GRR

Video: Watch a 2600 LW show you what the Ford Capri used to be about

06th August 2024
Russell Campbell
Before the electric SUV came along, the name ''Capri'' sent a jolt through the nervous system of car lovers of a certain age. Back in the 1970s these hairy-chested medallion wearers bought a Capri because it was far cooler than the Cortina their straight-laced dads drove.

Yes, the Cortina was mechanically (very) similar to the Cortina, but who cared? It came in a sporty two-door body and was available with some pretty meaty engines. 

This brings us to this morning's elevenses brought to us from the cockpit of a ​​1974 Capri RS 2600 LW on France's Peter Auto Rally. 

Like the Porsche GT3 of the Ford Capri world, the 2600 LW (standing for Light Weight) was more powerful and lighter than the standard Capri. It featured a 2.6-litre V6 with mechanical fuel injection and a body composed of lots of fibreglass; this souped-up Capri produced around 200PS (147kW) but weighed no more than 900kg. 

The resulting performance is there for all to see as driver Olivier Pernaut dissects the French countryside swept up in the wave of the Capri's V6 bark. Admittedly, Pernaut doesn't have the pace of a WRC driver – easy to say when it's not your car (or neck) on the line – but that could be down to the roar of the engine drowning out his copilot pace notes. As one commentator says, "it sounds like they need to invest in an intercom system to preserve the co-driver's voice.”

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: On board flat-out Czech road racing attack

  • race

  • modern

  • video

  • elevenses

  • ford

  • capri

Explore the latest additions to our Revival collection

SHOP NOW
Watch a 2600 LW show you what the Ford Capri used to be about.jpg

Modern

Video: Watch a 2600 LW show you what the Ford Capri used to be about

06th August

dijon-prenois-ford-capri-rs3100-onboard-video-goodwood-02072021.jpg

Historic

Video: A masterclass in wet-weather qualifying

02nd July 2021

ford-capri-onboard-estoril-video-goodwood-19112020.jpg

Historic

Video: The Ford Capri has never sounded so angry

19th November 2020

john_simister_ford_capri_rs_1600_goodwood_08011805_list.jpg

John Simister

John Simister: A hankering for the coolest coupe of all

08th January 2018

DaniSordo_Hyundai_Ioniq5N_PikesPeak_07082024_list.jpg

Modern

Video: Dani Sordo vs Pikes Peak in the Ioniq 5N Time Attack

07th August

ford-puma-st-elevenses.jpg

Goodwood SpeedWeek

Video: A 360-degree hotlap of Goodwood

20th November 2020

ford-capri-henry-ford-main-goodwood-21042021.jpg

News

Henry Ford II’s custom Capri for sale

21st April 2021

ken-block-ford-peformance-farewell-elevenses-goodwood-2021.jpg

Modern

Video: Ford’s farewell to Ken Block

21st January 2021