Group 2 Ford Capri RS2600/3100 racing history and whereabouts (mega merge!)

[alfasud]

Isn't it the ones with the Westlake *heads* (not the entire engine?), that is to say an RS2600 car, that can be called a Cologne Capri... and the ones with the Essex based engine (with Cosworth heads) than aren't... or maybe if they were prepared in Cologne they can be called Cologne cars too????

Or maybe it's better to just abandon any attempt at deciding which is a "Cologne Capri" and which is not, and talk about Grp 2 "works" cars, and model numbers, e.g. RS2600 and RS3100.

My understanding is that the Paul Fahey Capri was an ex works RS2600 with the 12v engine. I think it was later upgraded to 24v Cosworth power.

The Mike John ex Alan Moffat car that you can read about from that geocities link posted above, was a genuine RS3100 works car.

We had this thread before, so rather than repeating....

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=43029

Now if you really want to dig up the details of the NZ racing Capri's, here's a possible source of info.... when I was a young lad, way back in the 1960's and 70's (yes, I'm a fossil!), my brother worked as a mechanic for the local Ford dealer. At that stage, the Ford motor company in New Zealand produced a monthly(?) paper called the "Ford Performance News" and I remember articles about the Paul Fahey Capri, and his earlier FVA Escort and 1970 Boss Mustang.... plus something on the locally built Don Halliday car.

Where to find these "Ford Performance News"... I've no idea, but you could ask Ford in NZ if they have anything in their archives, or you could try the NZ RS owners club.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally posted by alfasud
Isn't it the ones with the Westlake *heads* (not the entire engine?), that is to say an RS2600 car, that can be called a Cologne Capri... and the ones with the Essex based engine (with Cosworth heads) than aren't... or maybe if they were prepared in Cologne they can be called Cologne cars too????

Or maybe it's better to just abandon any attempt at deciding which is a "Cologne Capri" and which is not, and talk about Grp 2 "works" cars, and model numbers, e.g. RS2600 and RS3100.

I think that's right. They were all "Cologne" Capri's whilst the works ran them. They were always Group 2 Capri's no matter who ran them.

And yes Weslake only built the heads and manifolds for the 2300/2600 cars. Cosworth however built the entire engine for the 3100.

[Steve Holmes]

I wonder if it was an Australasian thing, calling them Cologne Capri's. During the 70's there were several V8 Capri's competing in Sports Sedan competition, the Cologne Capri certainly sounded like a more exotic name.

[Peter Mallett]

The V8 originated in South Africa where it was homologated for competition.

As stated above the "Works" entries were always known as "Koln Capri" and when they were sold they just became Group 2 Capri's.

[Steve Holmes]

Sorry, I didn't write that too clearly. Sports Sedan regs in NZ allowed any engine up to 6,000cc to be fitted to any body. During the late 70's, early 80's, most teams shoehorned Chevy V8's into Capri's, as they could get good reliable horsepower, with a light bodyshell. None were genuine Perannah's though.

[Frank de Jong]

... and about "4 Cologne Capri's" - there were probably less RS3100's and far more RS2600's than 4.

[Beejay17]

Originally posted by Steve Holmes
I wonder if it was an Australasian thing, calling them Cologne Capri's.

I was about to suggest the same thing! When Allan Moffat was about to aquire the ex-works car, it was big news in Australia. A proper highly modified touring car, sophisticated enough to take on Australia's highly modified F5000-engined monsters, for a short period.

It won for a short period before being overwhelmed by better Aussie specials. Then it was re-invigorated with fibreglass panels and sprint-spec Cosworths to help win the 1976 Australian Sports Sedan Championship. I was surprised to find out that Alan Jones won F5000 races with similar V6s in England.

[Bob Riebe]

If I remember correctlly, the Essex engine maxed out at 3.1 liters, which is why they switched to the German V-6 for the Cosworth cylinder heads.
Bob

[Peter Mallett]

It was the other way around. The 2600 went to 2900cc and to compete with the BMW's Ford went to Cosworth who took the Essex V6 and stroked it to 3400cc.

There is very little you can do with the heads to increase capacity. It has to be in the bore and stroke.

[Sarnie]

I have seen 3 of the works RS3100's as follows -

GAECPY19999 ex Alan Moffat car when it came to the UK, I took a pic (see below) of it at the Brooks auction IIRC it sold for £54k.

GAECPB19997 which came over from Germany last year for the Goodwood Festival, WOW what a sound !

GAECNA19997 which I saw at the TWR auction last year at Brands Hatch & went for £62k. The chassis # is what was printed in the catalogue, I did get a look under the bonnet but forgot to check it out. Managed to talk them into letting me sit in it although it must have been set up for Lauda still as it was a bit tight

[PaulSands]

Get this weeks Autosport and look at page 59

[Peter Mallett]

Oh great. Thanks Paul as you know Autosport does great business and is widely available in Turkey! (Not)

[zefarelly]

theres a bit about Cologne Capris in Classic Ford this month also . . .a few good pics too . . . .I want one !

[Peter Mallett]

Y'know. You can go off people.

[zefarelly]

theres no need to sulk

If you ask nicely I might scan it in and email it to you

[Peter Mallett]

S'ok. I'm not sulking.

[chunterer]

Peter, in response to your earlier question about Vince. The last time i spoke to him he did indeed still have the car and may well be seen soon in Classic Thunder if he can finish the rebuild off. Think he wanted to keep it low profile though.

Its supposed to be running with a 3.4 engine

[PaulSands]

Peter I'll save it for you

[Peter Mallett]

Paul. No need. A certain person has scanned it. The pic includes a Batmobile too.

Chunterer. The car is indeed a "Cologne" car with the Essex based Cosworth GAA. In fact these engines (if still available) are generally serviced by Swindon Engines.

[Peter Mallett]

BTW. Thanks for the offer matey.

[chunterer]

Swindon engines! Top firm that! You're quite warm as to the wherabouts of that Esso car by coincidence!!

Not sure who's doing Vince's engine, i guess we'll find out soon enough? wrooooom!!

sorry, can't wait to hear it in anger!!

[nalajay]

Ask Vince Woodman of Vince Woodman motors Britol he raced one and is now restoring it.

[Peter Mallett]

Welcome to our friendly forum Nalajay. Actually the car we are discussing above is Vince's.

[driftwood]

Re The Fahey Capri in NZ
i was there in 1990 i recall a wanted in in the local race comic seeking parts info for the car and the car is still not finished??
i happened to sit on the ANZ plane from LA to auckland next to a very nice lady living in west country UK
she was Faheys niece!
at the time i knew of the name Fahey it wasnt il i finished my tour of NZ that i knew more of paul fahey and his race exploits
he was auckland (mazda?) car dealer and did take his capri to singapore/ malayasia to race i believe he was sponsored by a major company possibly singapore airlines
im flicking thru 74 -76 AS mags and just seen a snippet on his race in the car
also there are aprox 4 replica cologne capri v6 GAA powered cars floating around as race cars or track day cars
im aware of who bought the TWR capri and im told he has another car
ther is a german racing 1 in the FIA Historic touring car events and another guy with a weslake powered car and he wants to fit GA to it
a portugeuse guy has a capri with GAA in it and uk guy has built a replica
what happened to the car that was around in 1990 in UK driven in some races but a track test was done in a classic car mag poss Classic & sports cars
i may have the mag somewhere
i have 2 names in my head i cant quite spit out who where the owner & driver of the car

[Camaroz]

I would like to track the history of the ex-works (Cologne) RS 2600 Capri that came to Australia for (the late) David McKay to contest the 'Dulux Rally' in 1973.

Apparently the car had a European racing history.

Sorry, no chassis plate, paperwork (yet)!

Cheers.