The Capri has been a CC favorite, judging from no less than two writeups (one by yours truly) on the little sporty Euro Ford on these digital pages. So why am I writing a post on another one? Well, as you will see, this is a very unusual example. “Wait a minute Tom, that looks pretty stock to me, other than the spoiler.” Well, just wait…
Let’s get the biggest modification out of the way. Yes, this Capri has a Continental kit, along with custom taillights that remind this author of an early ’60s Lotus Elite. Of course, the gorgeous Elites by Colin Chapman did not have Continental kits!
I am going to guess that the owner of this car was an engineer, judging from all of the decidedly non-factory gadgets and gizmos equipped therein. Here is just a partial excerpt from the ebay auction:
“All of these interior additions were [installed] around 1980 and have only 1500 miles on the car since installation…power antenna, power windows, power trunk lid, interior trunk lights, interior trunk trim including first aid kit [and] tool kit, Realistic CB radio, ZT Dynamic Travel computer [and] 1980 Kenwood stereo radio with cassette player…”
Yes, this 1973 Capri 2000 is a gadget lover’s dream! Clearly this car has been very well taken care of over the years.
All in all, a very attractive car, and that color combination is so period-correct for the early ’70s. Circa 1973, silver cars were the exception, not the rule!
I’ve always had a soft spot for these cars, as Dad had a ’74 V6 with the 2.8L V6 and manual transmission. I’ve not seen a Capri in any sort of nice condition for many years, so this Capri “Brougham” was a treat.
And for those of you a bit put off by the Continental kit on such a sporty little car, it easily can be unbolted and the rear bumper put back into its original configuration, according to the auction. Even as much of a Broughamaholic as I am, that Connie kit would have to go!
The full auction can be seen here on ebay. Related CCs: 1973 Capri by Lincoln-Mercury 1969 Ford Capri
that color combination is so period-correct for the early ’70s
Especially if you were a Houston cop…..
I’d get rid of the continental kit and put a pair of period-correct taillights on it.
Or a Manchester City supporter
Jeeze ~
My Mother & Stepfather bought a pair of these new and liked them very much .
I remember driving it up in Maine when the firestone 500 tire grew a goose egg in the tread edge , I pulled over and watched it grow and pop .
-Nate
“Realistic CB radio”
That’s a blast from the past. 1980 was probably about the tipping point where CB radios were on their way out and radar detectors were on their way in.
I always thought the Realistic brand name sounded funny. Kinda like “It’s not the real thing, but it looks realistic”.
Hideous.
On the other hand, I want my ’74 2.8 V6 with manual back.
+1 now if CC could find a Perana Capri from South Africa,the Daddy of Capris.
Those look like RV tail lamps.The car seems to have kind of a mixed theme. But it is in great condition, and whoever owned it must have really liked it. 10-4, good buddy.
“Custom tail lights” courtesy of Farm and Fleet.
At first I was like……MMMMMMM, then I saw the Continental kit and the trailer tailghts……UGGGHHHHHH, the “interior by Radio Shack” and the automatic killed it for me.
On the other hand, this is probably the nicest Capri I have ever seen outside of an old brochure shot.
It’s like the owner has no grasp (or even cares) what an original version should look like. Somehow, I picture Phyllis Diller driving this, with a small dog (with a bow in it’s hair) in the passenger seat.
Well, keep in mind that, according to the article, most of the modifications were done around 1980. There was probably little thought as to what people from 2014 would think about them. Garish, I suppose, but in 1980 it stood out from the rest of these that were running around then.
I think I can safely say that, even in 1980, these mods would have compromised the appearance of the original. The owner may have been inspired by the 1980 movie ‘Xanadu’.
The optioned vinyl top made this a Ghia even in 1973, good buddy, and the spoiler looks like it came from Dobi.
The Connie has to go!
“And for those of you a bit put off by the Continental kit on such a sporty little car…” Gahhhh! Horrible. See my recent post on the aquamarine ’65 Chrysler. I rest my case. There’s no accounting for taste.
I was quite enamored of these Capris back in 1973-74. With the first gas crisis in full bloom, and struggling with ridiculous fuel consumption (9 mpg) in my ’70 Cougar XR-7 351 Cleveland V-8, I seriously considered ditching my little mini-Mark III. Being a regular at Lynch Lincoln-Mercury in Santa Monica, I always stopped in the showroom and checked these out, even drove them a couple of times. Very sporty, indeed, but as I recall, my tall frame just wouldn’t quite fit. I soldiered on with the Cougar another two years, until I was bitten by the growing Mercedes craze, but that’s another story. Nice example of this Capri, in spite of the questionable add-ons. Haven’t seen one of these in many long years.
I also had a 70 Cougar in college. Also found myself at the L-M dealer from time to time.
Preferred the second generation for the cleaner styling, the hatchback and the “S” trim package, inspired by the late 70s JPS Lotus color scheme.
I also did not fit, by a long shot.
I have one of those Zemco dashboard computers hidden away somewhere after I removed it form my 510. By today’s computing standards it’s rather crude but in the late 1970’s is was a blast to play with.
And exactly what size tire does the continental kit hold?
Golf cart spare?
A Continental kit in matching colors.
The mother ship?
The Capri is the Continental’s kid.
Nice, but the add-ons distract from the true nature of the car.
My brother-in-law had a ’73 with the manual trans and V6 engine. I had just turned 15 (legal age to drive in Louisiana) and admired his car so much!!!! He later turned it in for a VW beetle with an automatic….UGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
That dash makes me want to ask “Where’s the flux capacitor?”
My then 22 y/o uncle had a ’74 manual trans V6 Capri for a year, in 1977. Then, in winter 1978, the stick shift broke. Instead of fixing it, he traded it for a stripped, I6 Nova 2 door. Only option was automatic*, not even a radio! [Finally got AM, 8-Track, and a CB added, later.]
I [at 16] didn’t talk to him for a month! LOL
* Oh wait, it did have whitewalls and full hubcaps, too!
The Capri was one of the first cars I can recall where the car’s roof was wholly unsuited to having a vinyl roof. Ever since, it always seemed that, no matter how the car was styled, Mercury dealers always managed to, somehow, get an aftermarket vinyl roof slapped on.
OTOH, I don’t really remember ever seeing a vinyl roof on the ’99-’02, last generation Cougar. Maybe that’s why Mercury folded – they could no longer get a vinyl roof on every single one of their cars.
Apparently a black vinyl roof was available factory-installed……
I like Capris but not that one radio shack dash automatic and the growth at the rear kill it CB is the only accessory with a use, the Lincoln spotted in town recently had one in it kinda handy here when driving a LHD car you can call the truck you cant see past to ask if its clear to overtake
..that is a very good point!! (LHD overtaking safety)
..personally i think the rear end ‘treatment’ is humorous and a good joke!
folks are going to be either giving the ‘thumbs up’ (as i get when i drive out in the Seven with the engine cover off and the 186 on display), or, a rude sign (haha) from a smaller number, hopefully! :))
Love them. Here’s the story of mine:
http://thecarsofralph.blogspot.com/2013/06/2-1974-mercury-capri.html
I’ve always loved these cars… well, except this one and I’ve never seen one in person in upstate South Carolina until a few years ago. I first saw it, early 70’s model I think, in the parking lot of a thift store. By the time I turned around and got back to it, gone. Then a few days later it past by a fast food restaurant as I was exiting the parking lot. I tried to chase it, barely making out the taillights that I’ve seen in my collection of 70’s car mags. I couldn’t catch it. A few more weeks later a 73 Capri appeared for sale on Craigslist. I just sold a autocross-prepped Miata due to the future arrival of my son and I thought a Capri would make a perfect replacement. Of course I called for weeks but the jerk never my call. I’m not sure why this car remains so elusive for me.
“All of these interior additions were [installed] around 1980 and have only 1500 miles on the car since installation…power antenna, power windows, power trunk lid, interior trunk lights, interior trunk trim including first aid kit [and] tool kit, Realistic CB radio, ZT Dynamic Travel computer [and] 1980 Kenwood stereo radio with cassette player…”
Man if only if it had Bluetooth… 😛
The interior doesn’t bother me so much, but the Connie kit with the mini-me ’63 Impala rear lamp treatment and surrounding cove just don’t work at all! Then there’s the vinyl roof and front spoiler that looks like a tongue.
Love the aqua paint though, even if it’s more representative of the 50s than the 70s. But the Capri came in both yellow and orange as I recall, so an exuberant color like that aqua is fine by me.
Interestingly, my wife brought her ’75 Corolla 2-door hardtop (TE37 model, just below the topline SR5) into our marriage. The dealer in Charleston, SC where she lived at the time had installed a white vinyl roof, I suppose to match the white vinyl interior and complement the optional a/c. Talk about silly-looking! But it was the first 5-speed manual I had ever driven.
The two-liter four I test-drove once was noisy and unhappy-sounding. Add an automatic transmission and hey, guess we don’t need a tach after all. Would like to see that trip computer in action, though. There might be a period-piece film or TV show that would love this thing.
Such a difference between these and the V6.
I’ll take the yellow one, please. The over-done subject car? Fuggedaboutit!