Capri Perana V8
South Africans have always been “special” builders. Post-war, it was more a case of necessity being the mother of invention. In the early sixties, it was more a matter of belief that anything you do can we can do better. However, by the mid-sixties, motor sport was becoming not only commercialised but single-seater and sports racers were becoming complex in design and construction. By this time, the motor industry had also learnt the immense publicity value out of race-track performance. The net result was that backing the sports car disappeared, and the single-seater formula looked elsewhere for financial support. South African race car designer (the special builder) then turned his attention to saloon cars with a sporting flair. The trend towards “special” saloons started in 1961 with the Lawson Motors Volvos and the Van Rooyen Anglias. This was followed by George Armstrong’s A.40 and Minis, Willie Miessner and Koos Swanepoel, all of which led to mighty Lotus Cortina, Galaxie, Mustang, Mini Cooper and a little later Renault Gordini super racetrack battles. At this time, a trend within a trend was starting to emerge, which would lead to, over the next twenty-five years, some very special saloon cars being built in South Africa.
In the early sixties, a gentleman by the name of Basil Green would arrive at Kyalami in a very modified Anglia (twin cam engine – the head being his own casting). The car never finished a race and was eventually written off in practice for the Nine Hour. Whilst most were too eager to “slot” the Anglia, what was not known was that we were witnessing a specialist in the making and that he was not so much out to make a racing name for himself as he was to develop his own ideas. Within a few years, Basil Green produced the first V.6 Cortina – the Cortina Perana – long before Ford had even considered it. However, if Basil Green is to be remembered for anything, it is the Capri Perana V8.
In January 1970 Basil Green produced the first racing Capri V.8. The Ford Capri had been introduced into South Africa in 1969 and caused quite a sensation in the South African market. Basil was quick to recognise its potential particularly in those pre-fuel crises macho power shear brute force days. South Africans were through various import barriers starved of the Mustang-Trans Am type cars and ready market existed for this type of road/ race car. The car presented to South Africans at Kyalami in 1970 was more than prototype Capri Perana in that it was out and out racing car. With the support of Team Gunston and with Bobby Olthoff as the driver the car was aimed at the 1970 Saloon car championship which in those days was run under the then Group 5 form. This Perana had a Formula 5000 Gurney Westlake engine, Ford GT.40 rear end and A.C. Cobra (MK2) front end. With suitable bodywork modifications and the widest tyres yet seen on a saloon car the intention was to win. Succeed it did! On its debut race it lapped Kyalami under 1,36 seconds, more than three seconds a lap faster than Peter Gough in the Meissner 230 bhp, BDG Escort. Notwithstanding the fact that the car out-paced its opposition it was a sensation with the public. The sheer sight of this car going round Kyalami at these speeds with six inch wheel lift in some corners was sensational and not easily forgotten.
Production of the Capri Perana started in 1970 and by the end of the year some 25 cars were being produced per week. Total production was about 280 cars. The car was derived from the 3000XL Capri.
A Fairlane (essentially Mustang engine). The steering system was replaced, the suspension lowered by 1 inches and a Borg-Warner limited slip differential fitted. Other than badges and mag wheels there was nothing really to differentiate this Capri from the rest – until of course you put your foot down and then tried to stop. The weakest point of the Perana was its stopping ability. Other than that, this South African hybrid was truly a sensational car.
On the race tracks the racing career of the Capri Perana is best illustrated by the accompanying advertisement. Just about every saloon car champion of the sixties raced one. The national saloon car championship ceased in 1970 and was replaced by regional championships. In the Transvaal it was Basil van Rooyen and Bobby Olthoff whilst in the Cape it was Koos Swanepoel and Peter Gough. On odd occasions Koos Swanepoel would be brought up to the Transvaal to challenge Basil in the semi-works car. There were also a number of other Capri Pernana’s raced in production car form they never made much of an impression. You needed the Basil’s and the Koos’s tuning knowledge.
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