[Capri-Son]

This is my 280

I thought I’d post this project on here as it is quite different to the norm for a few reasons;

The car is already in exceptional condition, it has covered 13,000 miles from new, has had three previous owners with a fully traceable history and nothing to indicate that it needs any work.

Although I'm reasonably handy with the spanners (I used to race sports bikes nationally and built and maintained trophy winning bikes) I do not have the skills to get the perfect finish that I want for this car. I do not have the space, I certainly do not have the time or all of the equipment either. For these reasons 99% of the work will be completed by Stu at Restore A Ford.

This project is what you might call the cheque-book route. Though I must make clear, I am not minted, I am however very fussy and willing to kill myself working to own a perfect 280. I’ve made some serious sacrifices to be doing this and will continue to do so for quite some time...

Here’s a little of how all this came to be;

I had my first Capri aged 17 and was the most loved car I had had until buying this 280.

Some years ago I decided that if I ever changed my occupation so that I did not need to run new, decent cars, I’d sell up and buy a cheap run around as well as the best 280 I could find.

18 months ago I sold my car and sunk all of the proceeds plus a decent wedge into the car you see here. I already owned a crappy van that I used to keep and use for grubby tasks which has since taken up daily duties.

The thinking behind the 280 was simple, I wanted one as soon as I first saw one in 1986 aged 10 (my uncle had several new 2.8’s when I was very young – they made a big impression) and I wanted a decent example that I could keep and use forever. I specifically wanted a low mileage one for two reasons; less chance of it having been messed about with but more so that I could use it as much as I wanted and it would always remain a low mileage example.

This car is not and will not be a trailer queen, it will be used as much as possible but only for fun on dry days and maintained meticulously.

I was really lucky to get hold of this car and really only did because it was never advertised, I had to pay a £1000 finder’s fee which was uncomfortable but necessary...

I’m thrilled with the car, I really couldn’t be any more into it.

However, I have always suffered with car OCD – to say I’m fussy is an understatement, people who have bought cars off me leave very pleased...

I decided pretty quickly that I wanted the underside of the car made concours. My brother was a professional classic car restorer for over 15 years and although I do not have these skills, being around restoration for years does make it easy to spot who’s good and who’s not.

On that basis, I began talking with Stuart at Restore A Ford in Newhaven in Sept 2009 about doing the work to the underside of the 280.

We agreed a deal but my car OCD would not stop and to cut a long story short, even though my car is in excellent order I’m just not happy with the standard finish. Because of this I am having the whole car finished to a standard that was never available originally.

Broadly speaking, the following is being done;
Full repaint including the engine bay, engine repainted as well as all underside components including the gearbox, prop, diff, suspension. Remanufactured callipers with stainless pistons, new discs, drums, pads, wheel cylinders, shoes, full Superflex poly's, full stainless Janspeed with bespoke stainless down pipes, manifolds treated, stainless high tensile exhaust studs. All the wheels will be refurbed with new tyres (gutted really the original tyres have loads of tread but at 24 years old need to be changed) and stainless wheel badges. The underside of the car will be stone-chipped and painted Brooklands green.

This is a very simplistic list of what is being done – all will become apparent as the photo’s roll in.

Essentially, I am just trying to ensure that this car lives at least as long as I do but ages better.

I hope you enjoy the project.

The following 3 pictures were taken just before I drove it away from the previous owner in March 2009.







31/07/2009 Wedding day duties;



Stripping the interior prior to the trip to Newhaven;





Now the scary bit, 190 miles away from me and these are some of the pictures received;

[robns]

VERY NICE LOOKS MINT ALREADY!!!

[Capri-Son]

robns, on 28 July 2010 - 05:23 PM, said:

VERY NICE LOOKS MINT ALREADY!!!

Thankyou and I know, I just can't help it

[AndyB]

I'm not surprised you want it fettling - that's just awful




No, seriously, it looks wonderful already, I bet Stu is very happy to take this on as it needs no welding or other indepth work - but I'm sure he'll do it to you required standards after having seen the job he made of Cashy's car last year.

Please keep the pics coming, it's be wicked when it's done, and we love following this kinda work.

Great story by the way, it's good that you got the car you deserved, and it seems as though it'll be in very safe hands for a long time to come.

[Capri-Son]

Cheers Andy - much appreciated and don't worry, this is one Capri that will out live us all!

With regards to photo's, I spoke to Stuart today and gather I should have some further one's soon. Apparently it now has no engine and is on a roll over gig, don't think I want to see to be honest....

[aries9456]

Oh Wow - It's like new already .

What did it cost to buy ? Can you tell us?

Well i'm impressed already - look at the headlamp internal area - immaculate !

Best of luck - i'll be eager to see more piccy's .

When will you get the car back ?

[Capri-Son]

Thanks Aries,

I've seen that 280 prices create alot of opinion on here, none of which is usually positive. What I will say is that 280'S provide very poor value for money compared to a 2.8 Special. However, there are people such as myself that will pay a premium for a 280. Simply, I've always found that it is cheaper and ultimately more rewarding to buy what you want in the first place.

I'll happily tell you in person if I see you at a show next year, but in the interests of avoiding a debate which I have no interest in at all, I'll say on here is that it was well over £10k and below £15k including the finders fee. As you can imagine, the car will owe me a considerable amount of hard earned cash when I get it back but I cannot stress enough, I did not buy it as an investment. I just want a super mint 280 that'll look stunning for years to come.

Not sure when I'll get the car back - I suspect in the next couple of months. Though, to be fair, by that time the summer will be over so the longer it takes, the longer I have to do over-time.

New pics just in....

[Cashy]

Matt, I sense a rather interesting thread in the making

Your run down of your history explains brilliantly what and why your having the works done and to me is perfectly understandable.

By the way!.....Stuart is a sadist, he sends you the pics under the pretence that they are updates.....he's really wringing his hands together in delight and chuckles to himself after he's sent em y'know.

I see he's now in a bigger works unit (by the looks of it).

[hoarsi]

firstly compliments on an already stunning brookie,it looked mint prior to strip down!!,i can understand your thoughts on what your getting done,especially as it will be a long term keeper,and if it turns out anything like cashys your going to be well pleased im sure.

like others il be following this thread intently

[Capri-Son]

Cheers fella's - much appreciated.

I'll keep the pictures coming as I receive them, it's an odd mixture of sickness and excitement to see the car like this at the moment.

I'm more than confident that it is in the best place country and can't wait to see it finished - should be amazing. I followed Cashy's thread very closely and the results speak for themselves.

[chrisb280]

You sound more picky than me with motors!!!! Have a feeling this ones going to be something special.....keep the pics coming!!

[meeko]

I think I may of put you in touch with the ex owner, is that darrens car from hook that I put you in contact with thru DR B.
mike

[Capri-Son]

chrisb280, on 29 July 2010 - 09:06 PM, said:

You sound more picky than me with motors!!!! Have a feeling this ones going to be something special.....keep the pics coming!!

It's funny you should say that, seeing you sorting the undercrackers of yours is one of the things that started me off with the original plan.

I hope it will end up as something special though I'm sure there are some purists that are horrified. My view is that I am guaranteeing the future of the car by having it protected and finished to an exceptional standard before waiting for it to deteriorate.

I haven't mentioned yet but the only non standard spec will be the Janspeed and the Brooklands green underside. Well that is bar a few invisible things like black braided hoses, stainless caliper pistons (remanufactured in the corect colour and finish) and the poly bushes which are dark coloured being Superflex.

Cheers for your comments.

[Capri-Son]

meeko, on 29 July 2010 - 10:13 PM, said:

I think I may of put you in touch with the ex owner, is that darrens car from hook that I put you in contact with thru DR B.
mike

Hi Mike, yes it is.

I must admit I didn't expect to bump into you on here, I thought 300ZX'S were your thing now.

In any case, cheers for the intro, I was going 280 stir crazy trying to find what I wanted and I'm chuffed to bits with mine. For all Darren's eccentricities it was immediately obvious that he is a straight as they come and so was his car. So much so, I didn't have the heart to try and chip him and I couldn't get the money into his hands quick enough.

Thanks again.

[pez]

cant fault yer for your commitment mate im very picky with my own "two eight",im a sado who polishes my rocker covers,and spends ages making the mudflaps look really clean!

looking forward to seeing pics of the end result. its gunna be stunning!

[chrisb280]

Capri-Son, on 30 July 2010 - 08:20 AM, said:

It's funny you should say that, seeing you sorting the undercrackers of yours is one of the things that started me off with the original plan.

I hope it will end up as something special though I'm sure there are some purists that are horrified. My view is that I am guaranteeing the future of the car by having it protected and finished to an exceptional standard before waiting for it to deteriorate.

I haven't mentioned yet but the only non standard spec will be the Janspeed and the Brooklands green underside. Well that is bar a few invisible things like black braided hoses, stainless caliper pistons (remanufactured in the corect colour and finish) and the poly bushes which are dark coloured being Superflex.

Cheers for your comments.

Glad me & Cashy inspired you a bit into doing yours!! (he did pop over for a few cups of tea whilst i was grafting away!!!!! )

& there`s plenty of standard 280`s out there to keep the purists happy so make it your own mate.....sounds like its going to be around for a few years yet!!! Keep the updates coming.....

[Capri-Son]

Thanks for looking and for all the kind comments, I'll keep posting the updates as I receive them

[Pas]

Although you have a really mint example to start with, I think in the long run, your plans for your 280 are right!

It's interesting to see where Ford painted areas of their cars quite thinly - especially at the back of the wings (by the A- posts), so a thorough repaint will help make the car last much longer.

Looking forward to seeing the end result, best of luck with your restoration!

Pas.

[brookiwayne]

must say that is one nice 280. and by the looks of it it going to be an even nicer 280. all the best with the freshen up matey i am with the others make your own mark on it.i was going to do mine brooklands green on the under side but bottled out at the last hurdle. all the very best wayne

[Capri-Son]

Thanks for your thoughts, this project has grown by the minute, when I bought the car I never intended to go to this extent. Originally, I just wanted the underside made concours. What changed that was when I started stripping the bumpers, lights and interior I began to realise how poor/thin the finish was in places. This is how a full repaint was arrived at, I just hated the thought of having other paint done in a few years time.

Once this was decided, I changed from having the underside painted primer grey to body colour for two reasons; one is that all the underside components are to be refinished in standard colours but to an exceptinal finish and I wanted the quality of this to stand out nicely. I also wanted it to be obvous it has been done professionally and being done in Brooklands green I think it will be immediately obvious.

I have a mate who owns a garage and let's me use his ramps for free, so I should easily be able to keep the underside looking stunning. Sad I know but I don't care.

As mentioned previously, the only visible stray from standard will be the underside colour. I made my peace with this deviation as to anyone who knows what they're looking at it will immediatley tell that the whole car has been painted as the finish throughout will be that much better than standard.

I will keep posting images as I get them, plus, I have been told there will be a 4/5 page feature on it in Classic Ford when it is finished.