Glen Smale
It had been 26 years since this racer reigned supreme in its class, but Z181 still looked every bit as powerful and threatening in 1996 as it did back in its heyday. © Glen Smale
Ford

Historic Ford V8 Capri To Roar Again

The original Basil Green Team Gunston Capri Perana racer sets aim on Goodwood FOS

Avatar photoGlen Smale

The names of Bobby Olthoff and the Team Gunston Ford Capri Perana V8 are inseparable, as together they carved out a new chapter in South African saloon car racing in 1970. To many South Africans, the mention of these two names instantly brings to mind the striking orange-and-gold Capri Perana, or ‘Caprana’ as it quickly became known, thundering around the local circuits and providing the crowds with thrilling entertainment.

Bobby Olthoff, Ford Capri Perana Glen Smale
Bobby Olthoff returns to the Kyalami circuit north of Johannesburg, the track that gave the mighty Capri Perana its first victory in his hands (July 1996). © Glen Smale

The South African saloon car class was highly competitive in the 60s and 70s, and perhaps it would be helpful at this point to mention the leading players in this class at the time. In 1964, the saloon car champion was Koos Swanepoel in a Mk1 Lotus Cortina, while the 1965 champion was none other than that man Bobby Olthoff in the mighty 7-litre Willment Ford Galaxie. Basil van Rooyen took the title in both 1966 and 1967 in a Ford Mustang. Scamp Porter claimed the title in 1968 in his Renault R8, and in 1969 Peter Gough blasted his way to the top in the very quick Meissner Ford Escort. This saw Ford taking five titles in six years, so when Bobby Olthoff burst on the scene in the Capri Perana in 1970, big things were expected.

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Glen Smale
South African-born Smale started his professional motor journalism and photography career back in 1994, but if truth be told, Glen has had a driving passion for all things motoring since a tender age. In 1997, Glen launched Autosport & Classics, a classic motoring and historic motorsport magazine covering the local scene in SA. Two years later, having sold his share in the magazine. Between 2004 and 2016 Smale has authored thirteen books covering sports cars and motor racing. In 2007 he received the Laurin and Klement ‘Design Writer of the Year’ award for his book Jaguar E-type: Portrait of a Design Icon. In 2012 his book, Porsche at Le Mans: 60 Years of Porsche Participation in the World’s Greatest Motor Race, was shortlisted in the British Sports Book Awards. Of his thirteen books, no less than seven have been on Porsche cars, perhaps suggesting where his passion lies. Glen first started writing for the only magazine dedicated entirely to the Porsche 911, namely Total 911, as far back as 2005 and still contributes to this magazine on a regular basis. He has also written for the well-known Porsche magazines in America, Excellence, for a number of years. In addition to this, Glen has contributed to the Porsche Club of North America monthly publication, Panorama, as well as a host of other titles over the years in Europe, the UK and South Africa. Away from the race track, Glen was an aspiring golfer in his younger days and represented his province in the under-18 age group for a number of years. He went on to win his University Championships and represented Rhodes University for five years, as well as playing club league golf for ten years. With both children now out of the house and working, Glen lives with his lovely German wife, Elke, in the beautiful county of Carmarthenshire in West Wales. Glen has been a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers since 1995.
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