In today’s automotive world, project cars are the bread and butter of many YouTube channels. But not all of them are created equal. Because this Zakspeed inspired Ford Capri Mk3 is something special. 3 years ago the team at Holyhall saw potential in an old, rusty red Ford Capri Mk3. Their goal was to transform it into a Zakspeed look-alike race car, reminiscent of those that raced across European circuits in the early ’80s. Thankfully for us, they succeeded in turning that vision into a reality, which I first witnessed live at the Essen Motor Show in 2023.
The foundation of this masterpiece is a Ford Capri Mk3, though only the doors and roof remain original. The rest of the car is built on a custom-made tube frame chassis, constructed not from CAD drawings but from photographs of the original Zakspeed race cars. This achievement alone is remarkable, but the work didn’t stop there.
Attached to the tube frame chassis is a custom suspension. Through the rear window, you can catch a glimpse of the pushrod rear suspension, featuring components from H&R Suspension. H&R provided a bespoke set specifically for this car, with spring rates and shock absorber characteristics individually matched to the new vehicle weight of 1300 kg.
Powering this beast is a 5.7-liter V8 LS1 engine from a Corvette, currently producing 350 hp. The engine is paired with a 6-speed manual BMW gearbox, driving the rear wheels via modified BMW E90 axles. The wheels, sourced from Rotiform’s handbook, are LHR-M models wrapped in Yokohama slick tires (front 10.5j x 17 ET -8, rear 13j x 20 ET -10).
For the body kit, the team turned to England, modifying the rear section entirely to their vision. The rest of the body kit remains true to the original Zakspeed design. Space was made on both sides for the exhaust, which expels gases just behind the front wheels through a fully custom exhaust system.
Kudos to the team at Holyhall! Their dedication to their vision has resulted in an extraordinary car that will be talked about for years to come. I’ll have the chance to see it again next week at Ultrace in Poland. Hopefully, I’ll also get to hear it, and if so, I’ll make a video just like I did for the Kremer Porsche 935.
Stay tuned for more updates on this incredible build!