Beyond the Racing Line - Ford Capri MKIII - Gerry Marshall

Beyond the racing line is a new series of in-depth looks and interviews showcasing Scalextric, the world of motorsport and more!

The Ford Capri MKIII is one of the most famous racing Fords of the period. Driven by the incredible Gerry Marshall, this Triplex Capri was an obvious choice for the next Scalextric livery. With its great success in the British Touring Car Championship, it sits perfectly alongside our earlier Vince Woodman and Gordon Spice releases.

Gerry Marshall, or "Big Gerry" as he was lovingly nicknamed, was voted the United Kingdom's number one British motorsport hero by Motorsport Magazine readers in 2019. We caught up with his son, Gregor Marshall, to chat about the legend and get some insider info on his dad.

Q - What does the Ford Capri MKIII represent to you personally—beyond the racing success?

A - This particular car for Dad was big risk; he had just finished ten years as works Vauxhall driver and only had the odd foray into Ford cars. Plus, it was big investment and risk for him, as he had to set up his own race team, workshops, etc, and had to make sure there was money in place to run the car and pay people's wages. From a personal point of view, it’s in the top three race cars that Dad raced, as it’s the first car I ever had photos taken with Dad and the car, plus with my sister too, so it was a real family team effort. I was very lucky a few years ago to be asked to race a replica of the car at Goodwood, in the then Gerry Marshall Trophy, and that is one of my own motorsport highlights, a childhood dream come true.

Q - Are there any particular stories or race weekends that really stand out in your memory?

A - For me personally, I was too young to remember Dad racing the Capri, but there are certainly lots of stories that I have been told over the years, most unrepeatable, but I love hearing from people that remember Dad racing the Capri with happy memories.

Q - What do you think made your dad so successful behind the wheel of the Capri?

A - Dad always loved rear-wheel-drive cars - the more powerful the better, and the Capri really suited him. It was just a shame the team was a little under-funded compared to others, and Dad’s Vauxhall links didn’t always help him with getting the latest development parts that some of the other teams/drivers got.

Q - Your dad was known for his bold racing style—how much of that was influenced by the car?

A - The Capri definitely suited Dad’s driving style, but I don’t think it really influenced his style, as for a couple of years before, he had been driving the Special Saloon Vauxhalls Big and Baby Bertha, which were proper racing cars of the time. They were much lighter and had a lot more horsepower. Dad loved to put on a show, you could tell when he was really trying, as he was neat and tidy, but if he knew he was going to win then he liked to get sideways and put on a show for the spectators and the Marshals, as without both of them, he wouldn’t be racing.

Q - What was your reaction the first time you saw the Scalextric model in person?

A - Growing up, seeing a picture of the Triplex Capri on Dad’s book 'Competition Driving' was one of the reasons I wanted to race - it just looked amazing. So to see the Scalextric model in person was super amazing!

Q - Do you think your dad would’ve been chuffed to see the Capri in miniature, racing around living rooms again?

A - Yes, he would be well chuffed, very proud and also very humbled that a company like Scalextric would be interested. Whilst Dad was in his early teens when Scalextric came out, he did have two younger brothers who had Scalextric, and Dad would always assert his older brother status by playing it with them and beating them.

Q - The Capri was a fan favourite—why do you think it still resonates with motorsport fans today?

A - As fan and a car person, the Mk3 Capri to me is the archetypal 1970s Saloon car, - it just sums up flares, hairy chests and disco. As a race car, it was such a well-used car around Europe, but especially in the UK, as there were so many closely matched cars and great drivers. Some of the on-track battles were incredible. The cars racing today are a little more reliable, developed and faster than that period, but that makes for just as close racing.

Q - Do you think there’s a modern equivalent to that car-and-driver pairing in racing today?

A - As a driver, I don’t think there is a modern equivalent to Dad, as he would literally race anything, every weekend of the year, whereas now, drivers only really get to race in one type of series, with very little crossover. If you took 1978 as an example, Dad competed in 60 races, ranging from modern UK Championships, International events, Historics and even Celebrity races. He won two other Championships outright and had 20 race and class wins. As the British Saloon Car Championship (BSCC) was the premier category of UK motorsport then, you’d have to compare it to the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) today, but those drivers hardly have the time to race in anything other than the 10 rounds and 30 races in the championship.

From a car perspective, the casual spectator could look at the Capri and see that it was lowered, had a roll cage and slick tyres, but otherwise, for all intents and purposes, it looked like what could be bought from your local Ford dealer. Unfortunately, today’s BTCC cars are purpose-built race cars and, whilst they are incredibly fast, well-engineered and, I am sure, great to drive, they are not what could be bought from your local dealer or even recognise.

There’s also the lack of individual personalities out there, or the perceived lack of, as I do know of some of the shenanigans that go on now. Unfortunately you have to be very careful as to what gets in the press – Dad being on the cover of the Daily Express for having an altercation with James Hunt at a black tie do was great press for both of them and their sponsors, especially when James apologised to Dad over a drink and that was also on the front covers. Now, if Lewis Hamilton and Jake Hill had an altercation, then I think it would lead to serious ramifications for both of them – very different times back then!!

Get your hands on your own Ford Capri MKIII, driven by Gerry Marshall. Our 1:32 scale slot car perfectly captures the look and feel of Marshall’s iconic race car, from its striking livery to its race-winning stance. Ideal for fans of classic touring cars and British motorsport history, this model brings the excitement of 1980s BSCC racing to life on your track.