ONE of the stars of this weekend’s C&VMRC Motor Show, certainly for those who grew up in the late 1960s and 1970s, is likely to be Neil Wakeling’s mint condition Capri.

Although the Ford with its trademark large bonnet is likely to be greeted with more than a few Essex jokes during Sunday’s event, it is worth a good look.

‘It is the very first of the breed,’ said Mr Wakeling, who owns Trinity Property Management and is a director of Jersey Trust Company. ‘It’s a 69 and it is the best, most desirable model, a GTXLR, which means that it has all the factory options.’

He added: ‘It is used all the time. It had one owner before me and it has only done 20,000 miles from new. According to the club in the UK it is one of the best in existence. It really is like a new car.’

Mr Wakeling, who is a member of the Classic and Vintage Motor Racing Club of Jersey, bought it from the original owner in the UK three years ago and it is now one of the stallions of his high horsepower stable.

‘I grew up with them,’ he said. ‘I went to the launch with my father in 1969 and saw an identical car in the display. I am particularly interested in original, one-owner, low mileage cars and this one fits that bill perfectly.’

Mr Wakeling will also be displaying other cars in his collection as well as several bikes at the show.

On the stand alongside the Capri will be a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger, a 1977 Triumph Dolomite Sprint, a 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB, a 1956 Morris Minor saloon and a 1961 Ford Consul. In addition, Mr Wakeling’s 19-year-old daughter, Sarah, will be showing her 1974 Triumph Spitfire, which she uses for hill climbs and sprints.
‘The show is one of the highlights of the club year,’ said Mr Wakeling.

‘The nice thing about the show is that it brings together motorcycle and classic car enthusiasts and lets us show our vehicles off to the public.’

• The Classic and Vintage Motor Racing Club of Jersey’s 2008 Motor Show takes place at the Royal Jersey Showground on Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm.