I’ve had this for years now and I’ve kept moving it around with me in the vain hope that one day I’ll get round to properly working on it, but I’ve finally succumbed to the reality that it’s not going to happen, and I’ve bought a running, driving project instead.
Coupe body shell as per the Firenza, but it was sold with a 1159cc or 1256cc (I don’t know) and different trim etc.
This one however has been fitted with a 2l Pinto, Cortina box and Ford rear axle in the late nineties, along with a black vinyl roof and a coat of Ford Olympic Blue over the original gold.
Bad Points:
- Needs a full restoration. I would say the shell is solid, but there's fair bit of bodywork required. The worst being below the A-Pillars down to the sills (see photos) and all the nooks and crannies of the front panel, but there are plenty of smaller holes around.
- The engine hasn’t run for over 10 years and hasn’t had any coolant in it for most of those. It turns over by hand, but not very easily. Best assumed it needs replacing or a full rebuild (I believe the mount locations are shared with the Cosworth)
- No interior trim or seats
Good Points:
- It still looks damn cool, (I wish I could retire early and work on it, but alas…)
- A long way from being beyond help
- Comes with a lot of the parts needed, some of which have never been fitted
Other Points:
- Front suspension all original
- Mk5 Cortina Engine and Gearbox (stock)
- Custom propshaft (front Mk5 Cortina, rear Mk3 Capri)
- Rear axle redrilled Mk1 Capri or Mk2 Cortina (unfortunately it appears redrilled to 100mm not 4”)
- Rear shocks Mk2 Capri 3000 fitting
- Top rear radius arms Mk2 Escort
- Accelerator pedal Cortina / Capri
- Vauxhall fitment Slotmag wheels (front tyres don’t hold air for very long)
Parts / Spares not fitted to the car (see photos)
- NOS front panel
- Refurbished steering rack (never fitted) and brand-new track rod ends
- “New” custom copper brake hose kit (never fitted)
- “New” flex brake hoses (never fitted)
- “New” GRP front wings
- Windscreen x 2 (one has some weld spatter on the lower corners)
- Bullet wing mirrors
- Battery to suit the Pinto (a bit old now, but pretty much unused, from Halfords)
- Grill
- Front and rear bumpers
- Dashboard
- Heater panel
- Spare exhaust section
- Headlights
- Heater assembly
- Bonnet hinges
- Wiper mech assembly
- Rear lights (2 pairs, one pair has blue dots installed)
- Indicators (I do have orange lenses somewhere too, depending on if I can find them)
- Mountney steering wheel (at least the centre cap is, who can tell)
- Dashboard display x 2 (one is missing the speedo)
- Front brake callipers
- Brake servo
- Wiring loom
- Pedal assembly
- Some interior switches etc
- Radiator (though whether this is usable…?)
- Pinto cambelt cover
Anything else you’d want to see in that list, just ask, I might have forgotten something.
It rolls easily, but needs some front wheel jiggery pokery due to the lack of steering rack. Two people could certainly handle it.
Any questions, please fire away and I’ll do my best to answer them and if you want to come and take a look, get in touch.
Coupe body shell as per the Firenza, but it was sold with a 1159cc or 1256cc (I don’t know) and different trim etc.
This one however has been fitted with a 2l Pinto, Cortina box and Ford rear axle in the late nineties, along with a black vinyl roof and a coat of Ford Olympic Blue over the original gold.
Bad Points:
- Needs a full restoration. I would say the shell is solid, but there's fair bit of bodywork required. The worst being below the A-Pillars down to the sills (see photos) and all the nooks and crannies of the front panel, but there are plenty of smaller holes around.
- The engine hasn’t run for over 10 years and hasn’t had any coolant in it for most of those. It turns over by hand, but not very easily. Best assumed it needs replacing or a full rebuild (I believe the mount locations are shared with the Cosworth)
- No interior trim or seats
Good Points:
- It still looks damn cool, (I wish I could retire early and work on it, but alas…)
- A long way from being beyond help
- Comes with a lot of the parts needed, some of which have never been fitted
Other Points:
- Front suspension all original
- Mk5 Cortina Engine and Gearbox (stock)
- Custom propshaft (front Mk5 Cortina, rear Mk3 Capri)
- Rear axle redrilled Mk1 Capri or Mk2 Cortina (unfortunately it appears redrilled to 100mm not 4”)
- Rear shocks Mk2 Capri 3000 fitting
- Top rear radius arms Mk2 Escort
- Accelerator pedal Cortina / Capri
- Vauxhall fitment Slotmag wheels (front tyres don’t hold air for very long)
Parts / Spares not fitted to the car (see photos)
- NOS front panel
- Refurbished steering rack (never fitted) and brand-new track rod ends
- “New” custom copper brake hose kit (never fitted)
- “New” flex brake hoses (never fitted)
- “New” GRP front wings
- Windscreen x 2 (one has some weld spatter on the lower corners)
- Bullet wing mirrors
- Battery to suit the Pinto (a bit old now, but pretty much unused, from Halfords)
- Grill
- Front and rear bumpers
- Dashboard
- Heater panel
- Spare exhaust section
- Headlights
- Heater assembly
- Bonnet hinges
- Wiper mech assembly
- Rear lights (2 pairs, one pair has blue dots installed)
- Indicators (I do have orange lenses somewhere too, depending on if I can find them)
- Mountney steering wheel (at least the centre cap is, who can tell)
- Dashboard display x 2 (one is missing the speedo)
- Front brake callipers
- Brake servo
- Wiring loom
- Pedal assembly
- Some interior switches etc
- Radiator (though whether this is usable…?)
- Pinto cambelt cover
Anything else you’d want to see in that list, just ask, I might have forgotten something.
It rolls easily, but needs some front wheel jiggery pokery due to the lack of steering rack. Two people could certainly handle it.
Any questions, please fire away and I’ll do my best to answer them and if you want to come and take a look, get in touch.
?