Forza Horizon 2 - Barn Find #06: Ford Capri

The sixth barn find in question was the Europe-made Ford Capri, and this is new to us in the world of Forza. It's located somewhere in the East Valley part of Montellino and after numerous attempts to scavenge the barn find in question, I have discovered that it's over 700 yards near the Montellino Car Meet or two miles from the Montellino Horizon Hub.



After finding it, I managed to take some time off to refresh my perspective and several minutes later, I got a notification saying that the Ford Capri is fully restored so I rushed to the nearest Horizon Hub to claim it.



In America, we have the Mustang but in Australia, they have the Falcon, and in Europe, they have this. The Ford Capri. This is the first-generation Capri but not just that, this is the one with the 3098cc Essex V6 engine on it while mated with a 4-speed manual gearbox. It's based on the Cortina and built in three European plants somewhere in UK, Belgium, and Germany. Originally it was supposed to be called the Colt but Mitsubishi has rights for the Colt name.

This RS3100 model, the one with the 3.1L Essex V6 engine, uses a double-barrel Weber carburettor and power output is 150PS. Although this is a limited-edition model with only 250 units made for homologation purposes, it still found use in the world of touring car racing.

Well, now with the legendary Mk.I Ford Capri under my hands, looks like work isn't done yet because Barn Find number seven is on my sights. Find out in my later posts as me and my Capri are venturing through the seventh barn find.

Forza Horizon 2 - Barn Find #05: Jaguar XK120

During my progress at the hot hatch championship where me and my Renault Clio RS 200 EDC are taking part of, I've received a barn find rumor about an abandoned Jaguar hidden somewhere in the Northern part of Italy's San Giovanni.



As I ventured through North San Giovanni, I have discovered that the barn find in question is located over 300 yards near the North San Giovanni speed trap or 2.7 miles from the Montellino Horizon Hub. I'm on my way to retrieve the legendary XK120.



Well, I know what happens next. After retrieval, wait until a notification is flashed on the screen saying that the barn find I found was restored. After that, I rushed to the nearest Horizon hub to claim it.



Before the big aces like the F40, the McLaren F1, and the Bugatti Veyron were born, this Jag was the original ace of aces. Why? This post-war Jag hailed as the world's fastest car when it was launched in 1948. Top speed is 120 mph (193 km/h) of top speed, which in 1948, hailed as the fastest car in the world courtesy of its 3.4L DOHC Straight-6 engine that generates 160 bhp (119 kW; 162 PS) @ 5000 rpm of power.

This model is the SE and this XK120 features wire wheels, increased power, stiffer suspension and dual exhaust system. Therefore, the SE model produces 180 bhp (134 kW; 182 PS) or the one I have comes with the improved 3.4L engine that churns out 210 bhp (157 kW; 213 PS) of power.

I got the chance to drive this legendary Jaguar because to me, the XK120 is a worthy ancestor to the world's fastest cars including the Ferrari F40, the McLaren F1, and of course, the Bugatti Veyron. Make sure you treat this legend with the respect it deserves when you had one, got it? Anyway, like I was saying...

WHAT?! Another barn find? There's still more of it all over Europe? Well, to make things worse, I've received two barn find rumors earlier! There's so many classics that need to be rescued but let's scramble for later to find some barn finds. Although I'm still in a championship and my Clio needs me, it might be best to focus with the search ops for the barn finds while worrying with the championship progress later.

The car that defeated the steam train from Top Gear...

In Series 13 opener of Top Gear, a letter from a viewer was sent to Top Gear and says here that what would Top Gear be look like when they were in 1949 and yep, Jeremy, Richard, and James take up for the big challenge. It's the 1949 episode. An epic 1949 race between the Jaguar XK120, the world's fastest on that time, the Vincent Black Shadow, which is the fastest motorbike on that time, and something that is bit 1949-ish but modern, a Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado steam train. Jeremy Clarkson took part on the A1 Tornado while James May is in the Jaguar XK120 and Richard Hammond, in his leather romper suit, rides on the Vincent Black Shadow in a race from King's Cross, London, to a bar in Edinburgh. In the end, the Jaguar XK120 defeated the A1 Tornado steam train while the Vincent Black Shadow motorbike is dead last because of problems.

The world's fastest car from the late 1940's

This is how Forza feels like when it's 1949

So, the Jaguar XK120, what made it very special that when this car was launched in 1948, it hailed as the world's fastest car from that era. The roadster version as seen at the 1948 London Motor Show was actually a pre-production model and its positive reception propelled Jaguar founder and design boss William Lyons to put it into production. As the name implies, it is capable of 120 mph (193 km/h) of top speed, which in 1948, hailed as the fastest car in the world courtesy of its 3.4L DOHC Straight-6 engine that generates 160 bhp (119 kW; 162 PS) @ 5000 rpm of power.

Back then, this car costs 1200 Pounds in 1948 but in today's world, that's about 35,000 Pounds. It's a Bugatti Veyron with the price of the 5 Series.

In the old days, XK120 units with standard 8:1 compression ratio were exported to the world market but in Britain, a 7:1 low compression version was provided with decreased power because of the post World War II austerity measures.

Most of the XK120's come with the independent torsion bar front suspension, semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear, recirculating ball steering, telescopically adjustable steering column, and all-round 12 inch drum brakes that can be easily broken or Alfin (ALuminium FINned) brake drums that has low chances of getting it broken. 

In 1951, an improved version, the XK120 SE (Special Edition) was launched with wire wheels, increased power, stiffer suspension and dual exhaust system. Therefore, the SE model produces 180 bhp (134 kW; 182 PS) of power but the one we have on Forza Motorsport 4 via the July Car Pack was actually the XK120 SE (C-Type Head) that comes with the improved 3.4L engine that churns out 210 bhp (157 kW; 213 PS) of power.

Off to kick some steam train rails...

During its tenure, the XK120 was heavily involved in motorsports beginning with its first victory at the Daily Express-sponsored One-Hour Production Car Race held on 30 August 1949 at Silverstone Circuit, England. From 1949 to 1954, the XK120 shines through various races such as the Le Mans, Targa Florio, Mille Miglia, Silverstone Production Car Race, Tourist Trophy, Mount Druitt 24 Hours Road Race, and we're not joking, NASCAR where Al Keller won the first NASCAR road race, held at Linden Airport, New Jersey, on June 13, 1954.

Nice view with this car!

Even in old days, cars are better than trains. Most Top Gear episodes always proving that cars are better than trains. The Aston Martin DB9 is better than the train heading to Monte Carlo, the Nissan R35 GT-R is better than the Shinkansen, and this...the Jaguar XK120 is better than the Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado steam train. I'm glad that this car showed up on Forza Motorsport 4 and I'm loving it not only because of the noise and its heritage but this really is the car that this shows that even six decades ago, in post-WW2 era, cars are better than trains! It pays to be a Top Gear fanatic.

BEAT THAT, CATHEDRALS EXPRESS!!!