We’re told this is a one-of-a-kind sports car, something that would usually be thought of as a kit. But it may have been custom-built by its original owner. The car is part Triumph, part Volkswagen, and the rest from unknown sources. It’s titled as a Triumph which must pertain to the VIN, so we’ll refer to it as such here. Located in Kew Gardens, New York, this interesting automobile was treated to a new engine just two years ago with only 50 miles put on it since then. If you’re interested, it’s available here on craigslist for $5,000. Thanks, T.J., for playing sleuth on this one!
On both the front and rear ends of this car, the word “CapCar” is embossed in the fiberglass, but we don’t know what that means. Online, it’s a portal that people can use to buy and sell cars. We also don’t know what type of 1969 Triumph served as the donor for the chassis of this special vehicle. It’s powered by a mid-engine, air-cooled VW bus flat 4-cylinder engine with a 4-speed manual transmission. When the crate motor was dropped in two years ago, new dual carburetors were added to the equation. As a result, this 2-seater is said to run and drive great.
This car was the pet project of its original owner and since we’re told it’s a one-owner machine, we’re guessing it may be up for sale from an estate. Work on the vehicle is said to date back to the 1980s. The Triumph doesn’t look quite like anything else I’ve seen and if it intrigues you enough to go check it out, we’re told the Triumph/Bus is less than a quarter of an hour away from both JFK and LaGuardia airports.
Yes once again “TRIUMPH the face of failure”
Curious. It’s a New York city car with an Illinois license plate. Is there a back story here?
That is one butt ugly car but would probably fit in the background of a Science Fiction movie.
There’s also some Caputo logos on the tail section; reckon that must have been the builder’s name and explains the CapCar moniker.
As for the Triumph connection, I’m guessing it was built on a Spitfire chassis which, somewhat surprisingly for such a tiny sportscar, was body-on-frame construction using a radically downsized and modified derivative of the Herald chassis.
Very creative for its day… and probably a blast to drive. The builder spent a lot of time putting together just what he wanted. It’s just not for everyone’s taste.
This car was built by a retired designer, Ralph Caputo who lives outsideof Boston. The present owner bought it last year, completed the interior and is now flipping it.
Fair price, it is a clean build and ready to drive, probably worth 5k in parts. I agree with Neil M, this would be fun to drive. Can’t lose if it drives as nicely as it presents in pictures.
I like the placement of the engine as this becomes a mid-engine car…but, in a VW the motor sits behind the transaxle (reverse of what this orientation is) so wouldn’t that give this 4 reverse gears and one forward?
You can flip the ring and pinion for this kind of engine install. Don’t know the details or how hard it is but it’s doable.
Flipping the ring and pinion seems to do the job. From what I understand it’s an easy and common trick.
Ah! That makes sense then.
so much for the 80’s Lamborgini countach
It’s a Countach in the larva stage.
Call me weird..but I like it..a futuristic dune buggy and it seems like a bargain at that price.No top? Might get damp driving it from New York to Sonoma..hmmmm..Road trip anyone( bring a brolly)
One Only Kit Car? Thank God!
I have of yet to ever see a kit car or any other conglomerate of parts that looked good in my opinion, and this certainly doesn’t change that view.
Now we know where the bizzaro Cybertruck got it’s inspiration from.
There is a reason its a one of a kind. But now it has me thinking what other kind of body could I get to drop on the chassis
I must have strange taste, but in my world, it´s a good looking car. The quality of the work seems first class also. I think it would be a blast to tool around in it, however the getting in and especially the getting out would no doubt tax my old body — and no roof? Well, motorcycles have none either. For what it is, I give it both thumbs up
Thought it was Siva Spyder or a Midas at first. Cool looking little car. Needs better wheels…maybe four spoke Revolutions or Minilites!
I would rather have this then the Daytona posted today.
Did you mean the Duster Howie? If so, I totally agree. I also think this would be quite a toy for not that much money. It’s ugly, but cute, like a Manx (which I would love to have).
No, the Ferrari Daytona tribute, right above where this is posted.
Sure, I’d drive it and make up some story about it being a concept by Famous Italian Desiger and how it debuted at the Frankfurt show as a proposal to extend the VW boxer engine and take it too a cars and coffee and see how many I could get to bite on that.
Carbuzzard,
I’ve owned a couple V8 Tatra cars from the early 1960s. These cars have an air-cooled V8 engine in the rear, with 8 individual cast aluminum valve covers and twin Jikov 2-barrel carbs. I always wanted to bring an extra engine over from Europe, and send the valve covers out to a laser engraving shop and have the Porsche emblem engraved into each one. I wanted to put the engine in a small trailer and take it to a Porsche car show. Just let people see it, and ask the Porsche “Experts” for their input!
Oh, you are a mean man.