For Ford fans from all over Victoria and beyond, the All Ford Day in Geelong is a must-do. This year, the jump in fuel prices caused by the US-Iran war made it harder for interstate visitors to be part of the event, but more than 1,000 display vehicles was still pretty impressive.
Celebrating its 35th Anniversary, the 2026 All Ford Day also featured new and heritage vehicles from Ford Australia (who are event supporters), trade stands, food trucks and family attractions.
Welcoming Aussie, British and US Fords, as well as the related Mercury and Lincoln, All Ford Day always attracts something unusual, from rare factory models to customised vehicles like this Capri.
Introduced to Australia in late 1969 after debuting in the UK in the same year, the Capri has often been described as a “Mini Mustang” in style and spirit. The initial models were powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, with a 3.0-litre V6 introduced in 1970.
One of the great ‘What Ifs’ of Australian motoring, the Capri was a huge hit in its native UK, but failed to catch fire with Australians, who seemed to prefer their performance cars in four-door form, as evidenced by the short lifespan of the XA-B-C Falcon hardtops.
An attempt to add some of the Falcon GT’s magic to the Capri with a GT version – including the famous Super Roo decals and striping – had little impact. Same goes for racetrack performances, where Barry ‘Bo’ Seton was a regular Capri campaigner at Bathurst. The Capri had its devotees, but there just weren’t enough of them in the Australian market for the model to last.
As the car featured shows, the Capri could fit a V8 in its engine bay, so maybe Ford Australia missed a trick by not making this available when new. The engine, a 347ci V8, was equipped with a Holley Street Demon carburettor, MSD distributor and other go-fast goodies, with an aftermarket radiator to keep things cool. Lowered suspension meant that the Weld Draglite wheels filled the arches, with a custom bonnet, Falcon mirrors, painted front and rear bumpers, GT-style striping and a ‘General Lee’ livery also making an impression.
The owner of this Capri said he and his mates built it to “go” rather than “show,” so it wasn’t concours but still pretty tidy. Inside, bucket front seats were equipped with four-point harnesses, with the rear seats replaced by a set of speakers for the big Sony sound system. Custom door trims, custom dash trim, a row of Sport Comp gauges in place of the factory instruments, a B&M shifter, toggle switches and a competition steering wheel were other additions inside.
For JUST CARS’ report from the 2026 All Ford Day, click HERE.
