Classic Cars UK Series 01 Episode 02: 60s Ford Consul Capris

The second episode of a new series of Classic Car shows in which owners, restorers and enthusiasts talk about their own classic cars. Classic Cars UK is a re-mastering of our 3D show Classic Cars 3D broadcast a few years ago. For inquiries, please check our website: spl-communications.co.uk and please subscribe to the channel to be the the first to know when new episodes are released!

[@julianp4787]

Quite simply the most awesome looking English Ford ever made ! And a true credit to these two gentlemen Thank you

[@selwynwilliams2783]

Father and son are the custodians of these stunning cars, hopefully to pass on to the next generation 👏👏

[@trevordeane3940]

Two absolutely fabulous classic cars.

[@vonryansexpress]

What a fabulous and enjoyable film - great father and son team who have not only preserved two beautiful classic cars for themselves, but for the rest of us too - well done gentlemen and thakyou. . . .

[@ianvicedomini2648]

Two stunning examples of classic ford.

[@branon6565]

As a born American-built FORD man, I've got to say these cars are gorgeous....the level of detail in the restorations is very high, and the cars are immaculate....well done, and kudos from San Jose, Calif :-)

[@radioguy1620]

Great Story, keepers of the flame !

[@MreViewer]

My neighbour had a Classic in the mid 60's, which was the 4 door version, happy memories of a load of us kids piling in it and being taken for rides down the country roads of Kent! Happy days

[@davidboult4143]

My dad had a brand new 1963 Classic with the 5 bearing crank, in maroon. I loved that car. When he changed it in 1967 for a new Ford Corsair, I was GUTTED!

[@Montlhery1962]

I was a Graduate apprentice at Ford in 1961 and with others were required to drive these cars in the Ford "Leave it About Campaign". On the day of the launch we had to collect a brand new Capri each and drive it and leave at key locations where as many people as possible could see it. Then we had to drive the car around towns and other urban areas to make sure as many people as possible saw it on launch day. I took mine to London Bridge station and stayed outside the station for as long as I could before being "moved on" by the police. However I came back later and was not moved again. I then drove the car around the West End and the City occasionally parking up.. As soon as I stopped there were dozens of interest pedestrians crowding around me. I belive the car was in fact the idea of Sir Patrick Hennessy the chairman of Ford UK at that time.

[@Wheel_Life]

Really interesting bit of historical insight there - thanks!

[@selwynwilliams2783]

What a great job 👏👍

[@stephenloxton43]

Brilliant stuff guys. Fabulous cars well done!

[@46danz]

Stunning beautiful cars.Great job.

[@selwynwilliams2783]

The Hooper , oh my god. Truly a thing of beauty, I’m in love ❤💕👏😍

[@Rayfaedundee]

Two absolutely beautiful cars. Fantastic restoration..

[@gojoe2833]

I never knew that these attractive 2 door hardtops existed! It is styled to look like a miniature 1960 Galaxie Starliner...

[@bren106]

I met Mr Beckett, with his Hooper today at Lymm Historic Transport Day. Thank you for the nice conversation. Seeing this car, a car I've loved since my schooldays, was the highlight of the day.

[@ryanhodges7101]

You have done a fantastic job on these cars. You do amazing work. Especially since you are doing all this in your own garage. When I first saw them I assumed they were restored at a professional shop. You should be very proud! I'm from the United States and have an old Ford myself. It is a 1966 Galaxie 500 with a 390. The Ford Consul Capri is my favorite English car. It really reminds me of the 1960 ford Starliner. You are truly blessed to have a hobby that you can enjoy with your dad. Take care, Ryan Hodges Knoxville, TN

[@daytriker]

The styling on these remind me of a miniature Chevy Impala from about 1961 I believe.

[@wizzard5442]

Probably closer to 60 Chev with toned-down horizontal fins.

[@howardsway782]

My father bought his first car in the early 70's, a maroon coloured Ford Consul, Classic, 1340cc I think. Lovely to drive and quite nippy. We did a lot of work on it, mainly engine, gearbox, propshaft etc. It was very overengineered in some respects i.e. cast iron components, disc brakes on the front, bolt on wings etc. when the Cortina had thin pressed steel parts that were cheaper to make and lighter. An achilles heal was the three bearing crankshaft, our Consul broke two, so we changed the engine to the Cortina 1500cc five bearing crankshaft engine, a big improvement. I always loved the look of this car, especially when my father converted it to a ragtop with bright red carpets and trim, it was a real headturner. I bought a Consul that had a steering column mounted gearshift that was novel but easy to use. Weren't the Capri /Consul the first British cars to have no radiator grille? I have never heard of the Hooper convertions, what a stunner, yours must now be worth a fortune. Thank you for sharing the cars with everyone, please do more detailes videos, there must be thousands of admirers.

[@cliveturner4980]

64 capri ice blue one of my first cars and still my favorite !!!!

[@EdVanMeyer]

One of my favourite cars a great design.

[@richardcreaser308]

John, with regards to the Hooper, I think the word you were looking for was 'custodian'. Fabulous workmanship Paul. Thanks for keeping cars of yesteryear on the road.

[@insertnamehere5146]

incredibly pretty cars. i used to see em abandoned in the late 70s but i couldn't believe they were Capri's and thought they were knock offs as they looked nothing like the 70s Capri

[@mattkaustickomments]

I’m an avid American car enthusiast and I’d never known about these cars- thx for posting! It’s cool how they are styled like baby Starliners!! Also, I have a similar ‘like son, like father” background. In my case, I got my dad into classic late 60’s Mercury Cougars!

[@leopoldonotarianni8663]

Definitely a similar styling cue to the 1961 Ford Starliner, I agree.

[@Demun1649]

@@leopoldonotarianni8663 Except the whole 'balance' of the British car was more restrained, more artistic, more subtle. Restrained, Artistic, Subtle, are not words to describe ANY American cars. Apart from, maybe, the Ford GT Mark IV racing car.

[@happychappers8311]

I'm from ulverston and remember seeing this car when i was a teenager, its still the only one i've ever seen in the flesh and i'm a ford man, however i also bought my first classic at 14 a 1977 Triumph spitfire USC196R loved that car.

[@kennedy20007]

Is nice to see Father and Son working together! What can I say about my own son “ he’s brilliant” 😢

[@andyholmes8350]

Really great restorations. My father had a consul classic from new, same colour maroon as the Hooper Capri in the film, he traded it in for a new cortina when they came out. I have photos of another maroon Hooper Capri taken at the Austin 7 rally at Woburn Green in 1981. Registration 302 EXX.

[@davidgray7075]

I worked in the Styling Department under Roy Brown. In the late 1950s work was still being carried out on the" Sun Bird" as it was known. I arranged for the heater bezel to be engraved by my father who was an heraldic hand engraver. This car was especially made for Charlot Ford who was at a finishing school in France some time around the early 1960s. Sir Patrick Hennesy was very taken by the car but the economics of substitution of models saw its demise.

[@jacklane6076]

I never managed to own a Consul Capri but did own two Consul Classic’s. My 1963 Ermine White Classic 116E 4 door was a beautiful looking car with its silver and blue two tone leather interior. And the 1961 1340cc Maroon 4 door Classic was also very attractive when highly polished, that had a vinyl interior. I always thought they were built to a much higher standard than the Cortina and the Anglia.

[@FrewstonBooks]

I remember, in 1962, on a continental touring holiday with my parents, when we were in the depths of rural France, seeing one of these in a French farmyard. On French plates of course, it was astonishing to see this Capri when everything else around consisted of Citroen 2CVs and Renault 4s.

[@ibrarsiddiqi8948]

FrewstonBooks

[@davys6450]

The

[@adamskinner5868]

What a nice story, father n son and the beautiful work they have done on the cars they love, just a really nice story. I spent many weekends in the garage with my dad but it wasn't always a great experience although I did learn stuff and got the confidence to try my hand at most things. The old man just had a short temper and an amazing ability to blame the nearest person at hand for anything that went wrong, whether he'd actually done it himself or not. He was my Dad though and nobody is perfect, certainly not me.

[@thesoultwins72]

Absolutely beautiful cars - Capris were always one of my favourite Fords. [I had a lovely 1959 MK11 Consul for many years]. My father was an avid 'Ford man' - he had a MK1 Consul, 105E Anglia, MK1 Cortina estate, MK1 Cortina 1500 'Super' and MK11 Capri. My brother and I always wanted him to buy a Consul Capri, and although he liked them, it wasn't really practical for our family. He went for the very newly released MK1 Cortina Estate instead - which got a lot of admiring looks as nobody else had one where we lived.

[@shanekennedy1480]

Absolutely stunning both those cars!!! 😍 The hooper capri is just the most beautiful car ever!!! 💖 Dad must be so proud of his talented son! Bless guys like them keeping works of art alive! 😎👌.... Makes you realise how junk modern cars are!.... toasters on wheels!

[@jimmycharlie7623]

I used to watch this car go by sitting in primary school and always said one day I'd have one. Never got round to it, bought a Hillman Minx 1963 model when I passed my test in 1973, my first car. Love old cars from the 60s

[@PaulMercer1962]

Great video. I had the pleasure of meeting John and Paul today at the Apedale show where they were displaying the GT.

[@crickcrot]

When I was fifteen I worked in Woolworths next door was Reynolds ford dealers they had the window covered with a sign says coming soon I waited for it and after about ten days the car was Revealed it was the ford classic then the Capri with twin headlights and I thought it was superb even though it wasn’t a great success.

[@paulallen8137]

My first ever car was a two door classic with column gear change, would love another

[@asa1973100]

Really enjoy watching this and that Hooper is magnificent

[@fletchermusician3365]

These Ford Consul Capri's are Just FAB.. and in Grate Condition. Also would like to mention, the sir name (Beckett) means a lot to me... A Lady called Dorris Beckett and Jack Beckett from Sale in Manchester played a big part of my up bringing... seeing your Sir name took me back to being driven around by Dorris in Her Austin Morris 1.3 GT at the time and Boy could She Rally IT! enjoyed your vid Guys.. Thumbs UP! :-)

[@nigelmattravers5913]

I had a Daytona yellow Capri when I was at university in 1972. I swapped the engine for a 1,500cc Mk 1 Cortina engine and a stick shift. The boot was great, I could carry two trunks home from university. One time I carried another Cortina engine in the boot back for another friend!

[@Kieran46100]

John, really a most beautiful car. I first saw a consul capri on a school outing to the ford factory in Cork IRL, I loved it and it haunted me ever since. I didn't know of the Cooper till i spoke to you at NEC a few years ago. You lucky Gentleman, congratulations.

[@williamwood1256]

I owned 500FWW from 1987 to 1989. Covered 9000 miles in it. Sold it to a guy from the lake district. Bought for £3360. Sold for £4000. As I was demonstrating everything works the l/h quarterlight mounting pin broke. The aftermarket trimrings were date stamped 1964. The overriders have been added after 1989. Interesting that the car was at a dealership for 16 years. May explain why Corrina GT badges had been put on front wings (now removed) I loved that car.

[@PeteCswampy]

Thanks for the upload, lovely cars, just been reminded I wanna buy one!

[@tombrehony6277]

My Dad had a saloon in the same colour as this maroon for 7 years column gear change 323 byh... Great work and a fantastic video...

[@Clarkecars]

Great story. I am a "yank" that has collected Hudsons, including a `54 convertible Super Wasp which is one of 19 built. Of late I have been buying older Jaguars.

[@radioguy1620]

Great story, well told

[@kiddlesk]

We restored a red one back in 1980 and only sold it in 1996 to fund a house move. Reg was 8938 KR and we modified the running gear to 1600GT automatic from a '69 Capri with telescopic dampers at the rear and servo. Wonderful car and won many prizes. Sold it for just £2000 with a shed full of spares. If only we had the space to have kept it.

[@nw8000]

Brilliant!

[@LordTwaddle]

I ADORE these cars, they're like a pint-sized 60' Chevrolet Impala and for that reason I would consider buying one if it wasn't for my MGB

[@edgarbeat275]

Gorgeous cars Lucky guys :) Never knew about a Hooper Consul. Beautiful :) I prefer the grill treatment on the Hooper never liked the stars. The tyres on the Hooper are such a nice finish. Seen similar cars (not like these) Lower spec with those white wall flaps.

[@macmac5338]

very nice job on your car .. its nice to see that people like you keep classic car going for every one to see .. for years to come ..

[@maryrafuse2297]

Speaking with my elder brother he remembers one of these in Antigonish, Nova Scotia Canada. This memory was from the 1960's and he feels it may have belonged to a professor teaching at St. Francis Xavier University. One might think the prof was from the UK. A unique and beautiful car. Well worth the many hours spent to restore them. Now how did he get it across the Atlantic ocean? Must have had contacts in the shipping business.

[@johnrideout7124]

I remember seeing what I think was a Mk2 Capri, with that ghastly pressing on the sides, having been removed and made flat by a clever body-worker, and thought it should have been built like that from the start.! Although they are still very expensively priced.!

[@kristinajendesen7111]

2nd favourite car. If I can't get a P.A. Cresta when I retire, I'd like to try and track down one of these.

[@robertoakley1766]

hi Kris I owned a 1960 pa and a1962 consul capri loved them then and still love them now, also had a 1970 capri gl unforgettable, you have great taste.

[@jennytalia226]

haha, me and you are in the same boat, cresta p.a. first, capri next !

[@steveb4012]

I had to PA's, but truly regret never owning a Capri. My Dad had a black Classic when I was a kid, I loved it but he wanted something more powerful and he sold it. Brilliant video.

[@jackthebassman1]

Still great looking cars

[@Theoobovril]

Delightful, what else can one say.

[@rodanderson1922]

I have seen a few of this model Capri here on New Zealand roads over the years, although, to my knowledge, none of them have been a Hooper? Interestingly, in another town close to the one I live resides a Consul 315 Two Door. Perhaps what is or was the Consul 315 here in New Zealand was the Classic in Britain, but, if my memory serves me correctly the aforementioned two door is the only one I can recall personally ever seeing. I have no idea how many were produced, or indeed how many remain, but I suspect not many? My Parents had a Mk 1 Cortina Estate when I was a child, but I have always thought the Consul 315 to be a much better looking car.

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

I remember seeing a couple of Capri's back in the day but there seemed to be quite a lot of 315's in 2 door, 4 door & wagons. We used to call them the smoko car for 1/4 past 3!

[@johncross8834]

Nice Man Nice Car

[@peterhutchinson9806]

🎉I've had a ford classic and a ford capri 1500cc GT in white with mettalic blue roof loved that caruntill a lorry hit me up the arse and wrote of but I've still got the centre console with the rev counter temp gauge and oil pressure gauge

[@yiabwstetienne7474]

A guy where I worked in 1977/1978 had a bright red Consul Capri. It was in fairly good condition and is the only one I have ever seen. It also had a distinctive registration plate, i think the first letter was T, but the last three or perhaps even four digits were 0000. A beautiful car. At the same time, An old guy a few doors from me owned an immaculate Consul Classic in maroon colour, again a beautiful car and not commonly seen. I do not recall the engine size but it was old D registration 1966, this is rather odd given the reported end of manufacture date, maybe it was a showroom backhanger or just reregistered for some reason.

[@chubbyroyston3880]

Its a shame the capri,s that came after didn't incorporate the opening rear window

[@adrinathegreat3095]

One of my neighbours had the gt version in a beautiful red colour for year's, that's going back about 5 years now and I've moved to another country, so no idea if it's still around. This was in cornwall uk

[@daijones101]

Those. are beautiful

[@paulcarter2907]

Booootiful

[@davidpeters6536]

FAB - look like something George Jetson would drive.

[@NZWolf]

There was a family in Brindley Street, Stourport -on- Severn that used to own a Capri Classic. It's been over 33 years since i last saw it. It might still be in his garage.

[@mattkaustickomments]

NZWolf2, that’s got to be the other father/son team these guys mentioned - that’s who they bought the car from!!

[@paulallen8137]

He,s probably still sat in it....

[@hugglescake]

The lines ape the full sized 1960 American Fords.

[@kennedysingh3916]

A number of them were sold in Jamaica too.

[@arthurwan1714]

Yes, I remember seeing them, back in the 60’s.

[@paulallen8137]

My first car was a two door classic, column change, looking for another now, be interested if you got one?

[@VinnyDaQ]

Question - were any Capris made with left-hand drive for export ?

[@FrewstonBooks]

See my comment above - in France, LHD and on French plates.

[@rappers5719]

I have always said, there is a market for old car designs with 20th centuary tech. Vitesse and others.

[@markallen6543]

My grand father owned one of these in 62 l have a picture of my self as a baby standing mext to it as a baby in Londons east end..

[@mariamanuelaalmeida1901]

Mcperson suspention.Nobody spoke about it !

[@MrBongoagogo]

The british version of a early 60s corvette stingray

[@EgoShredder]

I wonder if these ever featured in any films (movies)?

[@ragglepuss]

Telstar (2009) - Heinz drives one

[@TheFokker03]

wayne rooney in 20 years time!

[@adarshrajpootuv6368]

awesome make any new video on chevrolet , ford , toyota old cars

[@adarshrajpootuv6368]

#adarshrajputuv

[@selwynwilliams2783]

I want one 🙏🤞❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Steven_Rowe]

i. not into cars really, but it is nice to sed people restore things and to appreciate mechanical things. I can never understand why some people want to build old cars but with a engine such as a v8 in a morris minor hen proceed to thrash it to death. i suppose i believe in appreciating things well made. if Icould have one restored car it would me a morris minor I think

[@Palifiox]

Unfortunately, during the 1970s and 80's there was a Capri rotting away in a back yard along Lakes Creek Road in Rockhampton, Australia. I've seen perhaps three of them. 9:43 "So enough of the background story . Let's see the cars." But we mainly see two blokes in folding chairs going yak yak yak and repeating themselves and what they don't repeat, the presenter does. What about a voice over while we get a GOOD VIEW of the interiors that isn't underexposed?

[@kyleanuar9090]

Neighbour doing up his Capri but just died before completing.

[@djh1050]

Lovely looking car but the 1340cc engine was a disaster major crank problems with the 3 bearing hollow cast iron crank. The 1200cc engine for the first cortina wasn’t much better. It wasn’t till the 5 bearing 1500cc engine came out it solved some of fords engine problem. I remember the first V6s with the fibre camwheel a disaster for ford.

[@terrywelford3204]

Needed a couple of bags of cement in the boot to keep it on the road

[@adrinathegreat3095]

That was the later Ford capri

[@terrywelford3204]

@@adrinathegreat3095 No I am talking about the Consul Capri, I had one when I left the services

[@fruitychink]

@@terrywelford3204 Consul Classic was the same . My father had one ....a real head turner...... but needed two bags of tatties in the boot

[@ringvaldse]

The closest American equivalent of the time I can think of would be the 1961 to 1963 Thunderbird's.

[@radioguy1620]

or to me a 60 ford sunliner

[@mattkaustickomments]

radioguy1620, make that a Starliner!

[@wizzard5442]

61 Chev Impala

[@tbeau6663]

💜❤

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

How could anyone chose an odd duck Anglia over a Consul Capri ?

[@wata2171]

Cuto styling Car.

[@bigblockjalopy]

the nicest looking british car of all times. too bad it didn't came with a small V8.

[@xjet]

A beautiful car indeed... but I think the E-Type is just a little more beautiful -- even not considering the difference in performance.

[@bigblockjalopy]

another type of car, the E. i do not like sportscars and people who do usually do not like 50s detroit "jetson design". the consul capris are like small american cars of that time period and of course are not sports cars and were sold for a lot less than the E, hence the difference in performance. yet they were probably a lot more reliable than the E type. i guess you could V8 a consul still for less than the cost of an E type and give the E a run for its money.

[@AndrewGruffudd]

Who's the gecko?

[@elliotthurley2074]

Its great what these 2 guys have done but it was their life story, hardly anything technical about the cars, why was the GT different from a normal one, did the Hooper have GT running gear, was there an auto versiono is all the running gear same as MK1 Cortina, how do they actually drive. Too many of these shows in the UK are all about the people, some is nice but i want to watch them for the cars, the technical info, styling cues, a bit more of the TV advertising not quick flashes of a brochure. Sorry but to much talking and honestly a bit boring, Im interested in the cars not the life history of the people, the show kinda laboured and dragged on a bit. maybe some still photo's of the actual restorations may have help ????. Fantastic beautiful cars badly represented.

[@mikewa2]

This somehow came up in my suggested videos and reminded me that I actually owned one of these albeit for just a couple of weeks back in 1971. These are heavy cars and their performance is poor. I'm sure Ford cancelled this model because these were expensive to build and their profit on these was low. Ford Cortina was a better performance car, I had four cortinas! Capri was a very pretty car and always a rare car.

[@gerrydavey9112]

Great car, brilliant design, shame about the build quality.

[@martin1203]

I had a classic as my first car.It was in blue. Thing l remembered is l could polish that car and see my face in it when finished 1500 cc and run on the roughest of 2 star petrol at the time. I loved that car , the ride was wonderful. I knew nothing about cars as a teenager. But the lines were incredible it just flowed . Should ford produce a car like this again. The answer is yes. Gone are the days when you could tell what a make was by its shape. Now unless you see a badge and name you haven't a clue. There is an old saying. You have to go back to go forward. Ford could do this. Classic lines and upto date engine running gear. Plus safety of modern cars . Yes, Ford capri ,classic. Flowing lines with the modern engine etc. Could be a winner. Get away from the fag packet match box configuration of modern cars.

[@My_Op]

Horrid intro music. X(

[@ralphups7782]

the speedo's not working, is she counting miles though.? 6:19/30:00 👈😒👀👺👍

[@sewind6613]

1:00

[@nosnibor800]

Its because new cars are so awfully styled. So when you go back to an era when cars were styled beautifully, the comparison is immediate. I can think of many others eg the original VW sirocco. The latest one is so ugly. The Lancia beta coupe or spyder and Lancia Monte Carlo. The fiat X1/9. So many cars. I lived in the USA for a while and had a 1987 Potiac Firebird, again beautifully styled - and so cheap !!

[@dirkvandenberg2411]

Ikenmynzonenmakenautos

[@jeremyfine1464]

My mother had an A40 her best friend had a Renault Dauphin but a client of hers who definitely was in that 'country club' sect had a 2-tone blue and white Consul Capri. I loved being taken out in it. Back seat was fine for a 4/5 year old. What other cars had roll down rear side windows then. I know our A40 didn't. Capris are beautiful but the 4 door Classic is sooo Ugly.!

[@brucecarney4416]

too much talk and no meat (specs)