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