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Curated Auction

1981 Ford Capri 2.0 Ghia

At a Glance

Solid and smartly presented | Several long-term owners | 12 Months MOT | Original sales invoice and booklets

  • Mileage~127,683
  • Transmission4-Speed Manual
  • Engine2.0-L
  • LocationSawbridgeworth

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

Curated Auction

We’ve visited this car, taken the images and written the description below - we’ve also verified the seller’s ID and actioned a HPi report - learn more

CURATED AUCTION

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CURRENT BID£1,000
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AUCTION LIVE

ENDS IN: 56 Days 12 Hr 51 Min 51 Sec

CURRENT BID

£1,000

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Video #2

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Photographer and Editor

One of the most distinctive Ford icons of the era, the Capri might still be the nation's favourite coupe.

The Ford Capri's legacy has been well documented over the years, and after its introduction in 1969, it quickly became one of Ford's most beloved models. Known for their clever marketing campaigns, Ford supported one of their most aspirational cars by ensuring the design was regularly refreshed and revamped over its 18-year lifespan. The Capri remained for sale on the British market, long after the model was discontinued in Europe.

Offered in a multitude of engine and trim options, by the time Ford unveiled the MK3 in early 1978, the Capri offered smoother aerodynamics, improved airflow and to many, the most appealing body style of the three generations. Sought after by aspirational reps, as well as the family man seeking a little more style, the Capri continued to maintain its presence as the best-selling Coupe in the UK and remained on sale right up to 1987.

The Ghia was part of the revamped MK3 models from the start of its introduction, it offered comprehensive equipment as standard and was distinguished by the fog lights incorporated into the rear cluster, headlamp washers, locking fuel cap, tinted glass and metallic paint.

Fitted with the executive pack (sliding roof with tilt device, radio/cassette player and electric aerial), this September 1981 2.0 Ghia is finished in Tibetan Gold with a Chocolate interior. It comes with its original owner's wallet, booklets and its original sales invoice, this smartly preserved example also comes with 12 Months MOT.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Danny the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Video #2

Meet the owner

People were swarming all around the car with smiles!

Danny recently took it to a local classic car show, and not surprisingly it attracted plenty of positive attention. It was also an opportunity to test its reliability, with positive results.

Recently obtained from its previous owner, Danny has an eye for well-looked-after classic cars and will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Danny
Vehicle Owner

Ask Questions

CONTACT OWNER
EXTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Exterior

A walk around the car suggests that this is a solid and smart-looking car that would benefit from some cosmetic improvements to make good.

Wheels and Tyres

The 13” Ghia alloys have mild signs of age but still display well and show no rim defects.

The Capri has three 10-year-old Yokohama tyres and shows even tread. The nearside rear tyre is a Uniroyal and shows sidewall ageing.

Bodywork

The engine bay is solid, and chassis rails, suspension mounts, floor pan and boot floor are also positive. We saw some deterioration in the corner of the nearside front wheel well where it meets the sill, but otherwise, the rest of the wheel wells are decent.

The front valance shows imperfections and evidence of past repairs. There are also minor corrosion spots on the top of this section, just below the grille. The body is generally smart with a few blemishes noted, including corrosion on both front wings and the bottom of the passenger door. The rest of the car has minor signs of age on some of the lower lips of the panels.

All doors open and close without problems and the panel fit is flush with good shut lines. There is a dent on the passenger door, the rest of the panels are free of damage.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The Tibetan Gold metallic finish is of a good standard, there are a few imperfections across the body, and a few minor flat spots and underpaint marks were noted on the offside front wing and roof. It has a presentable lustre with a few minor marks in places but is consistent in its coverage.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The windscreen has two minor chips low and away from the driver's eye-line. The windscreen rubber seal is good, with a small gap on the nearside top corner.

Both passenger door glass seals have minor cracks and the offside rear window trim show wear.

The grille has a small crack, the side trim is well-mounted and in good shape.

The lights and lenses are good, with a small fracture noted on the nearside rear lamp cluster. The bumpers show age-related wear and have perished rubber overriders but these are cosmetic issues and do not distract from its overall appearance.

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INTERIOR VIDEO
Video #2

Interior

Featuring a completely original interior, previous owners have shown great restraint in keeping it as it was in 1981 - down to the dealer-fit period radio cassette player.

Seats and Carpets

The chocolate-coloured fabric and vinyl seats are in good shape, with little wear or damage.

The carpets have also aged well, with the occasional fraying noted but it indicates careful ownership by all of its previous keepers. All were damp-free.

Dashboard

The dashboard presentation looks good, marred by a split on the top of the padding. The facia, dials and controls are above the expectations of a car of this age. All are said to work. The centre console cubby box has a damaged lid and a minor spilt on the boot trim panel.

The door cards are well mounted, with some damage on the driver armrest but overall all are in good condition. The headlining is decent.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel and gear lever are clean and free of significant marks.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO
Video #2

Mechanics

Powered by the dependable 2.0-litre Pinto engine, the car has a good history of maintenance.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine fired up without any problems, sounding refined and free of unwanted noises. Idling smoothly with no excessive exhaust fumes, there were no warning lights flagged on the dashboard.

The engine has been recently professionally dry-ice cleaned, which highlights the smart condition of the engine and allows us to check all of the ancillaries and hoses are in good shape. Some of the metal components have age-related wear but to no ill-effect on their running. The car was fitted with a new Weber carburettor and electric choke coil in 2015/2016.

The gearbox operates well, with no unpleasant clunks or vibrations. The clutch has a good biting point and is light and easy to operate.

Suspension and Brakes

The car tracks well, with no fight from the steering wheel. It absorbed the roads with no significant thuds or loud noises.

The car brakes effectively, with no judders or squeals.

The Drive

The Capri’s conventional mechanics with a wide selection of engines was considered one of its many strengths, from both a driving and maintenance point of view. The bigger engine models added a little more cred and the performance from the 2.0-litre Pinto engine offered enough thrills to test the chassis.

The engine runs smoothly, free of knocks or major rattles during the test drive. It pulls well, has plenty of urge when pressed, and cruises comfortably with no hesitancy. Its even handling and good steering feel were free of unwanted mechanical noises, operating on full lock with no issues and braking with no pulling at the wheel.

The cooling system has recently been checked to diagnose a problem with the engine temperature reading. The thermostat, coolant and sensor are all operational, so it may just be the actual gauge at fault - the engine showed no overheating when we left it running and remained leak-free. There are no reports of problems with the oil pressure.

Electrics and Other

The car has additional aftermarket Yale locks fitted on the doors and boot lid. It comes with two Yale keys and was tested to lock and unlock.

Danny will resolve the issue with the exhaust hanger before the car is sold.

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Video #2

History and Paperwork

Registered in September 1981, the car was sold by Fry’s of Lewisham and it retains its original invoice for that sale. The first owner appears to have kept the car until 1995 when it was passed over to a succession of owners, who appeared to have kept the car for quite lengthy intervals.

It retains its first three V5s which tracks the owners to the millennium. It was obtained by the last owner around 10 years ago. There is a folder full of invoices since the late 90s, mainly for maintenance, the most recent work has been for a new carburettor, suspension arms, brake work and service.

It comes with its original owner's pack, which includes handbooks and its original service booklet, with references to two service stamps and notes in reference to owner-maintenance up to 2015.

There are also 16 MOT certificates back-dated to 1987. Danny has added a new MOT, despite its exemption, for peace of mind where it has passed in late March 2025 with no advisories.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
28-03-2025 MOT 127,645
02-10-2020 MOT 127,277
30-03-2019 MOT 127,282
29-03-2018 MOT 126,850
22-03-2017 Oil and Filter Service
20-03-2017 MOT 126,349
08-04-2016 MOT 125,666
20-02-2015 MOT 123,934
05-06-2008 MOT 123,489
30-05-2007 MOT 118,594
01-06-2006 MOT 112,563
17-04-2002 MOT 112,250
04-04-2000 MOT 110,760
25-06-1999 Timing belt + Service 109.288
22-08-1998 MOT 105,510
20-08-1997 MOT 103,509
07-05-1996 MOT 88,892
11-04-1995 MOT 76,657
31-01-1994 MOT 76,034
15-12-1992 MOT 69,784
10-01-1992 MOT 60,680
09-01-1991 MOT 49,305
21-01-1990 MOT 38,143
06-08-1987 MOT 38,113
21-05-1982 Ford 6,000 mile Service 6,100
16-11-1981 Ford 1,500 mile Service
VIEW ALL
Key Details
  • Model Ford Capri 2.0 Ghia
  • Transmission 4-Speed Manual
  • Reg. Date 30-09-1981
  • CC 1993
  • Mileage ~127,683
  • History Since 1999
  • Colour Tibetan Gold
  • Interior Colour Chocolate Brown
  • Interior Trim Cloth/Vinyl
  • Chassis # WF0CXXGAECBA12384
  • Engine # BA12384
  • Last Service 22-03-2017
  • MOT 27-03-2026
  • MOT Exempt Yes
  • Road Tax Exempt Yes
  • HPi Clear Yes - all clear
  • Former Keepers 6
  • Tyre Brand Yokohama/Uniroyal
  • Tyre Age 2015/2000
  • # of Keys 1
  • LHD or RHD RHD
  • Visited Yes
  • Sale Type Trade
  • Key Feature Original sales invoice and MOTs since 1987
  • Vehicle Registration SGU 111X
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Body Type 3-door Coupe
  • Auction ID 2670
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Video #2

All Images

Exterior

Interior

Mechanics

History and Paperwork

All Videos



Vehicle Location

Sawbridgeworth

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    *Quote is based on a garaged vehicle in CV32 5QY (Leamington Spa), travelling 3,000 miles per year, 1 driver who is 45 years of age and is free on accidents and convictions – valid .

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    Vehicle Location

    Sawbridgeworth

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