Hmmmm... the TVR scene in America is actually quite healthy. I would think there are approximately 3-400 cars over there from Granturas to some of the newer models, with an increasing(ly) enthusiastic base.
I guess with such a large country, the cars are very thinly spread. There's a large meeting called "Out of the Woodwork" but I can't quite remember where it's held. I can find out.

Anyway, I think America's regulations on noise and emissions mean that it can be hard to get a TVR into the country. I've heard that there is some form of 'showcar' license or something, that allows you to bypass the regs but limits your mileage. Maybe you know more?

This is the TVR Car Club North America's website :

http://www.voicenet.com/~crc6/

although I'm probably not allowed to post that there, so just edit it out if I'm not.


Cheers.

Vans - There was a Morris Traveller in the CSCC Pre-57s a few years ago

Back in the late 70's I went to a few AMOC racedays at Brands Hatch where I saw a car racing known as the 'Ferrari Breadvan' - tricky to be exactly sure of the model but from memory it was a bit 250GTOish from the front with an extended cabin and upright backdoor , half glass .Surely the ultimate delivery van ? Lovely. Anyone else seen it ? or know anything about it subsequently ?

Ah, good call Slowcoach. Happy days indeed when the "Breadvan" used to take part in historic racing.

You were close when you said it was a bit GTO'ish. It's actually a 1961 Ferrari 250GT SWB, which started life with the standard SWB Berlinetta bodywork. In 1962, however, the body was removed and placed on another Ferrari chassis, and chassis #2819GT was clothed in the "Breadvan" bodywork as an exercise in aerodynamics. If I remember rightly, the theory being tested was that a large flat plane of roof, as in an estate car or panel van, was somehow good for cleaner airflow and less drag.

In "Breadvan" form, the car took part in the 1962 Le Mans, but failed to finish. It was seen racing in British "clubbies" until the early eighties.

Since 1991, it has, I believe, been in residence in New Orleans. Its last visit to these shores was for the 1997 Goodwood festival of speed.

One of my favourite cars for sure. I have a 1/43 model of it lurking in my "for construction" box, and it may just come out soon, if I can finally get the aerofoil section right on the Jody Scheckter Wolf that's been hassling me for the last week...

I've seen it race on many occaissions. It was actually built for (or maybe bought by?) an arab prince (I think). Don't recall it being a development car though.;)

Excellent TimD , you are motor racings equivalent of football's John Motson ! Good to know it's still in one piece , shame it's not racing , perhaps Nick Mason might one day buy it. When I used to watch it race it was normally beaten by the later more powerful cars - but it made a fantastic noise and always seemed to finish in the top 4 or 5 .

Hmmm.

Seems like my website host is taking advantage of my postings. Never mind Mallett RACING.co.uk coming to an ISP near you soon.;)

Pete
what?

Originally posted by SNH
Pete
what?

All the pics I've posted have changed to an advertisement.

do you want me to add a link into http://www.thegrid.co.uk to your site, (reciprocal of course)?

BTW : coming back to the original topic, there was a Cologne Capri at Combe and I took some piccies. Is there any way to tell an original from a replica?

Come to think of it, how do you tell a GT40 from a GTD40?

Originally posted by Graham


Come to think of it, how do you tell a GT40 from a GTD40?

Dunno;)

Peter, which place in Holland?

Originally posted by Michael M
Peter, which place in Holland?

Working in Zoetermeer. Living in Voorburg.;)

On Topic. The Cologne Capri seen at Combe was probably the Vince Woodman car. I think its owned by Tom Walkinshaw now but not sure. As I understand it there are only three or four left. .

Peter, sorry, that's too far away.

The Capri is the same one that is in Autosport this week.

Hi my name is Tina Ashcroft and Peter Ashcroft is my father. It's strange to see all the interest in the old Ford Motorsport/Boreham. My father and mother live in South Carolina now, he retired years ago. I remember all of the names from the RAC rallys and other drivers. I remember I had an awful crush on Jochen Mass??? Not sure how it is spelt, I was 12 at the time, too funny. We lived in Koln, Cologne for about 8 months back then , I seem to remeber my father muttering about head gaskets a lot.

This maybe mis-information from an aged and cloudy memory, so I appologise beforehand, but wasn't the name a reference to the base engine used?

The earlier Capris had the 3 litre 'Essex' V6 - built at Dagenham. The later Capris had the lighter 2.8 litre 'Cologne' V6.

Just realised this thread was from the year 2000. What a coincidence that Vince Woodman was entered at Combe 2 weeks ago in the very same cologne capri. I don't think he made it, but i may be wrong and perhaps i just missed him as i was preparing to race?

It may be old but it was a good read, especially the question what would one be worth 30,000GBP?:rofl: er, no, maybe just a little bit more.:D

Hmm,

I wonder if this thread wouldn't go well in Historics? About time we tried to trace the cars.

And welcome Tina. Get your father to help us out here.

For the record I know that Vince's car has recently been restored by Weslake Engineering and indeed they are now offering replacement parts. I think you can actually build an entire car again providing you can find a suitable shell.

I think you can actually build an entire car again providing you can find a suitable shell.
:whiteflag
: lol
:runaway:

Hello.
Have just come accross your forum and can advise that at Weslake we are now making the original V6 Capri works car engine parts again.. We hope over the coming months to reintroduce many of the old Weslake racing products.
We are pleased to help owners and builders with tec info where we can. Please feel free to contact us.

I was waiting for you to arrive. ;)

Vince Woodman gave his car a run at Mallory Park last weekend. It had a few teething troubles but it looks and sounds fantastic.

I am surprised that no one has dared to suggest that it is an old Ford running on Castrol R

Well they are historic vehicles but they don't run on Castrol R.

Smells like a conspiracy...

Or was that cooking bacon?

I have a few capris one of which is a 73 2600 built in cologne germany I am going to build it into a cologne capri touring car replica, does anyone know where I could find specs on one of these cars, thanks