Once upon-a-time there was a not so lovely and white Capri. It stood proud as the love of my car life! If it were a girl it would be sitting in the darkest corner of a nightclub, while I would be the desperate drunk on the dance floor - I can't resist! This is how many of my more normal friends see me and my Capri. I feel like Jack Black in 'Shallow Hal', no matter what the outside appearance of the Capri all I see is the inner beauty.
Whilst travelling on one of many house viewing journey's my girlfriend and I were discussing the pros and cons of the latest house, cruising down the A127 in my white 2.0l laser. Earlier we had experienced a large, what turned out to be fatal, bang which came from the front driver side wheel arch area during a parking manoeuvre. I checked the car over for any obvious signs of damage or failure but none were to be seen. Large pot-holes littered the car park so we assumed we had hit one of them. I promised to check it out when it stopped raining later that weekend. Just past the Hadleigh turn-off we suffered a blow out. I pulled to the side of the road saying the fatal words 'its ok darling, its just a blow out, we'll be on our way shortly'.
One good thing about Capri's is their low road position which adds to their sporty prowess. Unfortunately with a complete flat and an uneven lay-by the Ford jack would not fit under the body to lift the car. After juggling two jacks and a spare tyre I managed to raise the car enough to remove the wheel. Inspecting the damage revealed that the tyre had been stripped from the wheel, the tyre wall was no more. This led me to inspect under the wheel arch where I noticed the suspension spring was hanging half way down the strut! "We aren't going far" I said to Stacey so we called the AA. The bang earlier had been the suspension coil fracturing and rapidly expanding towards the brake calliper. The jagged end of the spring had punctured the tyre wall.
There is not much opportunity for vehicle repair at my house and I was in a bit of a flap so I told the AA man to drop the car off at Basildon Salvage. Being a Sunday we left a note on the windscreen with the intention of sorting it out on Monday. Needless to say the abuse and ridicule I received on that Monday for the cruel and heartless abandonment of my '8 pinter' beauty was too much, and I was persuaded not to scrap the car until at least Si and Clare had had a look at her. I drove the car out of the scrap yard and round the corner, on the collapsed suspension and flat tyre, awaiting the cavalry. One day of mad panic sourcing a suspension strut and two nights of fumbling around in torch light followed, with Si major mechanical bod, Clare torch operations supervisor and me assistant torch operator and bringer of the keys. The white beast was made road worthy and was driven back to Hinsley Capri Health Farm for an intense course of relaxation and near death, scrap yard therapy - the psychiatrist is reporting steady progress.
During consultation with the day carers at the Health Farm it was decided that 'Daisy' (named by Ward Sister Clare) should be treated to some minor revitalisation before moving onto a new and improved life with someone who will have the time and space to care for her in the manor she deserves. I have not taken on this responsibility as I feel I cannot make the commitment. My Girlfriend and I are due to move soon and this new property comes with appropriate parking space, I can feel a purchase coming on soon after we exchange. I promise that this time the car I choose will receive the care and attention it deserves. I have even promised to delay the Kawasaki ZX7R to make way for a 2.8. Now that is serious!
I would like to emphasise the keenness and enthusiasm which Clare and Si possessed during the ordeal, with out which another Capri would have bitten the local earth. They truly are keeping the legend alive. Thanks…