Before and after shots of the small-block Ford in the historic “Catering Meats Special” vintage hillclimber.

Recreating the blown small-block Ford from a historic British hillclimber that hadn’t run since the mid-’80s certainly presented a few challenges to engine builder Rob Morley of Pro Tune Racing and Ratrace Motorsports, but it also presented new opportunities for increased performance.

Named the “Catering Meats Special,” the ’76 Ford Capri Jersey was raced by Barry Moignard for more than 15 years in the Channel Islands. The original 260ci Ford engine came from a Sunbeam Tiger and was topped off with a 4-71 GMC blower. The car created such as sensation at the championship hillclimbs, such as Bouley Bay, that the current owners found it in storage, acquired it and sent the vehicle to Ratrace for a full resto.

“The car was sent to me to get the motor running,” remembers Morley. “We got it running and then discovered that the blower was worn out as was the motor.”

The team first considered purchasing a turnkey engine from the US, but then decided to take on the project. A new short block was assembled using a Dart block, Eagle steel crank and rods, JE pistons, Canton oil pan, Melling oil pump, ARP fasteners, Fel-Pro gaskets, Mahle bearings, Cloyes timing chain and Comp Cams cam and valvetrain. Edelbrock Victor Jr. heads were fully ported and mated to an Offenhauser intake manifold modified to support the Jimmie blower, which was refurbished with the help UK Blowers. Turning the vintage supercharger required custom-made billet pulleys and a new tensioner. Rounding out the build are a Mallory distributor, MSD box, Moroso wires, Holley 700 cfm carb and custom headers. Machine work for the build was handled by Dave Moss at Double 4 Engineering.

Total displacement is now 331ci, and the compression ratio is 7.2:1.

“The engine was built with all internal components to be able to produce 1,400 horsepower, but the 4-71 blower and 700 cfm carb restrict it to 550 horsepower with 486 lb-ft of torque. This will suffice for now as the customer asked for only 400 horsepower,” says Morley, noting the chassis will have to be strengthened as the vehicle restoration continues. “Then we can increase the horsepower to more like 800-plus. The car runs a Jaguar S-type rear end and a 1960’s Mustang 4-speed gearbox, so the drivetrain is the weak point, for now.”