| Buyers Guide - What to look out for |
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Like most Ford's, rust is the biggest enemy to Capri's. Inadequate rust protection doesn't help matters.
Cars which were Waxoiled or Zieberted from new tend to fair a lot better.
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 Bonnet Edge
The front edge will often go crusty due to stone chips.
Front Wings
These go in several places - the upper/rear corners of the wings as well as around the headlamps. Mud from the
wheels is thrown up. By the time rust is visable on the outside rust has well and truely taken hold. These
panels are welded onto the shell and replacement is a major undertaking. Check the panel gaps between the
bonnet if replacements have been fitted.
Rust around the headlights.
Sills
Give them a good prod to check they are solid.
They have a tendancy to go at the rear as well. You can see where in the picture, under the door and between the rear wing.
Doors
Examine the lower sections of the doors for rust - although by the time it shows up it's too late.
Due to the length and weight of the doors the hinges tend to drop with age making them hard to close.
If the doors have dropped there may be rust in the A posts - causing the hinges to weaken.
Rear Arches
Usual old Ford area, which is easily spotted from the outside or by running your hand behind the lip.
Chassis Rails
These are very important to the structure of the car, so make sure these are solid.
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Rear Spring Hangers
Pay particular attention to the rear spring hangers - dangerous and a common MOT failure.
Strut Tops
Like other Escorts the strut tops are a weak spot. Major rust here is an MOT fail as
well as being dangerours, as the front suspension could calapse. If this area has been
repaired make sure this has been carried out properly and not just plated over.
Sunroof
Once again this causes all sorts of problems! The roof is double skinned, so mosture gets
into the roof and rots it out from the inside. Obvious signs are scratches on the sunroof
from when it has been slid back.
Look out for holes appearing in the area behind the
sunroof. If the car has got rust here walk away!
The only way to fix this properly is drastic - remove the entire roof skin and replace with one from
another Capri - Perferably from a model without a sunroof!
Scuttle
Look closely at the screen pillars and the front scuttle infront of the windscreen. Rust
here is difficult to rectify neatly and the screen has to come out.
Footwells
Lift up the carpets and have look at the state of the floors. Rust here can be from a leaking screen rubber or rusty A-posts.
If these ares have been patched examine them carefully to make sure they have not just been plated over.
Rear lower quarter
Mud thrown up from the wheels collects here causing the sheet metal below the bumber to rot.
Not too bad, as access is good to weld in a new section.
Bodykits
Unfortunately many Capri's end up with all manner of dreadful body kits which suposedly 'improve' their appearance.
Spoilers are easy to remove, but major changes may be hard to reverse.
However a white X-pack'd Capri with the wide 4 spokes or a set of steel split rims is a different matter!
Part 2 - Interior >
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