They’re two of the most iconic cars to ever hit the TV screens - and they’re up for sale as a pair. Although they may have hit the occasional cardboard box during a docklands chase and probably weren’t driven under 6,000 revs for the entire series the Ford Capris from the Professionals can be bought at auction - with a guide price of £230,000.
The two Ford Capri 3.0 S in silver and gold appeared a total of 10 times in the show, according to Silverstone Auctions. They are up for sale at Silverstone Festival on August 25th.
They appeared on the ITV show which starred Martin Shaw as Ray Doyle and Lewis Collins played William Bodie. Both were members of CI5 - a unit which dealt with serious crimes the police were unable to cope with.
The show ran for five series of 57 episodes and was very popular at the time - although it was also criticised for being too violent and not very politically correct. Both stars were given some training to drive their vehicles on set to add to the authenticity - pulling stunts like handbrake turns.
Silverstone Auctions said: ” Having learned the importance of a motor manufacturer as an important partner in supplying the cast with specific, character-oriented cars, Ford of Britain were approached and were happy to supply a Ford Granada for George Cowley and, later in the process, this pair of rather special Ford Capris.
“We are therefore privileged to offer these fabulously presented cars on behalf of our vendor from his sixteen-year ownership. Most people seem to agree that these two cars should always be garaged together and consequently they are to be offered as a pair and sold as one Lot with an auction estimate of £200,000 to £230,000.”
The previous highest price at auction for a road going Capri 3.0 S is said to be £53,760 in 2016.
1980 Ford Capri 3.0 S - as driven by Bodie. It can be viewed here.
First registered on the 4th June 1980 to the Ford Motor Company, Essex as OWC 827V, it was loaned to Mark 1 Productions Ltd. for the filming of Series 4. Ford stipulated that the car was to wear the false registration plate “OWC 827W” on screen so that the vehicle appeared “new” on the first TV transmission date of Series 4 on 19th October 1980. Supplied in Stratos Silver and fitted with roll-top head rests as opposed to Recaro fish-nets, it was allocated to Lewis Collins who played William Bodie and the car went on to feature in 10 episodes of the series: Black Out, The Gun, Wild Justice, Blood Sports, Hijack, You’ll be All Right, Kickback, Discovered in a Graveyard, The Ojuka Situation, and The Untouchables.
Silverstone adds: “Bought by our vendor on the 1st October 2007, it was sympathetically restored by him in 2021 with meticulous attention to detail, retaining many original features, most notably the interior. The original engine and gearbox have been fully reconditioned and a stainless steel exhaust was fitted at the same time. The vehicle still features its original alloy wheels which are shod with period-correct Goodyear Grand Prix 185 x 70 x 13 tyres. The speedometer reading, at the time of cataloguing, was 53,939 miles and the car is presented to auction with a detailed history file, V5C, receipts and memorabilia.”
1980 Ford Capri 3.0 S - as driven by Doyle. It can be viewed here.
This Solar Gold 3.0 S was first registered on the 4th June 1980 to the Ford Motor Company, Essex as OAR 576V and loaned to Mark 1 Productions Ltd. for the filming of Series 4. As with the Stratos Silver Capri, Ford stipulated that the car was to wear the false registration plate “OAR 576W” on screen so that the vehicle appeared “new” on the first TV transmission date of Series 4 on 19th October 1980. OAR 576V was allocated to Martin Shaw who acted the part of Ray Doyle and the car went on to feature in 10 episodes of the Series: Blackout, It’s only a Beautiful Picture, Blood Sports, Hijack, You’ll be All Right, Kickback, Discovered in a Graveyard, Foxhole on the Roof, Operation Susie and The Untouchables
Silverstone said: “It was lightly restored in 2021 by the current owner with meticulous attention to detail and with the focus on originality. The interior is simply fabulous with original Fishnet Recaro seats and even the original parcel shelf is still in place. The original engine and gearbox have been fully reconditioned and the original alloy wheels are shod with period correct Goodyear Grand Prix 185 x 70 x 13 tyres. The speedometer reading, at the time of cataloguing, was 43,222 miles and the car is presented with a detailed history file, receipts, V5C and memorabilia.”
