Jamie Oliver selling three retro motors including his ‘go-to’ Ford Capri dubbed ‘one of the most collectable examples’
MUCH-loved celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is selling off three of his classic cars – including his beloved Ford Capri.
The TV star has owned the Capri – which is a Mk1 3000 GT variant from 1970 – since 2014 and used it as his “go to car”.
The iconic motor is to be sold by Classic Car Auctions based in Leamington, Warwickshire, and it currently has just 52,000 miles on the clock.
Finished in white with a black interior, the fast Ford has a 3-litre V6 engine capable of cooking up 130bhp – which can do 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds and hit 121mph.
Fans of Jamie Oliver may recognise the set of wheels from the several appearances it made on his TV show ‘Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast’.
According to the listing, Jamie spent £20,000 on restoring the Capri to its original specification, and it’s valued at £26,000.
There are believed to be only 31 examples of the Mk1 Capri 3000 GT on the road.
A spokesperson for the car auctions said: “This is a two-owner car from new, with Jamie taking possession in June 2014.
“During his ownership, the car was restored in line with its original specification at a cost of around £20,000.
“Described by Jamie as his ‘go-to car’, the Capri is well known and has made several appearances on the TV programme Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast.
“We believe that there are only 31 of these 3000 GTs currently on the road and consequently they’re very collectable.
“This is the perfect opportunity to get behind the wheel of one with the added bonus of celebrity provenance.”
The Capri isn’t the only whip Jamie is selling, as he’s also readying his 1955 Fiat 1100 Pick-Up and a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle 1500 Convertible and Bespoke Retail Trailer for the auction hammer.
The Fiat 1100 Pick-Up was introduced in 1953, with this model imported to Britain in 1973 while Jamie has owned it since 2012.
Oliver has owned the Beetle and trailer, which has been modified to include an ice cream fridge, for the past few years.
A Classic Car Auctions spokesperson added: “Jamie has a passion for cars and a real fondness for these three charming vehicles, which seem to embody something of his ‘cheeky chappie’ persona.”
The sale for the retro motors is set to take place on September 28.
This comes days after a fast Ford that once belonged to Jeremy Clarkson sold at an auction for £70,000.
Elsewhere, a lorry driver who won £15.5 million on the lotto after a tip from Mystic Meg used his whopping prize to buy a motor for every day of the week.