Readly RF Feb 20

RESTORATION
Ford introduced the John Player Special
Limited edition, (known as the JPS) in
March 1975. Available only in Black
or White, the JPS featured yards of
Gold pinstriping to mimic the Formula
1 livery, Gold coloured wheels and a bespoke
upgraded interior of “Gold Rialto” cloth to the
seats and beige carpet trimmed with black.
Paul told us his story of how he came to own
the White JPS, “I retired last year at the age of 62,
taking early retirement after I worked for a local print
firm doing 12-hour shifts, days and nights for over
22 years. My first car was Ford Anglia 105 with a
997 engine at 17 in which I learned to drive, along
with my sister. Following this my Ford ownership
consisted of, an Anglia, one Capri Mk1 1600 GT,
three Cortina’s (Mk3,4 and 5), Cortina 1600E, Capri
2.8i injection Special, a Capri Mk2 2000 Ghia and
my current Capri Mk2 1600 GTS JPS. My everyday
car is also a Ford in the way of a Mondeo. I have
been a show co-coordinator for Leeds Capri club
since the early ‘90s.”
“My story starts around April 1993 while at one
of the local meetings of our club Leeds Capri club,
I let it be known that I was on the lookout for a new
project, but it had to be a Mk2. I was running a 2.0
Ghia Mk2 at the time. The middle of May came, and
the phone went, it was one of the members saying
in the local Wakefield paper a guy was selling a Mk2
JPS, but it was in white so I thought it must have
been repainted as they were all black”.
“I got the number of him and phoned straight
away only to be told someone was coming in the
morning at 9:30, but he would ring me after he had
been. I thought if I could get his address (which he
gave me) I could get up early the next day and could
get there before this guy did. I set off in the morning
rush hour - 45mins to do seven miles! I got there
bang on 08:30am, only to see the other chap driving
off, but I knew the person! I still knocked on the door
and was answered by a frail gentleman. I told him I
was here to see the Capri. He asked me did I know
the other person, so I said yes, I do. He said he was
only here five minutes made an offer and left.”
“I asked if the car could be moved away from
the side off the house to check it out, more than the
other guy did the owner said. After half an hour, I
needed some expert help on identifying what was
sat in front of me, so mobile out, I phoned Kevin
Hickling from the Mk2 register (of which I am a
See our behind the scenes footage on Instagram: @retrofordmagazine
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