The Ford Capri 3.0 X-Pack is the dramatic wide-arched product of Ford Rallye Sport’s Series X catalogue. It could combine glassfibre body extensions, wider RS wheels, suspension and brake upgrades and a triple-carburettor Essex V6—but “X-Pack” was a menu of parts, not one simple mass-produced model.
This guide explains Series X history, Mk2 and Mk3 Capri applications, the difference between body and engine packages, how to assess period provenance and what to inspect before buying a genuine conversion or later recreation.
Ford Capri X-Pack at a glance
| Programme | Ford Rallye Sport Series X performance parts |
|---|---|
| Capri era | Introduced for the Mk2 in 1977 and associated with Mk2/Mk3 3.0-litre cars |
| Typical base | Ford Capri 3.0S |
| Engine | 2,994cc Ford Essex V6 |
| Body package | Wide wheelarches and front spoiler, normally with wider RS wheels |
| Mechanical options | Engine, exhaust, suspension, brake and differential upgrades were available in combinations |
| Important distinction | Period dealer installation, later genuine RS-parts conversion and modern replica are not identical |
| Main buying concerns | Capri shell corrosion, hidden work beneath the kit and unsupported authenticity claims |
What was Ford Series X?
Series X was Ford Rallye Sport’s catalogue of competition-influenced components for owners who wanted more than the normal showroom range. Rather than defining one rigid specification, it offered groups of compatible upgrades for cars including the Capri and Escort.
The Capri programme appeared in 1977. Parts could be fitted to a new car through the RS dealer network or added to an existing Capri. Some cars received the full visual and mechanical treatment; others used only the wide bodywork, wheels or selected chassis components. That variety is central to understanding X-Pack Capris today.
Why “factory X-Pack” can be misleading
An X-Pack could be supplied through Ford’s official motorsport-parts system without being assembled as a distinct regular model on the main production line. Period dealer-fitted cars have a strong claim to authenticity, but Ford components were also sold for later installation.
A Capri converted with genuine RS parts in 1979, another converted with the same parts years later and a modern car wearing reproduction panels can look very similar. The history, dates, installer and exact components determine what the car really is.
Best evidence: an original order form, RS dealer invoice, dated fitting receipt, early photographs or a continuous history. A bodykit and set of badges alone cannot establish a period X-Pack conversion.
X-Pack body, wheels and chassis parts
The best-known package transformed the Capri with broad glassfibre wheelarch extensions, a deep front spoiler and wide RS four-spoke alloy wheels. The result echoed Ford’s competition Capris and gave the 3.0S a much more aggressive stance.
Series X catalogues also offered suspension, brake and drivetrain components. Period descriptions include ventilated front brakes, uprated springs and dampers and a limited-slip differential among the available upgrades. Because customers could choose parts, their presence—or absence—does not by itself prove or disprove a car’s history.
The 3.0-litre X-Pack engine
The normal British 3.0S used Ford’s 2,994cc Essex V6. The most celebrated Series X engine conversion replaced the standard induction with three Weber carburettors and added complementary tuning and a freer-flowing exhaust. Period figures commonly describe output rising from roughly 138bhp to about 175bhp in full specification.
Not every wide-bodied Capri received this engine package. Before describing a car as a “175bhp X-Pack”, check carburettors, manifolds, cylinder-head and camshaft history, exhaust, engine number and invoices. Decades of subsequent tuning can make the present specification very different from the period build.
Mk2 and Mk3 X-Pack Capris
The Series X treatment first appeared on the Capri Mk2, most famously on the silver 3.0S used in early episodes of The Professionals. The facelifted Mk3 retained the same underlying Capri platform and was also offered with RS performance components.
Body details differ with the base model and date. Avoid identifying the conversion solely from grille, lamps or registration year; Capris are highly interchangeable and many have acquired later panels during restoration.
How to authenticate a Ford Capri X-Pack
- Establish the base car: decode the VIN and identity plate and confirm it began as the claimed 3.0S or other model.
- Build a timeline: find the earliest invoice or photograph showing the conversion.
- Identify the installer: a named period RS dealer with supporting paperwork is much stronger evidence than an oral history.
- List every component: bodywork, wheel size, brakes, suspension, differential, engine and exhaust may not all date from the same conversion.
- Inspect construction: compare panel shape, fixings and finishing with documented period cars and genuine components.
- Consult specialists: a recognised Capri club or marque expert may know the car or its registration.
Ford Capri X-Pack buying checklist
Shell and hidden corrosion
- Inspect front strut tops, inner wings, bulkhead, bonnet hinge areas and headlamp bowls.
- Check A-pillars, windscreen surround, scuttle, door posts, sills and floor edges.
- Examine spring hangers, rear chassis rails, boot floor and spare-wheel well.
- Look behind the wide arches and side trims; glassfibre panels can hide cut metal, corrosion and poor repairs.
- Check whether the arches were bonded, riveted or blended and whether cracks indicate movement beneath.
- Confirm the shell is straight and panel gaps are consistent before accepting fresh paint as evidence of quality.
Essex V6 and fuel system
- Start from cold and check oil pressure, smoke, coolant condition and excessive valvetrain noise.
- Inspect radiator, hoses, water pump and signs of previous overheating.
- On triple-carb cars, check cold starting, balance, throttle linkage, filtration and fuel-line condition.
- Verify claimed internal engine work with invoices; external components do not prove capacity or output.
- Check the exhaust is securely mounted and not damaging the body or axle.
Transmission, axle and suspension
- Test clutch, gearbox and propshaft for slip, noise or vibration.
- Confirm whether a limited-slip differential is fitted rather than relying on the advert.
- Check wheel bearings, steering joints, bushes, springs and dampers.
- Inspect tyres for correct size, age, clearance and even wear beneath the wide arches.
- Check brake specification and test for pulling, imbalance or a long pedal.
History and completeness
- Compare the car today with its earliest photographs and invoices.
- Check rare RS wheels, spoilers, trim and induction parts are genuine where originality affects value.
- Confirm engine, colour and identity changes are recorded consistently.
- Budget for specialist bodywork; correcting badly fitted wide arches can become a major restoration.
The Capri originally featured here
The 3.0S shown in these photographs appeared in a 2025 online auction and was promoted as a rare factory X-Pack. Its listing attracted substantial interest, but the sale link has expired and its precise history should be established from documents rather than the auction description alone.
Frequently asked questions
Was the X-Pack a normal factory model?
It was a Ford Rallye Sport Series X parts programme. New or existing cars could receive selected upgrades through RS dealers, so exact specifications vary.
Did every X-Pack have triple carburettors?
No. Many cars have the wide body package without the full engine conversion.
Can a later conversion still be valuable?
Yes, particularly if it uses genuine parts and is exceptionally well built, but it should be described and valued according to its real history.
Explore more rare Fords
Continue through our Rare & Forgotten Cars guides, read the Ford Orion guide, or use our classic-car rust inspection guide before viewing an older Capri.
