1987 Capri 280 Brooklands Project

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Discussion

Gallen

Original Poster:

2,162 posts

261 months

Tuesday 16th March 2010
quotequote all
Well it's now official...
For those who have read my <cut short> thread for my "1978 Rover SD1 2600 Project" ( http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...) the "new" Capri has now been delivered. That means that through no fault of her own "BLW" (my Rover SD1 planned project) must go frown

The Capri:

- E reg Capri 280 in Brooklands Green
- 2 Owners (Mother / Son)
- 62,000 miles from new

Over the years I have noticed that old car's are like buses - You spend ages looking for one, then two come up at the same time - or more often than not at the wrong time!. Ho hum. Luckily I was able to get the 280 without worrying about having to move the SD1 first! smile

Anyhow, here's a few pics of the Capri 280 "Brooklands" to wet your appetites!
It's covered in smeary dusty crud after so many years in storage!
...It's absolutely filthy (but lots of potential lurking under that dirty covering!!!).

First few pics "As found"...


Luckily the bumpers are bolt on!


Both sides straight as a ruler


...same here - see!


Chassis legs almost perfect (apart from this side which has a VERY minor bit just starting to show!). Soon to be made perfect again with new metal let-in!


Drivers seat needs some repairs but no probs... It can be done I'm sure!


...and then getting it on to the Lorry.
(Thanks to United Couriers, Colchester, Essex - tel 0800 074 0070) http://www.unitedcourier.co.uk/. These guys made a fantastic and most importantly a VERY careful job of collecting, recovery and delivery of the vehicle in only a few hours on short notice - I can highly recommend them:





The plan is to get the engine inspected before trying to turn it over (by hand).
I will remove the rocker covers and lube the cams from the top down then remove the plugs and add a little oil in the bores. I'll replace the plugs and leave this for a few nights. On the weekend I'll turn it over by hand - if all seems ok (and there's no reason it shouldn't - I'm just being hyper cautious) I'll see if she wants to play smile

Anyway enjoy the pics! cool
(- If anyone who knows someone who's looking for a genuine, restoreable Series 1 SD1 then pls let them know about mine.)

More updates on the Capri 280 to come! smile

All the best,

Gallen.

Edited by Gallen on Thursday 18th March 13:42

MajorGav

109 posts

176 months

Tuesday 16th March 2010
quotequote all
Keep the updates coming.

I sold mine a couple of years ago when I just didn't have the time to devote to her anymore. Great cars.

Good luck with the resto.

KierenGG

1,749 posts

180 months

Tuesday 16th March 2010
quotequote all
cloud9
Capri

Hooli

32,278 posts

206 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
cloud9 in Essex too, the perfect home for a hot capri!

RB26DETT

2,519 posts

181 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
cloud9

E31Shrew

5,935 posts

198 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
Had one new in 1987. E740RNY. I'm envious!

benny 61

467 posts

190 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
Great thread looking forward to more updates, love the brooklands although i never owned one i had just the normal 2.8i fond memeries

Gallen

Original Poster:

2,162 posts

261 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
E31Shrew said:
Had one new in 1987. E740RNY. I'm envious!
It doesn't look good for that one unfortunately:

DVLA Tax Enquiry said:
The enquiry is complete
The vehicle details for E740 RNY are:

Date of Liability 01 08 1996
Date of First Registration 05 11 1987
Year of Manufacture 1987
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2792CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour BLUE
...But maybe its sleeping somewhere like mine was bounce

52classic

2,629 posts

216 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
AIRC Eighties style would have been for Shew to doctor his plate with a continental 4... to read E7 HORNY


Sorry, I'll get my coat.

MX7

7,902 posts

180 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
I can't say that I see the attraction in restoring a SD1, but I definitely can see it in this. Good luck.

a8hex

5,830 posts

229 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
Each to their own, I'd rather an SD1 to a Capri, but if I was to have an SD1 it would have to be a V8 and probably a Vitesse.

M3John

5,974 posts

225 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
Now i do like that. Looking forward to reading your story on this one !

E31Shrew

5,935 posts

198 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
Gallen said:
E31Shrew said:
Had one new in 1987. E740RNY. I'm envious!
It doesn't look good for that one unfortunately:

DVLA Tax Enquiry said:
The enquiry is complete
The vehicle details for E740 RNY are:

Date of Liability 01 08 1996
Date of First Registration 05 11 1987
Year of Manufacture 1987
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2792CC
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type Petrol
Export Marker Not Applicable
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour BLUE
...But maybe its sleeping somewhere like mine was bounce
Does that actually mean it hasnt been scrapped?

FM

5,816 posts

226 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
Nice car..nice find...love the 280`s...all the best with the project.

bigdavy

1,085 posts

213 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
Great find, well done clap

Hope the recommisioning goes well, lots of updates please!

m60ddy

631 posts

218 months

Wednesday 17th March 2010
quotequote all
Got a 280 in the garage and is one of the origional turbo technics conversion from first registration. Love the car and will never sell. It is having a little bit of work this year after a tough winter in storage however a trip to the classic Le Mans in July is to be looked fortward to. Good luck with the restoration.

Edited by m60ddy on Wednesday 17th March 20:38

Loose_Cannon

1,593 posts

259 months

Thursday 18th March 2010
quotequote all
Great memories of my 3 capris, but wonder if I could get into the whole "rust prevention/repair" scene again. Fibreglass rules for me these days.

G-P

244 posts

185 months

Friday 19th March 2010
quotequote all
Very cool!

Gallen

Original Poster:

2,162 posts

261 months

Saturday 20th March 2010
quotequote all
She's now a runner smile

I replaced the battery, fluid checked everything (obviously everything will be changed anyway) and it started within 10 seconds. Sounds sweet enough to me!

- Clutch seems ok too but have only tested the biting point (it works).

I do know why there is a spare new radiator with it - when it got up to temperature it started squirting from the top left of the old rad as if it was taking a pee over the drive!!! On further inspection the rad has gone brittle and oxidised. I'll try and get that sorted today if I get a chance (I'm off to Spain for work until next Friday so won't be able to play frown ).

When it got up to temperature I noticed a little oil burning off the left exhaust headers - and can see a small leak on the left bank rocker cover gasket - probably where the gasket has gone dry. I'll get these changed as a precaution.

My freind who looks after all my cars looked over it and he gave it the thumbs up. Currently it looks like it will need minimal work to get it ready for an MOT before I can start looking further in to any cosmetic restoration.

Anyway - looks promising! thumbup

aeropilot

36,242 posts

233 months

Saturday 20th March 2010
quotequote all
Great....another one saved.

I've recently seen on a couple of occasions a really nice, mint 280 on my morning commute on the A40 near Uxbridge.