Here lies the Ford Capri, 1969 to 1986. Or did lie...

Much to the delight of dads of a certain generation who might fantasise about being Bodie and Doyle in sideburned 70s police drama The Professionals, the car dubbed 'the working man's Porsche' is back from the automotive grave.

Ford has signalled that it is about to exhume the badge of this iconic 1.9 million-selling British sporting fastback and append it to a new Capri for the 21st century. Complete with quadruple headlamps and a thrusting bonnet, advance images show all the old Capri DNA has far from faded.

Sales are due to start in 2024, but any associations of hairy-chested machismo and powerful petrol-propelled motion look set to be ditched in favour of an electric motor and batteries.

In its heyday, the Capri RS3100 was the quickest model, clocking 60mph in just 7.6 seconds, but don't assume this fourth generation comeback will be wimpy: it promises 300bhp and a sprint to 62mph in 6.4 seconds. And with a range of 310 miles, it promises to be practical, too.

Nevertheless, motoring journalist Zog Ziegler, who lives in Forthampton, believes Ford will have to park any notions of machismo.

Zog said: "They might dust off the badge, but all those days of Essex man with his dangling dice and 'Wayne and Sharon' namestrip across the windscreen will never return. You can't make an electric car with machismo. They just can't make the noise."

For photographer and classic car fan Matthew Bigwood, based in Wotton-under-Edge, the news is just another twist in his love affair with the model.

Matthew said: "I finally got the chance to buy a 2.0 Laser in 1990 and I used it for work around the county. But when I sold it, no one wanted them: the trend was for GTIs - Golfs and Peugeot 205s.

"I think the big challenge Ford has is reviving memories of such an iconic car today."

Pricing is expected to kick off at around £40,000 and, true to the pedigree, the new model will sport rear-wheel drive. Kit inside will include a 15-inch upright touch screen, wireless phone charging and massaging seats.

But the car won't, however be 'retro'.

Amko Leenarts, Ford's design boss, said: Retro designs aren't moving us forward. It's always about totally new interpretation: that's what makes it interesting. Don't make it look like an appliance; it's got to be sexy."