This collection of three Ford Capri die-cast models celebrates the three incarnations of this iconic vehicle family held by the Ford Heritage Centre in Daventry. The three cars run the breadth of vehicle specification, including a rare 4x4 Capri MkI, a well-loved single-owner Capri Mk2, and the iconic Capri Mk3 280 Brooklands - the last Capri ever built. This stylish Ford Heritage Capri Collection makes a wonderful gift for Capri enthusiasts.

These die-cast models are a limited edition of 1,200.

Henry Ford II, the eldest grandson of the founder, became President of Ford Motor Company in 1945 and CEO two years later. He retired as Chairman in 1980 and passed away in 1987. Affectionately known throughout the Ford empire as HFII or Hank the Deuce, he is widely credited with reviving the company’s post war fortunes. Henry Ford II was born in 1917, the eldest son of Edsel Ford and Eleanor Clay Ford. 

The family business was very much a part of his childhood and as a young man he learned the practical side of automotive development and production. When the United States entered World War II, he resigned from the company to join the Naval Reserve. His father Edsel’s health was poor, however, and when he passed away in May 1943, aged just 49, Henry II returned to the company to aid the war effort as Ford’s factories were among the USA’s biggest producers of military vehicles. 

Under HFII’s watch, Ford Motor Company became the second largest producer of motor vehicles in the world, and in 1956 was transformed from a family business into a successful, publicly owned corporation. He presided over an era that was spectacularly successful for the company during which it produced many profitable products such as the F-Series pickup, Mustang and Cortina. 

The advertising campaign, Ford Total Performance, gave rise to the Cosworth DFV engine which dominated F1 in the same way that Escorts went on to rule rallying. After being rebuffed in his attempts to buy Ferrari, he initiated the GT40 programme which gave Ford four successive Le Mans victories from 1966 to 1969. HFII enjoyed visiting the UK and in 1978 Ford’s global PR chief and fellow board member, Walter Hayes, who was a close friend and confidant, made a promise to provide him with something special to drive while he was in Britain. 

This resulted in the RS2000 modelled here, the first of four cars built specially for the man whose name was above the door. Although he retained a flat in London’s Eaton Square, Belgravia, these cars were based at Turville Grange, his 18th century mansion in Berkshire. 

While in service, each car was fastidiously maintained by Ford’s renowned UK Press Garage in Brentford, Middlesex.

The Morris Minor was launched at the first post-war British Motor Show which was held at London’s Earl Court in October 1948. With various updates and a change of engine in 1952 it remained in production as a saloon until November 1970 and in Light Commercial Vehicle form until April 1971. The car modelled was built on August 25th, 1970, making it one of the last produced, and was despatched to Wadham Stringer Limited, Reigate, Surrey, a well-known Morris distributor. Current owner Sharon McCallum bought Molly, as the car has long been called, by accident in August in 2014 after going to view it in Hailsham for a friend who later changed their mind.

Devon-based Sharon is a life-long Minor enthusiast who’d wanted one since travelling in her Great Uncle Fred’s Almond Green example, which was the first car she travelled in as a child and was later purchased by her brother. Molly joined her Trafalgar Blue saloon, (Hamilton) and the Damask Red van (Harvey Major), she uses for her Trombone repair business. Sharon met husband Dennis Saupe while on a ‘Minors on Tour UK’ event in 2016 and a year later the couple embarked on a month long 3500-mile touring holiday from Land’s End to John O’Groats in Molly, which included many sightseeing diversions and a stop at Gretna Green to get married. Molly never missed a beat and is much loved as a result.

The Morris Minor was launched at the first post-war British Motor Show which was held at London’s Earl Court in October 1948. With various updates and a change of engine in 1952 it remained in production as a saloon until November 1970 and in Light Commercial Vehicle form until April 1971. The car modelled was built on August 25th, 1970, making it one of the last produced, and was despatched to Wadham Stringer Limited, Reigate, Surrey, a well-known Morris distributor. Current owner Sharon McCallum bought Molly, as the car has long been called, by accident in August in 2014 after going to view it in Hailsham for a friend who later changed their mind.

Devon-based Sharon is a life-long Minor enthusiast who’d wanted one since travelling in her Great Uncle Fred’s Almond Green example, which was the first car she travelled in as a child and was later purchased by her brother. Molly joined her Trafalgar Blue saloon, (Hamilton) and the Damask Red van (Harvey Major), she uses for her Trombone repair business. Sharon met husband Dennis Saupe while on a ‘Minors on Tour UK’ event in 2016 and a year later the couple embarked on a month long 3500-mile touring holiday from Land’s End to John O’Groats in Molly, which included many sightseeing diversions and a stop at Gretna Green to get married. Molly never missed a beat and is much loved as a result.

The P6 modelled left the production line at Solihull on 6th January 1977, making it one of the last 20 3500S’s built. It featured black leather upholstery, an expensive option at the time. 

It was despatched the following day to BL dealers Rossleigh Limited, Edinburgh, Scotland but was road registered by nearby BL dealers Appleyard’s on 24th March 1977; the gap of over two months perhaps suggests that the leather was fitted to use up some of the factory’s optional parts stock, rather than for a specific customer’s order. The first owners, Ben Line Steamers Ltd, purchased it two days after it was registered and covered 36,850 miles in 20 months.

K Dunn Quality Cars sold it on 9th November 1978 to Mr David Smith-Davidson and it was still in good condition when he advertised it for sale in July 1993, showing 72,000 miles. It was purchased by its current owner, West Lothian-based George Beattie, a Rover P6 Owners Club Regional Organiser who’d always wanted a 3500S. 

George has maintained the car well and, in 2012, fitted two new rear wings and one new front wing, then had the rust in all the door’s lower areas repaired before it was resprayed. George, a retired train driver, has helped out in Bob and Gill Baird’s model shop, Harburn Hobbies, Edinburgh, since 1975, so is looking forward to displaying the model of his car.

The majority of 4.2-litre Series 1 Jaguar XJ6s produced were fitted with an automatic gearbox, but the example modelled utilizes the rarer manual overdrive (MOD) gearbox and came off Jaguar's assembly line at Browns Lane, Coventry, on May 17th, 1972. The first listed owner was Jaguar's Personal Export Division. 

They registered the car in Coventry purely so it could be officially exported to the largest of the Canary Islands, Tenerife, where the British gentleman who had ordered it, Mr I. E. Lloyd, was then based. Mr Lloyd specified Sundym glass to make the car more comfortable in the warm climate and regularly drove it back to the UK for servicing. 

Mr Lloyd evidently enjoyed the car as he covered 50,000 miles in it and kept it until the late 1980s, by which time he'd moved to the Isle of Man. It was imported into the UK in 2016 and then purchased by well-known Jaguar collector, Mike Birtwistle, who was impressed by its rust-free condition and original red interior. 

Mike mechanically recommissioned it, had the sun-bleached paint resprayed and used it for several Jaguar Enthusiast Club events before selling it to a fellow JEC member, West Midlands-based motoring TV producer and journalist, John Lakey, in September 2017. John was delighted as he'd been looking for a 4.2-litre MOD Series 1 in these colours for years and regularly writes about the car in Classic Car Weekly.

The automatic Rover SD1 V8 modelled was completed at Rover's Cowley factory on July 14th, 1982, and despatched to BL dealers Caffyns, Brighton. It was then transferred to Henlys central London branch in Golders Green, who sold it to Hitachi Denshi (UK) Limited as a company car. Hitachi retained it for 4 years before it entered private hands. The current owner, Oxfordshire-based Gareth Hopkins, purchased it in March 1996 for £425 when it had already completed 142,000 miles. His father, a former RAF aircraft engineer known as 'Hoppy', had owned a straight-six 2300cc SD1 manual for many years and Gareth grew up travelling in it giving him a life-long affection for SD1s.

The car was in quite a poor state, but Gareth used it as his daily driver, christening it 'Bob', before fitting many new panels and having it resprayed in July 1998. In 2000, Norfolk-based Rover V8 specialists RPI converted it to LPG, halving the fuel costs and making Gareth's regular trips to Europe more affordable. He retired the car from daily duties in 2010 and, after finding a manual V8 SD1 from which he could get the parts in a local scrapyard, converted it to manual transmission at the same time as rebuilding the engine. In late 2012 it received a high-quality respray and now wears its 260,000 miles lightly. Gareth has been an SD1 Club committee member for over two decades.

When the development of project R40, as the Rover 75 was known internally, began in earnest at Longbridge, the mood was optimistic because, to joint-venture partner Honda’s surprise, BMW had purchased the company in February 1994. They injected the development cash the business had hitherto lacked. The resulting car was launched at the Birmingham Motor Show on October 20th, 1998 and was praised for its elegant exterior design by stylist Richard Woolley and very British interior ambience.

Production commenced at Cowley, Oxfordshire, but when BMW sold the company in May 2000 it was moved to Longbridge. The 75 remained in production until 2005 by which time 211,175 had been produced. The automatic 2.5-litre V6 Rover 75 modelled was sold new by MG-Rover dealers Vantage-Preston and was first registered in July 2005, just three months after the Longbridge-based company went into administration. 

It features the later-revised bumpers, grille and single-light facelifted nose treatment launched in 2004, which gave the 75 a more modern look, although it cleverly used the same lamp base units with a new single lens on top. Since November 2022, it has been owned by Greater Manchester-based Rover 75 enthusiast Tim Hubbard, who bought it because it showed a genuine 87,000 miles and was in very good overall condition. The 75 and its MG-badged ZT cousin have now acquired a strong following in the classic car world and values are increasing.

MG enthusiasts will adore this die-cast Monogram Caledonian version. A fantastic 1:43 replica of a much-loved car, this design is as unusual as the real thing, making it a wonderful piece for your collector's shelf.

This die-cast model is a limited edition of 900.

History

The manual MG ZT modelled came off the assembly line at Longbridge at 08.13 on January 6th, 2005, only three months before the historic car plant, which was originally the home of Austin, closed when MG Rover collapsed. Monogram was MG Rover’s personalisation programme, so few, if any, of the Monogram cars were identical. They went down a parallel production line and were hand-sprayed in the customer’s chosen colour, which partly explains why this Scottish heather-inspired hue added £1,000 to the car’s price.

Research carried out by enthusiasts has shown that only 16 Monogram Caledonian cars were made, and that this example is the second of only two ZT saloons. It was ordered by a dealer to be a showroom attraction and, as well as the + options pack, which included climate control, electric rear windows and a 6-CD multichanger, the dealer specified most of the extra available options to be fitted on the car including black leather seats, a sunroof and Harman Kardon audio equipment. 

The current owner, West Midlands-based ZT enthusiast Dan Hooper, is a founding member of the MG Rover Events group and has owned many MG Z cars. He purchased this example in November 2022, when it had covered 168,000 miles, and used it daily for almost two years, covering a further 16,000 miles. He then took it off the road to do the restoration work it is currently undergoing.

The TR7 modelled was built on February 13th, 1981, at Rover’s Solihull plant, the third factory in which the Harris Mann-designed wedge was manufactured. Earlier cars were first produced at Speke, near Liverpool, then at Triumph’s historic home in Canley, Coventry. 

It’s always been well looked after, and is a rare original survivor rather than a restored example, although a small amount of rust in the near-side door was dealt with in 2018. 

The car’s first owner purchased it directly from BL Cars at Longbridge and registered it on November 16th, 1981, nine months after it was produced. He kept it until early July 1984, by which time it had completed only 16,217 miles.

The second, third and fourth owners used it sparingly too. When it was photographed in a studio by well-known automotive photographer, Tom Wood, for a TR7 buyers guide in the May 2014 issue of Classic Cars Magazine, it had still only covered 64,000 miles. The current owner, Yorkshire-based Rover and Triumph enthusiast Guy Gilfillan, purchased it in May 2023 and is its fifth custodian. 

The previous owner, Herefordshire-based enthusiast Dick Tudhope, in his own words, ‘cosseted’ the car after being gifted it in 2010 by a good friend who had lost their storage facility. While in his care, it was exhibited on the TR Register’s stand at the 2018 NEC Classic Car Show and won numerous trophies at TR Register events.

The Capri modelled was initially purchased by West Midlands-based Henry Adams on 22nd March 1983, from Brooklyn Ford, Redditch, Worcestershire. He’d initially placed an order for a black Capri 2.8 Injection but returned to Brooklyns to discuss the cost and instead bought this unregistered car off the showroom floor from salesman David Stringer. 

It cost £6,000 and Henry had it transported to Protectol, Wolverhampton, to be rust-proofed. He was working at West Bromwich A.A. Vehicle Inspection Centre at the time, and they checked the cavities had been filled using an endoscope. This resulted in it being transported back to Protectol twice more for further treatment until he was certain the entire car was protected.

Henry kept it covered in a garage, checked the weather forecast to avoid using it when raining, and serviced it himself, changing the oil every 1000 miles. He sold it in April 1990 to his long-standing friend, enthusiast Barry Dunn, who used it sparingly. After Barry passed away, his sister Liz gave lifelong Capri enthusiast and Barry’s friend, West Midlands-based Daniel Ball, first refusal and he took ownership in September 2021.

He recommissioned it and won the Capri Club International’s (CCI) 2023 UK National Rally. Consequently, it was nominated for the prestigious Meguiar's Concours at the NEC Classic Car Show. Amazingly, Henry Adams spotted the Capri, which has still done less than 12,000 miles, at a CCI event and the pair have become friends.

The TR5 modelled was built on Thursday September 12th, 1968 (exactly a week before the last TR5 left the production line), and despatched to Lankesters Limited, Kingston-on-Thames on the 26th. It™s believed that the second owner, in around 1969, was a Guildford-based David Jacobs who may, or may not, have been the famous DJ and TV presenter¦  Ray Gill, of specialists TR Improvements™, sold it to Dorset-based TR enthusiast Tim Toogood in summer 1979. He used it for his honeymoon and wife Sam christened the car Waste Paper Basket™ because of its WPB number plate. The Toogoods sold it in late 1987 by which time it had covered over 80,000 miles and needed restoration.

In 1989 it was purchased by London-based Christopher Lillingston-Price who stripped and partially restored the car but was unable to finish it. In July 2011, Nottinghamshire-based enthusiast Conrad Hunt bought it and finished the restoration to a very high standard. It was returned to the road in 2014 and featured on the front cover of Practical Classics magazine in August 2017, where it starred in a feature celebrating the 50th anniversary of the TR5 which compared it with two period rivals, the MGC and Austin Healey 3000. Somerset-based enthusiast Huw Boyce purchased it in July 2018, achieving a lifetime™s ambition in the process as he™d wanted a TR5 since owning a Spitfire in his youth. He is an enthusiastic member of the TR Register.   

Engine capacity: 2498cc 6IL OHV

Power: 150bhp@5500rpm

Torque: 164lb.ft@3500rpm

The Golf modelled was ordered from VW main agents Jack Barclay European, York Road, Battersea, London, in the rare special-order colour of Inari Silver, and was first registered in June 1981. The current owner, Essex-based Gareth Allcock, received it as a 40th Birthday gift from his mother, Pat Allcock, in 2011. Gareth had always wanted a Mk1 Golf GTI but didn’t initially realise how rare Inari Silver is. 

He’d bought it from a private owner in Haverhill, knowing it was in a poor state, and immediately set about refurbishing it, carrying out numerous jobs but keeping it to factory specification. Unfortunately, four years later his circumstances changed, and he was forced to sell it. It was purchased by Wales-based Wayne Thomas who had the car modified by VW specialists, Crazy Quiff’s Mk1 Golf Parts Emporium, who are based in Oxfordshire. 

They kept the standard look but stripped and repainted the engine bay, carried out various body repairs and then fitted a 2-litre 16V engine from a Mk3 Golf GTI as well as larger brakes, coil-over suspension, polybushes and numerous other modifications to cope with the increase in power. In 2019 Wayne decided to sell the car and advertised it. 

Gareth spotted the advert, immediately recognised it as the car he’d regretted selling, and was pleased to be able to buy this very special car back, albeit for a larger sum of money than he’d sold it for!

The Fiesta was launched in mainland Europe in September 1976, shortly after Ford’s new purpose-built factory near Valencia, Spain, had started producing the company’s first front-wheel drive car. UK buyers had to wait until January 1977 before they could order it in right-hand drive, by which time production had commenced at Ford’s Dagenham plant in Essex. 

The Fiesta modelled was built at Dagenham in June 1977, after being ordered from Ford dealer Perrys, Finchley, and was registered in August. Ghias were often in metallic colours, but this customer specified a yellow exterior with a black interior and Ghia alloys and spotlights, both optional extras. He also had it Ziebart rust-protected.

The car was exported to Malta immediately, then returned and sold to a new owner by the same branch of Perrys in November 1979. He kept it until April 2023, covering just over 40,000 miles, but ceased to use the car just after it had been serviced in 2008. It was exhumed from its garage by a dealer in early April 2023 and shortly afterwards was bought by Dorset-based Ford collector and enthusiast Bruce Di Mario, who’d seen it advertised. 

Bruce was amazed by its originality and perfect interior; it even still featured its original lockable under-luggage compartment storage. He had fitted a new front wing to repair its only corrosion and had it resprayed so the exterior was as good as the interior.

Another iconic Ford Escort for your Vanguards collection, but this Mk2 1300 Sport model is in a stunning shade of Jupiter Red. Based on a car that is currently undergoing restoration, our die-cast model shows how it will look when complete. If your collection is missing this type of car, you need to add this 1:43 scale version now.

This die-cast model is a limited edition of 1,200.

History

The 1300 Sport modelled here was built at Ford’s plant at Halewood, Merseyside, before being registered on 12th October 1977 by Skelly Ford, Liverpool. They used it as a demonstration car, as it was finished in the attractive but unusual colour combination of Jupiter Red with silver 1300 Sport graphics over black and grey Cadiz fabric interior trim. 

It was purchased shortly after by local man Keith Echlin for his wife Mary, who called it ‘Betsy’ and enjoyed driving it. When she offered it for sale in a local newspaper in June 1989, it was still in good condition, having covered only 42,000 miles, and was purchased by local 18-year-old Ford enthusiast Charlie Powell. 

Charlie used the car for almost a year before his Mum damaged the front wing slightly in a supermarket car park, and it ended up in his parents’ garage awaiting work for a new MOT. That never quite happened, however, as other Ford projects and general life took over. 

On 8th September 2022, Charlie and his son Joe, who was then 15 and has inherited his dad’s passion for Fords, exhumed it to assess its condition. The pair then displayed it, unrestored, in the Barn Finds exhibition at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show at the Birmingham NEC in March 2024. 

The father and son team have now started restoring this rare survivor to its original condition and specification.

It's been some time since we last treated you to a BMW E30 die-cast model, so this replica is long overdue. This bold Brilliant Red 1:43 scale design will make quite an impact on your collector's shelf, with its impeccable detail - check out those wheels!

This die-cast model is a limited edition of 900.

History

The manual E30 modelled was supplied by Williams BMW, Manchester, on the 17th April 1991 with an Anthracite fabric interior plus an optional electric sliding sunroof. It was meticulously maintained by its first three owners and retains its original handbook pack, instruction manuals and radio guide. 

The fourth owner, London-based Philip James, purchased it from Altwood BMW, Maidenhead in May 1997, when it had covered 38,600 miles, and kept it for 27 years. He loved the styling and driving experience but reluctantly parted with it after the ULEZ regulations made regular use impractical. He thus offered it for sale via Cheshire-based classic car specialists Manor Park Classics in April 2024. 

It was purchased by the current owner, Northern Ireland-based Stephen Devine, a well-known BMW collector and enthusiast who was impressed by its extensive history file showing 32 service and seven brake fluid stamps. At this point, it had covered 210,000 miles but still presented and drove very well because of the care and attention lavished on it by long-term owner Philip James. 

Soon after buying the car, Stephen decided its condition and rarity justified a meticulous restoration back to showroom condition, which he has now commenced. The E30’s sonorous straight-six engine, involving handling and exquisite understated style, makes it popular with enthusiasts, and a well-restored example in this striking factory colour combination is bound to wow the crowds at classic car shows.

The XJ6 modelled was ordered on April 24th, 1976, from Jaguar distributor Richard A. Bellamy Ltd, The Jaguar Centre, Grimsby. The Bellamy family’s professional relationship with William Lyons’ S.S. company, which later became Jaguar, stretched back to the 1920s when S.S. was still based in Blackpool. The customer was lifelong Jaguar enthusiast David Fearnley, the Managing Director of Walter Walker & Sons Ltd, Highfield Mills, Ossett, Yorkshire, a textile firm involved in yarn spinning and twisting. 

He ordered several unusual extras, including a black vinyl roof, an electric sliding steel sunshine roof, cruise control, a ‘Biscuit’ leather interior and chrome swage lines along the length of the body with a thin gold pinstripe below. The car cost £6332.73, of which £479.70 was attributed to the extras, and it was delivered on July 12th, 1976. In 1982/83, David Fearnley served as the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire and thereafter he was a Deputy Lieutenant before becoming Vice Lord-Lieutenant in 1992. 

The office of High Sheriff was developed during the Anglo-Saxon period and is the oldest crown appointment in England. There are currently 55 High Sheriffs in England and Wales, each serving only a one-year term. He used the car in his official capacities to convey visiting members of the Royal family, including Prince Charles, Princess Anne and the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as other VIPs. During these events, the car was sometimes driven by a trained police driver.

The XR3i modelled was ordered from Ford Main Dealer Perrys, High Road, Harrow Weald, Middlesex, on 24th April 1986 by the first owner, Malcolm Powell. He purchased it as a company car and was thus able to request nearly every option available. 

These included an ECU2 Radio Cassette which cost £118.72, a Tilt/Sliding Sunroof at £261.65, alloy wheels at £178.87, a Fuel Computer at £90.71 and electric front windows, which were a bargain at £163.05. The total cost, including a discount of £709.88, was £7692.65. Mr Powell had it serviced meticulously and took personal ownership a year later. He retained it until January 2013, by which time it had covered 28,561 miles.

He advertised it for sale on the XR Owners Club Forum, and it was purchased by Greater Manchester-based member Dave McKee, who researched its history and discovered it was the oldest surviving Halewood-built Mk4 XR3i. Dave improved the car, cleaning up the underside and fixing an oil leak before selling it to a Coventry-based collector in 2016. 

He got the opportunity to buy it back in late 2020 and couldn’t resist doing so, but the current owner, Cambridgeshire-based fast Ford collector and enthusiast Mike Pollard then persuaded Dave to sell it to him in November 2021. It’s still only covered 32,134 miles and has never been painted, so Mike keeps this rare and extremely original survivor in a heated garage to preserve its condition.

The XR3i modelled was supplied by Evans Halshaw, Chester, Cheshire in May 1986 and spent its early life in that area. By 2004 it was sitting, unused, on a driveway in Chester, because the owner had passed away. Enthusiast Derrick Oare worked in a building adjacent to where it was parked and approached the owner’s widow to buy it as his son, David, was then restoring an RS1600i. 

When, almost two years later, she was ready to part with the car, she offered it to David for free as long as he restored it. David then started the restoration process on the drive and was amazed that it jump-started easily on six-year-old petrol.

Although covered in moss, and damp inside, David realised it was fundamentally sound and he returned it to the road after carrying out some welding, paintwork and other recommissioning work. He kept it for three years but, by 2022, it was with a new owner who spent £5,000 on further restoration work. 

The current and ninth owner, South Gloucestershire-based XR Owners Club member Andre Britton, had initially looked for a red example like the one he’d enjoyed as a company car in 1989. The excellent overall condition of this black 67,000-mile example impressed him, however, and he purchased it from classic car auctioneers Manor Park, Cheshire, in September 2023. He drove it home without any problems and continues to enjoy driving it.

The highly requested Ford Fiesta Mk2 is back, in the popular shade of Rosso Red. This 1:43 scale model is a replica of a top-spec vehicle, newly tooled to shine on your collectors' shelf.

This die-cast model is a limited edition of 2,016.

History

The Ford Fiesta Mk2 was the second generation of the Ford Fiesta supermini built by Ford Europe. Originally introduced in 1983, it offered a mild facelift of the original car, with some re-engineering to accept an expanded range of engines. The XR2 was the top-spec version of the vehicle, with this particular model representing an example held in the Ford Heritage Centre collection.

Was your first car a Ford Fiesta Mk2? If so, this Maritime Blue die-cast version is sure to bring back some happy memories. This 1:43 replica model car is a must-have for Ford fans.

This die-cast model is a limited edition of 2,016.

History

The Ford Fiesta Mk2 was the second generation of the Ford Fiesta supermini built by Ford Europe. Originally introduced in 1983, it offered a mild facelift of the original car, with some re-engineering to accept an expanded range of engines. The 1.1 Poplar Plus was one of the base-spec versions of the car available, with this particular model representing an example held in the Ford Heritage Centre collection.

Corgi presents Vanguards, a series of die-cast 1:43 scale model automobiles spanning half a century of motoring in Britain. Each model carries a detailed, authentic livery and comes complete with a miniature history of the vehicle and its engine performance

The story of the Volkswagen Type 2 starts with Dutch car dealer Ben Pons, the first agent outside Germany to sell VWs who, in 1947, drew a sketch of a forward-control Leifenwagen (light delivery van) that he saw a market for. Volkswagen's engineers worked on the concept and production commenced in February 1950. A pick-up body was made available in 1952 and by 1954 around eighty examples a day were being produced, partly because the range had grown to include thirty different versions. The Type 2 was gradually refined over an 18-year production life during which over 1.8 million examples were produced.  

The 1957 Type 2 modelled was imported from a dry climate in the US in 2010 and, because of this, was virtually rust free making it a fantastic prospect for the high-standard UK restoration it received. It was later upgraded by Type 2 Detectives who fitted a rebuilt 1600 Twin Port engine, running on twin Weber carburettors, a dual circuit braking system utilizing front discs, a Gene Berg quick shifter and Fuchs alloy wheels. A bespoke new interior was then built by well-known Kent-based VW Type 2 specialist UK Sports Cars, who sold the vehicle to the current owner. He is a lifelong VW enthusiast who achieved a life’s ambition by buying it and maintains it himself. He uses it regularly for touring and attending model flying events in both the UK and Europe.

Statistics:

Engine: 1192cc 4-HO OHV

0-50mph: 31 seconds

Maximum speed: 60mph

Unladen weight: 2,447lbs

Length: 4267mm

Wheelbase: 2400mm

The Escort Cosworth Mk1 ‘large turbo’ example modelled was ordered new from Wylie's Ford of 370 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, and first registered on May 11th, 1994, on a private number plate. It has worn private number plates ever since. The second owner, who was based in Gretna Green, acquired it in November 1996, and records show that when he had it serviced on May 21st, 1997, it had still only covered 12,448 miles. 

The current owner, Staffordshire-based BT electronics engineer Darren Frederick Parker, a long-standing fast Ford enthusiast, acquired the car in March 1998 after a thorough search for his dream car and immediately added the numberplate it still wears: DFP 454.

Darren was able to purchase the car because his mother, Lillian Parker, had a small lottery win in November 1997 and divided some of her windfall between her four children. Sadly, she passed away in 2001, making the car even more special. Darren had it resprayed after buying it and commissioned Castle Performance Engineering to remap it to 340bhp in February 1999. 

He’s looked after it fastidiously as its numerous concours trophies, including the RS Ford category winner’s trophy from the 2011 European Ford event in Holland, prove. He also loves driving it, however, and it has now covered 109,000 miles, attending events in Europe and the UK, many of which are organised by the RS Owners Club of which Darren is an enthusiastic member.

The Mk2 Escort RS2000 built on the success of the Mk1 and followed the same basic recipe, a powerful 2-litre OHC engine in the small lightweight Escort body with RS suspension. The unique nose cone differentiated it visually from all other Escorts and reduced its drag factor from 0.444 to 0.386, while design details, such as the standard Scheel ‘roll-top’ seats and four-spoke RS alloy wheels, helped to make it the most desirable sports saloon of its era. 

The example modelled was initially purchased from H & J Quicks Ltd, Old Trafford, Manchester by local man Lawrence Ewbank on January 17th, 1978. It cost £3,791.89, including VAT, plus £28.10 for a radio. Mr Ewbank was obviously fond of the car because, in 1991, he spent over £10,000 having it extensively restored by RS Autos, Stockport, and kept it until 2002, by which time it had covered 72,683 miles. The third owner asked D&D Autos, Egham, Surrey, to do some work on the car and this culminated in D&D advertising it for sale in autumn 2014. 

It was purchased by the fourth and current owner, Nottinghamshire-based fast-Ford enthusiast Mohammad Butt, who was impressed by the basic soundness of the car despite its lack of service records. Two years later, after doing some painstaking research, he was delighted to obtain the car’s detailed service history folder from the third owner’s family and has now commenced the car’s restoration.

The RS2000 modelled was first registered on May 10th, 1979, in Leicestershire. It was exported to the Isle of Man on April 16th, 1981, and spent 33 years there, although for some of that period it had a hard life as it was modified for road rallying. In November 2014 it was sold to an enthusiast in Ireland who had a collection of fast Fords. He placed it in a classic car auction in Herefordshire in May 2021, and the current owner, Herefordshire-based TV presenter Richard Hammond, won the bidding. 

Richard’s intention was that it would become a show car for his then fledgeling classic car restoration business, The Smallest Cog. Unsurprisingly given its years as a rally car, Neil Greenhouse and the ‘Cog’ team found it to be in much worse shape than anticipated, especially at the front end, which required a huge amount of Neil’s famously excellent fabrication work. During this process Richard made the curious decision to fit a new tan interior instead of the black the build-plate showed it had been produced with. 

The finished car was shown at Hampton Court Concours to general acclaim, although the tan interior was considered unwise. When Corgi got in touch, Richard decided the car needed to match the model’s factory specifications. With the help of Ford expert Mark Pinnigar, it has now been restored to its original build specification, including the black interior!

The Cortina modelled was ordered new by Mrs Patricia Loretta Simkins from her local Ford main dealer, Sandicliffe Ford, Nottingham Road, Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, in early 1980 and registered on April 30th, 1980. Having enjoyed her husband George's Mk3 Cortina company car, she decided to purchase a new Cortina to replace her Hillman Hunter after inheriting some funds.She went to the dealer intending to order a 1.6L but during the visit, her three teenage sons, Mark, Nigel and Chris, persuaded her to order a 2-litre Ghia S because it would be more comfortable for family holidays. 

Being an early Mk5 it didn't feature the three stripes along the lower bodysides that later Ghias displayed. Patricia had her new car Ziebart rust-proofed to protect it and, although she used it regularly, it was always kept in a dry garage and did relatively few miles. She replaced it with a new car in 2001 but kept the Cortina in the same garage. 

Unfortunately, it got damaged in the garage when the new car was driven into it, leading to it being repaired by Sandicliffe Ford. Patricia passed away in 2006, but the Cortina remains in the same garage, living with her youngest son Chris. The brothers now consider it to be a family heirloom and use it to attend classic car shows and other events. It has covered just under 29,000 miles and remains in very good original condition.

Ford announced the Cortina Carousel special edition in June 1981 and offered it in three two-tone metallic colour schemes. Priced at a very competitive £4,780 for the 1.6 (it was also available as a 1.3), it featured sports wheels, twin door mirrors and a wood trimmed instrument panel from the GL. In total Ford boasted there were 18 standard ‘extra features’, and more options were available such as a sunroof, tinted glass, or an electric aerial. 

Ford produced 6,000 Carousels in their first production run at Dagenham and considerably less in a second batch built from May to July in 1982. Amazingly, just 60 remain, 22 of which are licensed for the road. The Carousel modelled has been owned since August 2014 by Greater London-based Ford enthusiast Alexis Koublis, organizer of the Passion Ford North London meetings at the Ace Café and other venues. 

Having always loved the two-tone green Carousel colour scheme, he bought his first one in 1996 but had to sell it less than a year later due to a change in circumstances. Having always regretted that, when YPF 741Y pulled into a Passion Ford meeting at the Halfway House pub, Brentwood, he’d agreed to buy it within two-minutes of owner Steve Ward putting ‘For Sale’ in the window! 

At that time it had covered 81,000 miles, and was in good original condition, but in 2023 Alexis embarked on a full restoration to concours condition.

The first car of CORGI researcher, Mark Pinnigar, has finally made it into die-cast! This 1:43 Ford Cortina model car is a perfect replica of the original, in its unusual shade of Terracotta Red. Did you ever have one?

This die-cast model is a limited edition of 1,400.

History

Dennis Nelson from New Eltham, London, purchased the four-speed manual Mk5 Ford Cortina modelled from new in 1980. He ordered it in Terracotta with a Peat Crushed Velour fabric interior. He retained the car until December 1988, then sold it for £650 to his 17-year-old nephew, Mark Pinnigar, who lived in the same area as his uncle and bought it within days of passing his driving test. 

At that point, it had covered less than 50,000 miles and was in good condition save for some corrosion in the doors. Mark learnt to look after the car under the guidance of his late father, Jeff, a toolmaker who worked at Lucas. Their first job was to fit a new clutch, as they knew it was slipping when they purchased the car. 

Over the next few years, the father and son team rebuilt the Ford VV carburettor, then fitted a new head gasket, cambelt and water pump before repairing the bottoms of the doors which had, ironically, rusted because the aftermarket rust proofing treatment Uncle Den had paid for had blocked all the designed-in drain holes. 

Mark has had a love of Fords from childhood and in later life has become a recognised authority on the marque, working with Hornby as a product designer and even appearing on TV with Richard Hammond, helping to decide the detail specification of the Smallest Cog’s restored Escort Mk2 RS2000.

The Transit Custom modelled was used by Ford’s UK Press Office for the van’s launch in April 2018 and was specified to make a visual impact, with bumper skirts, flared wheelarches, 17-inch alloy wheels and a bright colour. It was then loaned to newspapers, magazines, TV shows and websites to conduct their own road tests and appeared in The Sun, Auto Express, Van Fleet World and many others. At the end of 2018 it was loaned to Dan Powel at the Honest John website for a three-month long-term test and earned a favourable report. In April 2019 the Globe Theatre received it for a six-month loan as part of Ford’s support of the arts sector. 

Ford launched the first-generation Transit in 1965 and it was so successful that the name ‘Transit’ has almost become an eponym for ‘medium sized van’, understood by traders and hire companies alike. The Transit Custom has been a successful addition to that family and in 2021 was the market leader in the UK one-tonne van market, with close to 54,000 being delivered. That impressive total was enough to make it the bestselling vehicle in the UK including passenger cars; the first time a commercial has ever achieved that accolade. Fords accounted for one-third of all commercials sold in the UK during 2021 and their Dunton-based Liive Centre, which monitors data feeds from vans then alerts drivers and provides assistance has proven popular with customers. 

The Ford Transit has offered unrivalled versatility since it was launched in 1965 and the 2020 Transit Trail has expanded the vehicle’s capabilities even further. Designed for users who need the ability to work in conditions where traction is limited such as building sites or rural areas it was offered in two specifications. 

The front-wheel drive Trail featured a Mechanical Limited-Slip Differential (mLSD), developed in partnership with well-known driveline specialists Quaife, that automatically directed torque to the wheel with the most grip. For those needing a workhorse to use off-road, however, the 4x4 model offered intelligent All-Wheel Drive with dynamic torque distribution between all four wheels to maximise traction. 

The short wheelbase van modelled was used by Ford for PR work but the Trail was also available in numerous body styles including the Kombi, Double-cabin-in-van, or the Single and Double-cab chassis. All Trails were visually distinguished by a large matte black FORD ‘statement grille’, black cladding on the body sides, unique 16” alloy wheels and Trail badges on the front doors. 

The interior featured durable easily cleaned leather seating, a FordPass Connect onboard modem with WiFi hotspot for up to ten devices and a Quickclear heated windscreen, which cleared ice and mist in seconds, even when the engine has only just been turned on. The Trail range was a unique proposition for those needing an off-road capable vehicle with impressive carrying capacity and connectivity.

The brilliant original 1965 Ford Transit transformed the small to medium commercial vehicle market. It was just what the business world needed at the time, and it also quickly became the backbone of the UK’s fleet of emergency vehicles. Over the years Transits have carried out nearly every public service vehicle role there is, from ambulances to fire and rescue units or police K9 deployment.

Almost a million were made in the first ten years of production and the total amount of Transits produced now stands at well over eight million, a figure that continues to grow as the much-expanded Transit range remains one of the most popular and capable in the sector. 

The police continue to use the Transit in a variety of roles and the vehicle modelled entered service in early 2019 as a Crime Scene Investigation unit with West Yorkshire Police. It carried the large amount of specialist equipment needed by modern forensic officers and was specified with twin sliding doors, one on each side, so it could be accessed quickly by a team of officers working together on different aspects of a case. 

West Yorkshire Police leads the team of Crime Scene Investigators, which is a shared Scientific Support Service working with the four forces in the Yorkshire and Humber region, Humberside, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Police. This enables resources to be deployed wherever and whenever they are needed.

The Sport was the top model in the 2021 Transit Custom range and featured a sport styling kit consisting of a front lower bumper skirt with a unique fog light bezel, a rear bumper skirt, body-coloured side skirts, front and rear wheel arch extensions and Transit-branded side stripes that rise along the centre crease line of the vehicle, adding a dynamic look. 

It also featured 17” alloy wheels with a machined bright black finish, black centre line stripes with silver accents and a roof rack that shows this vehicle is designed for work. The van modelled was, unusually, ordered with sliding side doors on both sides, making a walk-through space if needed.

The original Transit was launched in 1965 and was the first project on which Ford of Britain and Ford Europe, based in Germany, really collaborated, having hitherto been run as separate divisions under the same umbrella. 

It was an enormous success and paved the way for Ford’s European integration, which started with the sharing of major components such as engines and gearboxes and culminated in the range being identical all over Europe by the mid-1980s. 

The word 'Transit' has since become an eponym for this kind of van worldwide, and the range has become ever more diverse. The midsize Transit Custom range has been a popular addition to the Transit family and has become the market leader in the UK one-tonne van market.

Richard Hammond's Ford Transit Custom Leader in Shadow Black is now immortalised in 1:43 die-cast form, perfectly replicating the vehicle that the car enthusiast loves so much. It comes in stylish Ford Transit-branded packaging, making it ideal for Ford collectors.

History

Herefordshire-based classic car restoration workshop, The Smallest Cog, was founded by TV presenter Richard Hammond in January 2021. The Transit modelled arrived at the workshop in February 2022 and has remained in constant use. 

Richard was excited to have what he considers to be ‘his’ van. The first new vehicle he ever had charge of was a high-top Renault Traffic belonging to the antique pine furniture business he worked for as a young man - he has loved vans ever since. 

He made a short film for the DriveTribe website about this Transit, praising its performance and comfort whilst also describing it as a time machine that reminded him of his youth. 

The van was put to work immediately, used for everything from collecting parts or equipment to popping out to get lunch. It’s also employed as a tender and occasional tow vehicle for The Smallest Cog’s racing team, carrying the parts, tools and tea-making equipment that are an essential part of classic car racing. 

The racing team began as a PR exercise for the workshop, allowing them to showcase their technical abilities by building an MGB GT, which is now partially sponsored by CORGI, to race in the Classic Sports Car Club’s Swinging 60’s Racing Series. 

It was initially driven by Anthony Greenhouse, but more recently, Richard has also raced the car because he couldn’t resist the lure of the racetrack.

The Ford Ranger Raptor mixes the tough, go-anywhere ability of other models in the Ranger line up with the comfort demanded by drivers and passengers more used to cars than pick-ups whilst also offering the performance and driving pleasure that enthusiasts enjoy. 

The Raptor was developed by Ford Performance, a division of Ford famous for developing cars wearing the legendary RS badge, and is powered by a 2-litre Bi-Turbo Ford EcoBlue diesel developing a mighty 500 Nm of torque, which is distributed to the Ranger’s four-wheel drive system via a 10-speed automatic transmission, so it’s always in the right gear at the right time whether it’s being used in an urban environment or off-road. 

The load and towing capacity are less than the standard Ranger because of a chassis redesign that makes the Raptor more refined than its commercial cousins. Coil springs replace the leaf springs that are so common on the rear of pick-ups and it has cleverly designed Fox dampers with bypass valves that give a comfortable ride on a wide variety of terrain.

The vehicle modelled was the third Raptor that Ford UK retained for press and PR work and was the first to feature the striking Raptor Decal pack, a popular optional extra. It was featured in a detailed road test film presented by Rebecca Jackson for the CarGurus UK YouTube channel and many magazine and newspaper articles as well as Ford publicity material.

The Ford Ranger Raptor X Special Edition was created for the Malaysian market by Sime Darby Motors (SDM) in 2020. SDM is one of the Asia-Pacific region’s leading automotive groups and is involved in all facets of the automotive business, from importation and assembly, to distribution, retail, and rental. They are Ford’s sole Malaysian distributor and created the SE Raptor to be sold via their network of Ford main dealerships. 

It featured unique Raptor X lightning bolt decals on the rear and sides of the ‘True Red’ exterior and a matching logo on the unique interior carpet mats. It cost RM6,000 (approximately £1,000) more than the standard Ranger Raptor on which it was based. The most impressive piece of additional equipment was a system offering 360-degree surround coverage of the vehicle, from grille, tailgate and door-mirror mounted cameras, which allowed quad high-definition (HD) recording, wide-angle viewing and night view. 

This provided real-time full coverage of the vehicle's surrounding area, be it in an urban setting or difficult off-road terrain where it is especially useful because it allows drivers to make more informed choices about which line to choose when traversing water, climbing steep slopes, or negotiating rock-strewn desert. 

Kenwood front and rear screen cameras were also fitted and featured built-in polarising filters for use in bright sun, a night vision recording facility and a connection to a dedicated mobile phone app compatible with both Apple iOS and Android.

The Focus RS modelled was first registered on March 24th, 2016, only five days after being built at Ford's Saarlouis Plant in Germany. It was initially part of Ford of Britain's Demonstration Fleet and was one of several Focus RSs used to launch Ford's new high-performance range in early April 2016.

This event, held at Silverstone, allowed selected members of the press, Ford employees and favoured customers the chance to drive one of these potent and capable cars on the circuit where its awesome performance could be safely explored. Shortly afterwards, it was dispatched to the company's dedicated one-stop-shop for Blue Light fleets, Ford Special Vehicle Preparations (SVP), based in Earls Colne, Essex.

Knowing that it would be returned to standard specification, SVP fitted just enough equipment, including grill, tailgate and roof-mounted lights, for it to be an operational police car. ANPR wasn't fitted to avoid drilling the dashboard. 

It was then used to recreate the iconic image of an RS200 police car pulling over a Sierra Cosworth, this time with the Focus pulling over an RS200. It was subsequently loaned to ten police forces for evaluation including Northamptonshire Police, who used it over the F1 GP weekend, and the Isle of Man Police who utilized it during the TT. 

The car was sold in April 2018 after SVP removed the police fittings and livery. Since May 2022 it's been owned by West Midlands-based enthusiast Darren Sobratee.

If you remember the announcement of the Deep Orange Ford Focus Mk3, bringing the era of the Mk3 to a close, then you'll love our die-cast replica model. This 1:43 design is slightly less exclusive than the original car, as we've made a few more than 50, but it can still occupy a special place on your collector's shelf.

This die-cast model is a limited edition of 2,200.

History

The ‘Heritage’ was the RS’s farewell and featured the FPM375 Mountune power upgrade, adding 25bhp and 29lb.ft of torque to an already sensationally fast car, with a Quaife ATB Limited Slip Differential to deploy that power, as well as every available extra, except door-protectors. The example modelled was supplied by Ford dealer C.E.M Day Ltd, Swansea, to Port Talbot-based David Evans. 

He’d ordered one of 300 Focus RS ‘Red Editions’ but soon afterwards, in February 2018, saw then Ford of Britain MD Andy Barratt’s social media ‘teaser post’ hinting that 50 deep orange ‘Heritage’ cars would be made to commemorate the RS moniker’s 50th anniversary. He immediately requested Day’s Ford change his order. 

He’d been so quick, Days were not aware it had been announced, but four weeks later he was thrilled to hear from Manager Nick Thomas that he’d receive a car, even though it was oversubscribed, because he’d purchased an example of every RS produced by Ford since buying an Escort RS Turbo in 1985. 

David received Heritage Edition number 13 of 50 on April 18th, 2018, and had it transported to Days for its service every year to avoid increasing its mileage. He sold it in 2023 to Ford RS specialist dealers, Mores Motor Company, Somerset, from whom the current owner, Cambridgeshire-based Ford enthusiast Mike Pollard, purchased it. 

A perfectionist, Mike could not resist this ‘as new’ car, which had covered just 43 miles.

In its classic shade of Deep Impact Blue, this Ford Focus Mk3 is surely irresistible to Ford enthusiasts. This 1:43 die-cast model car has been highly requested by collectors, so we hope you enjoy our replica model of a car in pristine condition.

This die-cast model is a limited edition of 2,000.

History

The ST modelled was purchased from Hendy Ford Chichester, West Sussex, on 9th September, 2016, by the first owner, a lady who kept it until spring 2024 and covered 39,000 miles. The current and second owner, Essex-based Brett Davidson, bought it from independent dealer Abberton Car Sales, Colchester, Essex, on 13th May, 2024, and loves its combination of performance and practicality. 

STs are often modified, but he intends to leave it standard as he uses it as his regular transport and has covered nearly 10,000 trouble-free miles in less than a year of ownership. He feels that it drives very well and does not want to upset its balance by adding more power. The Mk3 Focus, known as the C346, was launched in 2010 and revised in 2014, most noticeably around the nose, which featured Ford’s now familiar family grille and slimline headlights. 

The ST-3 was the most lavish of the three trim levels offered and featured such luxuries as Bi-Xenon headlights that also had adaptive front lighting and a jetwash. The interior cosseted the occupants in Windsor leather heated Recaro sports seats that were eight-way power adjustable and featured the ST logo. This car’s 19” silver alloy wheels, specified from the Style Pack options list, show off the red brake callipers and its performance intent, while its 8” touchscreen, DAB audio system and Quickclear windscreen make it easy to live with on the daily commute.

The Mk1 Capri, advertised as ‘The Car You Always Promised Yourself’, was an enormous success for Ford with over 1.1 million produced. It was a fashionable halo car that generated showroom traffic and added motorsport glamour but was also profitable because it shared components with high-volume saloon cars. 

A Capri II development programme, known as Project Diana, was thus inevitable and when the new car emerged in February 1974, it retained the general coupé profile, the distinctive oval rear side window and the long-bonnet sports car feel, but was a less compromised machine. 

A hatchback tailgate replaced the boot lid and with folding rear seats, this intercontinental GT was as practical as it was stylish. The Capri modelled was purchased on May 24th ,1974, from Ford dealers Cowies of Sunderland by Mr B. Wake, who had it serviced meticulously and retained it until October 22nd, 1990, covering 53,000 miles.

He ordered the most expensive Ghia model, which featured black and silver alloy wheels, but saved £42 by deleting the power steering and £7.90 by not specifying wing mirrors. So he paid £3,109, including tax. 

In 2002, it was purchased by Essex-based Capri enthusiast Dave Eady who totally restored it in time to win best car at the Capri II Register’s National Day in 2007, an award it has won six times. Since late 2021, it’s been owned by long-standing Capri enthusiast, Shropshire-based Gordon Millington.

This is a Ford Capri model car with extra cool points! With its bright Signal Green livery, it is already a stand-out vehicle, but this heavily modified design is also car-circuit famous, appearing at shows all over the country. A highly detailed replica in 1:43 scale, it is a great addition to your Ford model collection.

This die-cast model is a limited edition of 1,600.

History

The Capri modelled is one of the best-known X-Pack Mk2 Capris in the UK, having won numerous trophies, including ‘Best Modified’ at the 2017 Capri MkII Register’s National Day, and ‘Overall Winner’ at the 2017 ‘Mild to Wild’ show. The bodyshell started life as a silver 1.6GL, which the then Somerset-based Capri enthusiast and restorer Adam Langley spotted for sale in Abergavenny, Wales in 2015. 

He went to view the car and was impressed by how solid the bodyshell seemed, so he purchased it to restore. He started by stripping it down to ascertain if it was as good as his first impressions had indicated, and was pleased to find it was. 

The car did, however, need some welding in the common corrosion spots, including the wheel arches, so Adam decided to build his dream 3-Litre X-Pack using a bodykit supplied by the Capri Club, and strengthening the structure where needed to handle the extra power. 

He fitted a tuned Essex V6, a Type 9 5-speed gearbox and 2.8i suspension to improve the handling before finishing it off in a bright period-correct Ford colour. He bought the TNT registration number because he felt it should have an explosive plate! 

Having enjoyed the car, Adam sold it in May 2018 to the current owner, Suffolk-based Dave Barnes. He has rebuilt and further tuned the engine, which now produces around 170bhp, and repainted it to ensure a lasting, high-quality finish.

Ford’s 2015 sixth-generation Mustang was the first to be officially offered in the UK as a factory-built, right-hand-drive car and in 2021 the iconic Mach 1 was added to the range. Mach 1, the term used to indicate supersonic flight, first graced a production Mustang in 1969 when jet aviation references were very much part of the American lexicon. 

The original fastback-only Mach 1, which featured a ‘low-gloss’ black finish on a bonnet secured by competition-type pins, was an instant hit, helped by the publicity created when it captured 295 speed and endurance records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 2021 Mach 1 echoes that high-performance heritage by featuring a sonorous DOHC 454bhp V8. 

As well as evocative graphics, the 2021 Mach 1 could be ordered with a 10-speed automatic gearbox or a Tremec 6-speed manual with rev-matching software, just one of a host of features aimed at making it more driver-focused and prepared for track use. 

They also included separate engine and transmission oil coolers, massive six-piston Brembo brakes and clever MagneRide® adjustable dampers calibrated to work in harmony with stiffer springs and anti-roll bars. 

The manual example modelled was one of the first UK-specification Mach 1s and joined Ford’s PR fleet in September 2021. It was road tested by various magazines including EVO, CAR, What Car and Auto Express as well as starring in the music video for singer James Arthur’s song, ‘Ride’.

The V8 Mustang GT modelled was purchased new in December 2019 by Nottinghamshire-based motoring TV presenter and journalist Paul Cowland, who has always loved American muscle cars. Despite growing up in a family that ran a car dealership and working in the motor trade himself for over thirty years, it’s the only car he has ever bought new as a retail customer. 

He ordered it from Sandicliffe Ford, on Nottingham’s ‘motor mile’, and it was available at a favourable price because it enabled the dealership to hit their bonus targets for the year. Had Paul waited to register it on a new 2020 number plate, it would have cost considerably more. Paul wanted an orange manual V8 with a rear wing and Recaro seats, so Sandicliffe located this car in the Ford dealership network, then fitted a strut brace, gearbox quick-shift and subframe alignment kit. 

He also wanted a passive suspension example so he could fit Bilstein B16 coilover units, which he did shortly after taking delivery. He has since added a Milltek performance exhaust and had the engine remapped by V8 tuning wizard Paul Spinks at Wortec, which added around 25bhp but, importantly on a road car, vastly improved the low-end torque making the DOHC unit feel more like a traditional OHV V8. Paul describes this Mustang as his ‘forever car’ as it is very much the fulfilment of a childhood dream.