Members Casebook Tickford Capri Build No 23

I have owned my Tickford Capri for seven years and I am the fourth owner to date. For me it all started when I attended a capri show back in 1989 and saw one of these exotic cars in white. In fact that very first Tickford Capri that I saw is the actual car I now own which just goes to show how fate works. I was new to Capris back then and I was told by some friends that this was the ultimate dream car for enthusiasts and I think that most capri owners would still agree with that view. I personally feel that the Aston Martin name when linked to any car spells out prestige, which is why I still own my Tickford. Anyway going back to 1989 I owned a Ford Granada that was due for a change, and more than likely my new car would be another Ford. My brothers had always owned Capris and mostly the larger engined versions. One of them still owns an immaculate 2.8 injection while my other brother has moved on to a Mercedes 190 Cosworth. With their capri owning background they can really appreciate both the car and the effort I put in to pamper such a rare car.

Returning to the story, due to the family's interest and the sporty good looks of the car in 1988 I bought myself a Capri 2.8 injection rather than any other Ford at the time. During the next four years I spent so much money on it, that selling her became unthinkable, so on the whole my motto was to keep the car for good, or so I thought. In 1992, while full of pride in my car having just fitted a full leather interior from a Brooklands which looked like new, we went to a capri shown at Stanford Hall in the Midlands. While walking around admiring the cars I saw this very nice Tickford registration A508 RUD which was the same car I had seen a few years earlier. This time I couldn't just walk away, especially as it had a for sale sign in it. I kept admiring it from all angles and especially loved the unique interior, however the price of £10,000 was high at the time and I had to move away as my wife had started to moan. She seemed to think that after all the money I had spent on my 2.8 it was wrong for me to be looking at other cars with the intent to buy. Even so I could sense that this car was to be mine at some time in the near future even though I tried to convince myself it wasn't.

As luck would have it a few weeks later my club magazine arrived and this sexy looking car was advertised with a photo of it. This triggered havoc in my brain cells and I couldn't stop thinking about this car. So I thought what harm could be done by merely phoning to enquire, and that was sufficient to start the ball rolling for me to own it. The person was desperate to sell as he was buying a house and because of this reason he was interested in a part exchange with my Capri. After a few days on the phone negotiating we came to a compromise deal and I arranged to travel 250 miles to go and pick it up.

I would like to mention that at the time I bought my Tickford I knew nothing about these cars and was buying on impulse purely on the looks of the car. So as I was travelling down to view the car it gave me plenty of opportunity to worry if I had made the right decision to own such a complicated motor car. When we finally arrived and I saw parked in the driveway it made me feel that I had made the right decision. When the Tickford was started up the sound was completely different to my 2.8, with a smooth muted growl coming from the stainless steel exhausts. I was totally amazed after the test drive and we quickly completed the deal because I had to get back home. Driving the car away on my own was a feeling that won't erase from my memory, because I remember everybody was staring at it when we were in slow moving traffic on the motorway. When I did try the power out I was flabbergasted and even today the performance still puts a smile on your face. In the time I have owned her I have spent over £6,000 to get it into an even higher standard. I have had some really enjoyable moments with her, but saying that there has also been heartache when problems have crept up and locating parts has been a complete nightmare. Sometimes I have got so frustrated that I have turned to my wife and said that I have had enough and I'm going to sell it, trying to convince myself that an Escort Cosworth would be a healthier option as I am a worrier when I am unable to rectify a problem straight away. After saying all this when it is a nice day and I drive the Tickford out of the garage and park it in the driveway, I somehow seem to change my mind immediately as she seems to have a strange hold on me almost like a love-hate relationship. I don't know what the future holds, but I hope the Register keeps the enthusiasm going. I have acquired a lot of knowledge about Tickford's since I bought mine in 1992, and I do hope to keep it for many more years to come. I feel as if it is part of the family and simply couldn't bring myself to sell it.

Sometimes my wife feels as if I'm more interested in the Tickford than attending to her needs, and when we have an argument that she feels I'm winning she threatens to damage the car as she knows that will get me where it hurts. Anyway back to a serious note I hope that I am able to let other Tickford enthusiasts appreciate my car in the future. I would also like to thank all the people in the register who have helped me to obtain parts and resolve problems.

M.A. Shaikh