The 1972 Ford Capri Perana was a South African-built performance version of the Mk1 Ford Capri, developed by the legendary tuning company Basil Green Motors. Known as the Capri V8 Perana, it was the only V8-powered Capri approved by Ford and sold through official dealerships, making it a uniquely sanctioned hot rod.
At its heart was a 5.0-liter (302 cubic inch) Windsor V8 sourced from the Ford Mustang, mated to either a 4-speed manual or automatic transmission. This engine gave the lightweight Capri a serious performance edge, producing around 280 horsepower in tuned form and propelling the car from 0 to 60 mph in under 6 seconds—an astonishing figure for its time, especially outside the U.S.
Despite its raw performance, the Capri Perana retained much of the standard Capri's road manners and styling, with only subtle exterior clues like wider wheels, slightly flared arches, and badging to hint at the beast within. It was also a successful race car, dominating South Africa’s Group 5 racing series and setting lap records thanks to its power-to-weight ratio.
Only a limited number of Peranas were built—roughly 500 road cars—making them extremely rare and highly sought-after today. The 1972 Ford Capri Perana stands as a vivid example of how regional ingenuity and muscle car DNA could come together to create one of the most unique and potent Capris ever made.
