Up Front

Your projects: What do you do with a Mk2 Capri project that someone’s fitted an X-Pack and Mk3 front wings to? Turn it into a ’70s-style road racer, that’s what.

- Jamie Arkle

Let’s face it, old Fords really can get under your skin a real and tangible manner, and it isn’t exactly unknown for those of us with a passion for Blue Ovals to undertake more than one Ford project at the same time. The Capri seems to attract this kind of treatment more than most, and when it comes to fettled Capris there’s one name that stands out, Patrick Tompers. Patrick’s automotive efforts have graced these pages before of course, his V8-powered Mk1 going on to be selected as one of our cars of last year — no mean feat!

Patrick’s latest project is still a Capri, naturally, yet it’s also a Capri that’s about as far removed from his previous car as it’s possible to get. Based around a Mk2, Patrick’s latest project has seen him tackle a number of obstacles, namely the mish-mash of front panels that the previous owner opted to fit. Now on the way to being a running concern, we caught up with Patrick to find out more about the project and how its differs from his previous endeavours.

How you came to own the car? 

It’s actually a 1976 Mk2, though the previous owner had decided to fit Mk3 front wings and bonnet, along with half a Ford X-pack kit. The work was done fairly well, that much is clear to see, so I didn’t fancy ripping it all apart and fitting Mk2 parts. That would’ve been simply too easy, while also requiring me to chop up the front spoiler and custom side skirts on either side.

How do you plan on modifying the Mk3 wings?