One to Buy: ex-works 1981 Zakspeed Ford Capri Gr.5
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Thanks to regulations that effectively only required a passing resemblance between donor car and track version, the Group 5 era of 1976 to 1982 spawned arguably the most spectacular production-based GT cars ever seen.
One such machine was the iconic Zakspeed Capri that started out as a Division 2 class challenger in the 1978 DRM and ultimately took the fight to Porsche’s mighty 935 in the Division 1 class.
Backed by Ford of Germany, Zakspeed most famously took the 1981 DRM title thanks to their Division 2 driver Klaus Ludwig. Meanwhile, team-mate Manfred Winkelhock placed third in the standings with his Division 1 class machine just five points behind Bob Wollek’s Kremer 935 despite a superior record of six wins to Wollek’s three.
Winkelhock’s challenger from that memorable 1981 season was the last of seven Zakspeed Capris built and is currently on offer with High Performance Classics in New Zealand. The car, chassis 001/81 (based in Auckland), is arguably the ultimate expression of the Group 5 Zakspeed Capri theme with its trick aero and circa 650bhp turbocharged four cylinder BDA engine.
Zakspeed continued to run 001/81 until 1983 and retained the car until 2018 by which time it had been the subject of a complete restoration.
It is today offered in superb condition throughout complete with its original Wagenpass and would make an exciting addition to practically any serious collection.
