Cast your mind back to the 1960s and ’70s and it’s easy to wonder why Ford didn’t follow Holden’s lead by putting a thumping V8 into something smaller like a Cortina or Capri. Someone else has clearly thought along the same lines, resulting in stuff like this; a 1971 Ford Capri Mk I restomod dubbed the ‘Cobra’.
Rolling out of Ford’s Homebush assembly plant in New South Wales originally as a humble 1600 Deluxe, this particular Capri has undergone a comprehensive 12-year transformation during its current 22-year ownership. The original four-cylinder engine has been discarded. In its place sits a built 351 Cleveland V8, pushing a verified 335kW of power on the dyno.
To handle the immense leap in mechanical output, the driveline has been radically reinforced. The Cleveland V8 is paired with a C9 automatic transmission featuring a 2450 high-stall converter and a modified valve body. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a custom nine-inch differential and tailshaft. Crucially, the platform benefits from a Castlemaine Rod Shop chassis strengthening kit and upgraded brakes, allowing it to be fully engineered and legally certified for road registration in Victoria.
Visually, the vehicle leans into its XC Falcon Cobra inspiration. The Capri is finished in white with the iconic twin blue racing stripes over the middle, further accented by Cobra-style badging, a bonnet scoop, and a rear spoiler. It rides on traditional Superlite alloy wheels.
Inside, the cabin has been retrofitted with a full GT-specification interior, retaining the original high-back bucket seats and woodgrain dashboard fascia while integrating an upgraded audio system.
The seller notes the vehicle is an older restoration that has been actively driven, resulting in a few minor cosmetic imperfections. These include a small paint blemish above the left rear wheel arch and an imperfectly fitting custom fibreglass bonnet – a replacement following a catch failure in 2018.
With the rebuilt Cleveland V8 engine logging just 3000km since completion, this engineered Ford Capri is currently open for bidding online. The final hammer price will be subject to a seven per cent buyer’s premium, attracting a minimum fee of $1650.
