Project · 1969 Mk1 Ford Capri 1700GT

Kate, 1969 Mk1 Ford Capri 1700GT

Kate was where Rusty Love started. A 1969 Mk1 Ford Capri 1700GT, found in a barn with a seized engine, rust right through and a rotten interior.

She was stripped to the shell, blasted, repaired and rebuilt, with a rebuilt 2.0 Pinto engine. Over 120 episodes later she was driving again, and out at the shows with people looking under her bonnet. She has since moved on.

Watch the build
Car1969 Mk1 Ford Capri 1700GT
FoundBarn find, engine seized
EngineRebuilt 2.0 Pinto
On camera128 episodes
StatusMoved on

The moments

August 2019, part 8. After 25 years sat, the original engine fires.

May 2021, part 90. The rebuilt 2.0 Pinto that went into Kate, first start on the workshop floor.

Where it started: West Bromwich

Kate the 1969 Capri in grey primer on the driveway in West Bromwich, bonnet up.
Early Kate, in West Bromwich.
Working under Kate the Capri bonnet at night by floodlight on the West Bromwich driveway.
Working on early Kate in West Brom, through the night.
Ian working on Kate the Capri wiring under the bonnet on a driveway.
Ian doing some AC/DC stuff (the wiring).

The bodywork

The bronze donor Capri Donna in the background of the workshop while parts are sorted on the bench.
In the background: ‘Donna’ (or ‘Donner’). Beyond saving, so she gave up her useful parts to help build one good Mk1 Capri: Kate.
Dent removal on Kate the Capri roof, with the rusty donor Capri Donna in the corner.
Rusty Donna in the left corner, while the dents come out of Kate’s roof.
Kate at her most vulnerable, front end cut away, on axle stands.
Kate at her most vulnerable.
A cardboard box overflowing with rusty panels cut out of Kate the Capri.
Kate’s rust filled a box.
Kate during the front end work.
Kate during the front end work.
Kate’s front end during repairs and alignment.
Kate’s front end during repairs and alignment.
Kate with her new twin headlights.
Kate with her new twin headlights.
Kate on the spit jig.
Kate on the spit jig.
Kate’s replacement roof, after spot welding.
Kate’s replacement roof, after spot welding.
Kate's new inner and outer A-post panels clamped and spot welded in.
Kate’s inner and outer A-post (the pillar in front of the door) being replaced.
Kate’s rear end, mid-repair.
Kate’s rear end, mid-repair.
Kate's replacement rear quarter panel being spot welded in.
Kate’s replacement rear quarters being spot welded in.
Kate's rear end nearly finished, on axle stands in the workshop.
Kate’s rear end, approaching the finishing line.
Kate in the workshop, back when we had room to swing a cat.
Kate in the workshop, back when we had room to swing a cat.
Emmanuel and Ray clamping a panel on Kate the Capri.
Me and Ray working on Kate.
Emmanuel in a welding mask welding Kate the Capri.
Me welding Kate.

The oily bits

Kate the Capri gearbox, rusty and caked in old grease, before restoration.
Kate’s gearbox before restoration.
Tony repairing Kate’s LSD (limited-slip differential).
Tony repairing Kate’s LSD (limited-slip differential).
Kate the Capri cylinder head on the bench with ports being reworked.
Kate’s cylinder head getting some work done.
A perspex plate and red fluid measuring the combustion chamber volume on Kate the Capri cylinder head.
Measuring the combustion chambers on Kate’s head, to work out the compression ratio.
Holding Kate the Capri lightened and balanced crankshaft outside the balancing firm.
Kate’s lightened and balanced crankshaft.
Kate the Capri crankshaft with lightweight flywheel attached, on the workshop bench.
The crank, with flywheel attached.
A pair of new Dellorto DHLA carburettors with chrome trumpets.
Kate’s carburettors, new and waiting to go on.
Kate the Capri engine parts laid out on a workbench: block, head, pistons, clutch and carburettors.
Kate’s engine laid out on the workbench, ready for assembly.
Kate the Capri engine block, freshly painted, on an engine stand with new pistons fitted.
Kate’s engine being rebuilt.
Fitting valve springs to Kate the Capri cylinder head on the bench.
Kate’s cylinder head getting assembled.
Kate the Capri engine on a stand with cambelt and timing wheel fitted.
Kate’s engine coming together.
Kate the Capri engine with the twin-carb inlet manifold and distributor fitted.
The manifold goes on.
Kate's rebuilt engine on a wheeled run stand on the workshop floor, twin Dellorto carburettors fitted.
The carbs go on: twin 45mm Dellorto DHLAs.
Kate’s engine. Throaty doesn’t cover it.
Kate’s engine. Throaty doesn’t cover it.
Kate’s first public event.
Kate’s first public event.
The whole build, in order

Kate on camera

Over 120 episodes across four and a half years, from barn find to back on the road. Pick a chapter, then an episode.

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