What a transformation !!

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Fordoholic Nick
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What a transformation !!

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

I was born a Fordoholic, They'll bury me a Fordoholic...
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Andrew 2.8i
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

:lol:
Not the point, I know, but that is an interesting photo. That Laser 1.6 was registered in June 1984, the first month the Laser went on sale.
That must be the earliest survivor.

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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Paul G »

Mine was built in May 1984, but registered 1st August.
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

Paul G wrote:Mine was built in May 1984, but registered 1st August.
The first day of the B plates. :D
Yours is a very early one Paul, do you know when Ford started building the Lasers?

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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Paul G »

April or May I think. I wish I knew what the chassis no of the first one was the I could work out how near to the start it was made.

As far as I can remember the Laser actually was introduced as a limited edition before being adapted as the mainstream model in about September of 1984. They also did the Escort and the Sierra as a Laser and later did the Mk3 Fiesta as one too.

I'll try and find the build sheet if it's still in the car. As far as i know they are behind the rear seat panel but I haven't taken that off yet.
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

Paul G wrote: As far as I can remember the Laser actually was introduced as a limited edition before being adapted as the mainstream model in about September of 1984.
The Jaremy Walton book states under June 1984 " Laser special edition debut on UK (1.6/2.0)". Whether special means limited edition or not, I'll bow to your superior knowledge and go with what you say.
Again, according to Jeremy Walton, the Laser and 2.8 Special were the only models from November 1984. Of course, unsold stocks of other models will mean that they would have continued to be in the showrooms after that date.

It would be nice to know the build date of that white Laser, but unless the owner is on the forum (the car is taxed and has an MOT) I don't know if there is a way to find out. Perhaps the owner might be at the 50th at Brooklands?

Andrew.

Edit: Found a photo on Flickr from a photographer that spots in the Basingstoke area, so the owner might not live a million miles from Brooklands.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/38389354@N07/4165852725/
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

A little further info, thanks to Steve Saxty. "Capri Laser - part of a trio comprising Escort and Sierra limited editions". No mention of when Lasers started production, although he says that the planning would have started 18 months before the October '84 introduction.

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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Paul G »

It's certainly a Surrey registration on it and according to the DVLA it was registered one month and one day before mine. It seems to have been continually MOT'd and taxed. I haven't seen it at any of the club meetings but I bet Kris would know it.

What jeremy Walton says sort of follows with what I had though about the Laser model.
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Caprigear »

Later on in the MK3 range Ford introduced a lot of "limited editions" Cameo, Cabaret, GT4 , Calypso1, calypso 2, LS . They were all simply tarted up base models to try to keep sales ticking ove.r
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by timfromull »

As a bain I remember my dad trading in his very early, one of first on road 'poverty' spec Y reg Sierra for a new Sierra Laser (B reg) at Crystal Ford in 'ull..
He had all his cars from Crystal Ford Hull.
Two years later he traded that in for a brand new D plate Capri Laser in Strato silver.
I remember he was worried about going from an 'ultra modern' Sierra back to an old fashioned Capri :headscratch: so was worried about depreciation etc..
Another two years and along came a new Sapphire (you get the picture)..
Anyway I can remember how the Sierra Laser was a bit of a crowded puller back then with it's jelly mould concept car stying, metallic paint, quad stereo, tinted glass, etc etc.
After a run of Cortinas and a mk2 Capri it was pure luxury and style...my dad with his Tom Selleck tash and 'calm down calm down' perm was Mr 80s cool..
Oh the good old days..

Anyway I just thought I'd share that with you....

As you where folks :cheers:
Last edited by timfromull on Sun Sep 23, 2018 11:52 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by timfromull »

Just to add..... Crystal Ford were the original supplier of Nick's beauty :wave:
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by andyd »

timfromull wrote:As a bain I remember my dad trading in his very early, one of first on road 'poverty' spec Y reg Sierra for a new Sierra Laser (B reg) at Crystal Ford in 'ull..
He had all his cars from Crystal Ford Hull.
Two years later he traded that in for a brand new D plate Capri Laser in Strato silver.
I remember he was worried about going from an 'ultra modern' Sierra back to an old fashioned Capri :headscratch: so was worried about depreciation etc..
Another two years and along came a new Sapphire (you get the picture)..
Anyway I can remember how the Sierra Laser was a bit of a crowded puller back then with it's jelly mould concept car stying, metallic paint, quad stereo, tinted glass, etc etc.
After a run of Cortinas and a mk2 Capri it was pure luxury and style...my dad with his Tom Selleck tash and 'calm down calm down' perm was Mr 80s cool..
Oh the good old days..

Anyway I just thought I'd share that with you....

As you where folks :cheers:
Often good to think back to sometimes happier/better times? The old cars can hold many memories :cheers:
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Caprifan Rob »

andyd wrote:
timfromull wrote: Anyway I can remember how the Sierra Laser was a bit of a crowded puller back then with it's jelly mould concept car stying, metallic paint, quad stereo, tinted glass, etc etc.
After a run of Cortinas and a mk2 Capri it was pure luxury and style...my dad with his Tom Selleck tash and 'calm down calm down' perm was Mr 80s cool..
Oh the good old days..

Anyway I just thought I'd share that with you....

As you where folks :cheers:
Often good to think back to sometimes happier/better times? The old cars can hold many memories :cheers:
Forgotten about the Sierra & Escort Laser as the Capri version was so popular. Canโ€™t be many of those around now. As you said Andy, great to think back. Tim, thatโ€™s a wonderful picture of your dad back in the day :cheers:
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by MattyCampbell »

Cool meme but personally Ive never thought she needed makeup ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

MattyCampbell wrote: โ†‘Fri Dec 30, 2022 6:13 pm Cool meme but personally Ive never thought she needed makeup ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘
Matty it's great to see this thread resurfacing over 4yrs later of your Capri !! Totally agree too as that's a stunning photo of A589. Deffo don't need any make up mate :lol: :lol: ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by mjcapri »

Caprigear wrote: โ†‘Sun Sep 23, 2018 10:31 am Later on in the MK3 range Ford introduced a lot of "limited editions" Cameo, Cabaret, GT4 , Calypso1, calypso 2, LS . They were all simply tarted up base models to try to keep sales ticking ove.r
Was the LS actually a โ€œlimited editionโ€? I thought it was just the base model at the time (following the demise of the L and GL). I stand to be corrected though!

Re Lasers, there was a later Sierra as well, I remember seeing them on H and possibly J plates. IIRC there were hatches, Sapphires and estates badged as such.
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by MattyCampbell »

Fordoholic Nick wrote: โ†‘Fri Dec 30, 2022 10:12 pm
MattyCampbell wrote: โ†‘Fri Dec 30, 2022 6:13 pm Cool meme but personally Ive never thought she needed makeup ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ‘
Matty it's great to see this thread resurfacing over 4yrs later of your Capri !! Totally agree too as that's a stunning photo of A589. Deffo don't need any make up mate :lol: :lol: ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

Thanks man, I'm always snapping pics of her, in fact you can probably make out my dog in the drivers seat. Sorry it took so long to get on the thread lol, I came out of the British Army after 16 years a while back and basically blew all my resettlement cash on getting โ€œKayleighโ€ up and running (worth it) Im addicted to driving her, I spend more time with her than my own wife lol ๐Ÿ˜†
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by Fordoholic Nick »

MattyCampbell wrote: โ†‘Sun Jan 08, 2023 9:38 pm
Thanks man, I'm always snapping pics of her, in fact you can probably make out my dog in the drivers seat. Sorry it took so long to get on the thread lol, I came out of the British Army after 16 years a while back and basically blew all my resettlement cash on getting โ€œKayleighโ€ up and running (worth it) Im addicted to driving her, I spend more time with her than my own wife lol ๐Ÿ˜†
Hey Matty.

Thanks for the update fella even if 4yrs later ๐Ÿ˜‚ but it sounds like you been busy mate since you came out of the army. Wow, 16yrs is a long time in the army. It must have been good for you to have a hobby/project in Kayleigh to keep you busy when you came out . What better way to spend your resettlement money ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ Nice one. Be great to see some more photos of Kayleigh when you get a chance Matty. She's a lovely looking Capri. Always had a soft spot for White as think it looks so cool against the black trim. Thanks again for the update and info and hope you have resettled back well mate. ๐Ÿ˜Ž๐Ÿ‘
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Re: What a transformation !!

Post by MattyCampbell »

Thanks Nick,

Yup shes certainly kept me busy, there were all sorts of bizarre modifications previous owners had done to her, some joker even installed a reversing camera ๐Ÿคฆโ€โ™‚๏ธ (First thing to come off) since then shes had a new carburettor, alternator, tyres, plates, headlights back to original, seals, battery, engine retune, dash bulbs etc etc so yeah shes definitely kept my bank balance healthy XD, Im now at a point where shes mechanically and electrically as close to the mark as possible. When it warms up Ill be doing the bodywork ๐Ÿ™‚ Im having difficulty attaching more files as their too large, are you on FB/watsapp?
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