The 1973 Avon Tour of Great Britain; HRH Prince Michael of Kent; Nikki Lauda; Tom Walkinshaw; Barry Sheene
1973 Ford Capri 3.0 GXL Group 1 Competition Coupé

• Genuine Ford works car
• In-period competition history
• Known ownership history
• Stored for some 36 years
• Restored circa 2018
• Goodwood Members' participant in 2021


This Group 1 Capri was originally built by Ford to participate in the 1973 Avon Tour of Great Britain, the first running of this event, to be driven by HRH Prince Michael of Kent. The Tour of Britain was conceived to pit top names from the worlds of rallying and circuit racing, plus motoring journalists and show business celebrities, against one another on circuits, rally stages and thousands of road miles. Sensing that success in such an event would generate valuable publicity. the Ford Motor Company decided to enter three of the newly face-lifted 3.0-litre Capri GXLs. Ford's broad-based team consisted of rallying ace Roger Clark and his co-driver Tony Mason; Dave Matthews of Broadspeed touring cars; Nigel Clarkson of Aurora F1; Charles Reynolds (Ford's rallying guru); and HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

Ford's Borehamwood plant was too busy to cope with all the special preparation involved, and so the Capri engines were sent to independent specialists, 713's going to Neil Brown Engineering. As a production engine built to Group 1 specification, it could not be modified so was 'blueprinted', lightened and balanced, returning to Ford with 165bhp on tap, 37 horsepower more than the stock 3000GT.

The inaugural Tour of Britain started at Avon's factory in Melksham, Wiltshire on 6th July 1973 and finished three days later in Bath having taken in circuit races at Llandow, Oulton Park, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Snetterton (at night), as well as five rally special stages and 1,000 miles of public roads. Future Formula 1 World Champion James Hunt and Rob Fearnall driving a Chevrolet Camaro were the winners, while Prince Michael finished a respectable 16th.

A few weeks later, 'XWC 713L' was entered in the 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps for Nigel Clarkson and Jeremy Walton, running faultlessly (apart from tyre problems) throughout the 24 hours to finish a highly creditable 13th overall. At the season's end '713' took part in a one-of race at the Österreichring where it was driven by future Formula 1 World Champion Niki Lauda (see extract on file from Jon Saltinstal's biography, Niki Lauda.

In 1974, '713' was allocated to Tom Walkinshaw to contest the British Saloon Car Championship for Group 1 cars, now refinished in blue and white 'Shell Sport' livery and 175bhp available. Tom finished 4th overall and 1st in Class C with six wins and numerous podium places. That same year '713' was lent to Suzuki's star Grand Prix works rider, Barry Sheene, to contest a celebrity race at Brands Hatch.

At the beginning of 1975, the Capri was sold to Stuart Rolt, who campaigned it in that year's BSCC, completing a highly successful season with 34 points. The following year, '713' was raced at Silverstone and Thruxton in April; at Brands Hatch for the British Grand Prix support race in July; and finally in the RAC TT in September with Jody Carr. For that race, the rules permitted wider wheels and a deeper front spoiler; this was the last time Stuart Rolt raced the Capri, which was then sold privately.

The Capri's next owner consigned the car to garage storage where it would remain untouched for 36 years, eventually passing to the immediately preceding owner in 2014. Fortunately, the limited-slip differential, vented front discs, and drilled rear drums from its BSCC were still in place. Its new owner never planned to restore '713' but merely to undertake a mechanical rebuild to make the car usable once more. Accordingly, he had the engine rebuilt to factory specification, retaining the original cylinder block, while the braking system and fuel lines were overhauled.

Our vendor purchased '713' at a UK auction in 2018, and shortly thereafter commenced a full strip down of the car. The bodyshell was dipped and found to be the original one, and needed only minor repairs; hardly any rust was present. À full repaint costing over £10,000 was carried out to the highest standards in the original Ford works racing colours. Neil Brown Engineering had built the Capri's engine back in 1973 and they were entrusted with its overhaul, which was done to original specification at a cost of over £30,000. Hundreds of new parts were sourced and the car was completely rebuilt over a period of 18 months with no expense spared. In all, more than £100,000 was spent on the project excluding the car's purchase price.

When tested, the Caori proved competitive straight away and despite a lack of brakes finished well up the order at the 2021 Goodwood Members' Meeting with Steve Soper at the wheel, while at the 250km of Estoril in November 2021 the car finished 1st in class and was 2nd overall. Unfortunately, illness then intervened so the car has not been raced since then but has been kept in tiptop condition by the professional race team.

Eligible for Goodwood Members' and other prestigious events, 'XWC 713L' is an important part of Ford's motor racing history and one that has the unique distinction of being the only car ever to have been raced by a member of the Royal Family, Barry Sheene, Tom Walkinshaw and Niki Lauda.