Its been 40 yrs since the RS31 was built, the cars have been around for awhile now and I know most are still out there. so get them out of the shed and on the road, there are some good shows coming up this year in 2013, with the first in being the small ford sunday in VIC, then some in NSW and QLD later in the year, now i know there is some long distance's between some states, but i know I will be at some show's in at least 4 states.. so get them out, and dont use the excuse of the rego is to much, as most states now run a cheap club plate sceme, so get intouch with me at the RS owners for the rego( we have state reps in QLD and VIC) and get the cars out in in the sunshine.... I know some Qlder's are keen to get a big turnout together and I will be making the trip up. anybody wanting to make the trip either south or north, I am half way and have some spots in the shed for a stop over..also the ACT small ford muster is another good 1( with atleast 4 rs31's turning up and another owner there) dont hesitate to contact me if you want to make the journey either way.I have shed space here if you want to stop over... cheers Owen

These days the young blokes might be discussing the new focus st in tangerine scream and salivating over the specs and creature comforts and performance, and I have read up on it too but I dunno I just cant get enthusiastic about it.  (getting old).
It wasnt always like this tho I remember back in 73 when ford took delivery of about 50 rs3100s there was some real excitement in the ford camp in those days. If I remember correctly they didnt sell very quick tho because of the sticker price and because one could get a faster torana that was cheaper and also because fuel prices were going north at an alarming rate.
A couple of years later the depriciation had made them more reasonable in price and a mate of mine showed up at my front door in Ballarat with a very nice pale blue example. After sampling this i decided that another capri was what i needed and it wasnt long before i took delivery of the 72 red pepper that is still sitting in the shed now.
Actually my capri was first registered in march 73 so technicly its also having its fortieth in 2013.
Anyway Owen not too many blokes have the privelige of owning an rs3100 and I am sure yours is in good hands and its great that you intend on spreading the joy around this coming year. In fact i reckon everyone with any sort of capri will be celebrating with you,... regards, ron.

Hate being pedantic but aren't all Aust delivered ones 1974's?   

gtv6capri

Hate being pedantic but aren't all Aust delivered ones 1974's?   

JR's right you know, production of the RS3100s only began in November 1973 and overlapped with the Mark II Capri's through the early part of 1974. All 50 RS3100s imported into Australia arrived late in June 1974 as the oil crisis had hit the UK hard. These 50 examples sold here for $6250, which was more than a GT Falcon at the time!

All rs31's were built in the same month of November 73 ( except for the prototypes )thats why they all have the chassis number starting BBECND ( except 1 which has a escort prefix.. the one used in the studio shots).   If you went and bought a new focus or falcon off the showroom floor now it would be 2012 car not a 2013.....;) They sold for more as they are a better car than the falcons ;)

Owen, whilst I agree with you that the RS3100s have a BBECND prefix, meaning that they were all marked as being built in November 1973 at Halewood in the UK as Capri two-door coupe's, past experience indicates that that doesn't necessarily mean that they were all completed in November 1973. As 'our' RS3100s weren't delivered here until late June 1974 and were only offered for sale from July 1974, I reckon they should be classified as 1974 models. In fact, some weren't even sold here until 1975! I quote here Glass's Dealers Guide of April 1977 which states in part, under Important Notes, Model Identification, "Since all manufacturers do not employ the same method in yearly dating of their models, the safest way of describing a vehicle when offering it for sale is to quote the model series or number as specified by the manufacturer, and the year of first registration. This procedure is recommended to avoid the possibility of a charge of misrepresentation."  This is Glass's advice to all Australia dealers at the time. Interestingly, all 11 of the Australian Capri '165hp specials' were coded as CK17ME models, built in August 1972, but of course they were not completed until November 1972. In fact at least one of these 'specials' uses the Ford two ID plate system from 1973, yet still quotes the car as a CK17ME34030P! Ain't life grand, Terry.

Recently we celebrated the fiftieth anniversery of the mk1 cortina, but not all mark ones were 50 years old, mine is a 66 model so wont be fifty till 2016. Using this logic then the first suitable time to celebrate for the rs3100 would be the earliest reference date or whats on the build plate.
 
I dont know what the UK boys are thinking about as the date but it would be appropiate to be synchronised with them for us all to be on the same page.
My capri has the number plate GTC73 because I have an original Vic. reg paper showing it as first registered in march 73 and calling it a 73 model. We know that production finished in nov 72 so the plate is just a reference to this.
Another thought is that Owens car is not one of the 50 ford imports its one he nabbed from the uk recently. (Good work O.), so if they are celebrating in the UK this year then Owen rightly can too.

My thoughts are a celebration at the same time as the UK.  If we get their date an arrange gatherings in all capitals at the same time it would make for good publicity shots.  I'm sure with skype and the like we could arrange live internet  coverage at each location
 
Re the build date vs year made debate, I was only taking the pi$$ out of Owen, not being anal  

Ok, ok, now that Owen has our attention, I think we must do something about this 40th anniversary! So, let's compromise and say, like the financial year, that the RS3100 is a 1973/74 model, hence celebrations for the 2013/14 financial year! Having said that, please consider the following option(s):
 
Australia Day, January 26, 2014 falls on a Sunday AND, it just so happens that the Capri Car Club here in 'livable/lovable' Melbourne has Federation Square booked for a Capri 'show n shine' display. But wait, there's more!
 
The following Sunday is 'Small Ford Sunday' fallinmg on February 2nd, which this year is being held at Seaworks in Williamstown and features the 50th Anniversary of the Cortina. Why don't we canvass the RSOC Vic and get the 2014 SFS to highlight the RS3100s 40th anniversary? IF, you really wanted to, you could combine both events and have a long weeks holiday in 'Marvellous Melbourne'. Back to you guys for your thoughts!! 

The Uk boys are planning a huge gathering in july this year at combe.. Most show in the year may get 1 or 2 but at combe they have had up to 40, And I know that Lenn is pulling out all stops to get as many as he can, Hoping to have more than 50 there...
 
JR you better find driver this year for SFS as i want to see ur RS31 and ur 3000E there