Well, Richard Bennett’s recent post on the 1991 Capri got me thinking about its namesake, the first Capri sold in the United States, unveiled in 1970 and sold by Lincoln-Mercury dealers. By the time the Capri came to the US market, insurance premiums were beginning to have an effect on sales of cars like the Mustang, Javelin, Barracuda and others. In short order, your choices for coupes were down to two basic types: a big, landau roofed cruiser like the Monte Carlo or Grand Prix, or a small, sporty coupe such as the Capri or Toyota Celica.
image: lov2xlr8.no
The Capri was built by Ford of Germany and introduced as Europe’s answer to the Mustang: a sporty coupe based on a bread-and-butter sedan lineup. While the powertrain was largely derived from the Cortina, the Capri also had much in common with other European Fords such as the Ford 20M and 26M, shown above. Considering how zaftig the Mustang was getting by the early ’70s, it would not really be competing with the sporty, svelte German Ford in the US, though it sought a market not unlike that which drew folks to the original ’65 Mustang.
While the Capri had semi-fastback styling, it was not a hatchback, retaining a conventional trunklid. Its styling echoed the Mustang to an extent with its long hood, short deck proportions. It even featured similar faux air scoops in the rear quarter panels.
Like other German and English Fords of the time, Capris featured a front engined, rear wheel drive monocoque body with front disc and rear drum brakes. It had an independent front suspension and semi-elliptic three-leaf rear suspension. A four speed manual was standard equipment, with Select-Shift automatic an option. Early US-market Capris made do with a sub-100 hp 1.6L inline four cylinder engine that wasn’t really anything special, performance-wise.
Things got more interesting the following year, when an OHC 2.0L four cylinder became available. In 1972, the Cologne-built V6 was added as well, providing sprightlier motivation for those who wanted it. Regardless of which engine they had, the “Sexy European” Capri was a hit in the States. It actually became the second-best selling import after the VW Beetle, no mean feat.
1973 Capris got a minor facelift with a new grille and 5-mph front bumper. It still retained the slim chrome bumpers, though the front one was now positioned much further from the body. That changed in 1974, when much more substantial bumpers were added front and rear. They still looked better than many other 1974 models, however, as they wore body-colored plastic covers that made them look less tacked on.
By ’74 the Capri came in two varieties, the four-cylinder 2000 and V6 2800. In addition, V6s added blackout trim below the chrome side trim and on the rear taillight panel, plus V6 badges on the front fenders. The Rostyle wheels were still in evidence. It never occurred to me how much they look like MGB wheels. Funny, considering they are virtually identical.
Thanks to the enhanced bumpers, Capris were now 174.8″ from stem to stern, though the wheelbase remained at 100.8 inches. 1974s came in eight colors, including Yellow, Red, Medium Green Metallic and Medium Brown Metallic – perhaps better known as ’70s Brown. Capris were not bargain basement equipped, as all cars came with standard bucket seats, pop-out rear windows, bright bodyside and window trim, and color-keyed carpeting.
As mentioned in previous articles, my Dad was a dram shop insurance investigator in the ’70s, and as a result he got a company car because of all the traveling. His first one was a ’73 Gran Torino sedan, in copper with a brown vinyl roof. He was more used to sporty little cars, having owned several Porsche 356s. That Torino must have been a real drag, because just one year later he was allowed to get a sporty yellow ’74 Capri V6 with four speed from Bob Neal Lincoln-Mercury in Rock Island.
It must have been a breath of fresh air after the dull undercover detective special that was the Gran Torino. His Capri had the “terra cotta” colored interior (shown two photos further down) and a four-speed manual. Unlike many Detroit cruisers of the time, the Capri had full instrumentation instead of a just a gas gauge and speedometer. This was also the car my folks took on their honeymoon. They drove it to Pikes Peak, and there is a picture somewhere with Mom, the Capri, and the mountains in the background.
One funny story involving the Capri happened one day when he was driving back to Rock Island from Geneseo. While he was on the highway, someone passed him and cut him off. Naturally, this ticked him off, so as he was shifting into second, he brought the gear lever back a little harder than he should have, and the entire lever came off. Now the car was stuck in second gear with no way to shift it.
He parked the car on the shoulder just outside of Geneseo and hitchhiked to Porter’s, a little hardware store in Hampton, IL, where he called Mom and told her to please come and get him. The Capri got towed back to town, and was fixed in short order. Things like this can only happen to my Dad!
The Capri was none the worse for wear, and eventually Dad bought it from the company for my Mom when her Diamond Blue ’68 Mustang started getting really rusty. One day she was driving the Mustang, looked down at the floor and saw the pavement go by. Time for a new car! She put an ad in the paper and the Mustang was sold to a guy who seemed nonplussed at the rust and happily drove it away.
Our featrued Capri, found by Paul, seems to be in fairly decent shape, though there is some encroaching rust around the fenders. Maybe it’s not an original Oregon car. At some point, its chrome bumpers were replaced with these custom jobs, which almost, but not quite, match the paint. I haven’t seen a Capri in years. In fact, the last one I recall seeing was a faded red one in a junkyard about 20 years ago. I was with my Dad and my brother; Andy and I collected old car emblems, and Dad indulged us from time to time by taking us to U Pull A Part in Milan. I still have the rear deck “Capri” script from that car somewhere.
After 1974, the Capri II came out as an early 1976 model (there were no 1975 model Capris in the US). It had new front and rear styling and smoother flanks, finally eliminating the fake quarter panel extractor vents. The biggest news, however, was a hatchback. Sales did not really take off though, as the exchange rates of the German-built import were making it prohibitively expensive for many pocketbooks. The last German Capris were imported in 1977, with some leftovers sold as ’78s. For 1979, a new Capri would be essentially a badge-engineered Mustang.
As for our Capri, Mom eventually got tired of driving a manual transmission (her ’59 Dodge, ’60 Impala and the ’68 Mustang had all been automatics) and the Capri was traded in on a 1973 Volvo 1800ES with an automatic transmission. So started my parents’ long association with Volvo, which continues to this day.
These were very attractive little cars. The only one I was ever around was a 1973 that belonged to the next door neighbors.
Mr. Bordner was an attorney. They traded fairly frequently and there was a long (if schizophrenic) line of hot Pontiacs and VWs. Mr. Bordner had a 71 Firebird (an odd car with a 6 and dogdish hubcaps) and did a stunning thing. One day he brought home a copper-brown 73 Capri.
This was stunning because I had never seen any kind of Ford in their driveway. I never heard anything bad about it, and I certainly found the car appealing. By the time he traded it in, their son and I had gravitated to different social circles. I do not recall what he replaced it with, but it was not another Ford.
I never liked the look of the Capri II. I thought that the proportions were off. This Capri’s styling was almost perfect.
Beautiful design and the only thing I would change (and you don’t hear me say this often) larger fatter wheels and tires would improve the look of the car considerably. Otherwise, beautiful… make mine a V6 with a stick.
I’ve seen somebody who has a U.S.-spec Mk II Capri who’s substituted 14-inch wheels from an early-80s Fox-body Mustang. They look perfectly natural on the Capri.
I’ve always found Ford’s “turbine style” wheels of the 70s and 80s quite attractive.
Looking for one the same model if anyone knows I’m in Georgia
My first new car…74 Capri V6 with decor package, 4 speed, Electric Blue. Here in Canada in late 74 early 75 they were selling these with a $500 rebate. I remember that the valves constantly needed adjusting, driveshaft center bearing made a “ringing” sound at certain speeds and the clutch was reluctant to engage staring on a hill. Other than that it seemed to be built like a tank…very solid little car and the V6 sounded great.
My first car was a 1973 Capri 6 cylinder 4 speed light metallic green tan interior.. As for the clutch you’re spot on ..I learned to drive stick with my Capri.. It would lurch forward yet it it didn’t stall..I would have to press the clutch it in order for it to stop lurching along..but after getting the hang of it, I loved it…since then I’ve owned 13 Mustang’s. I always gravitate back to the Mustang..time for #14 soon!
I haven’t seen a Crapri in years. Probably since the late ’70’s!
I shot this a while back, and forgot about those twin exhaust pipes. That’s a bit odd, since I assumed it was a basic four cylinder automatic. No V6 emblems? Or maybe an engine swap?
The Capri was a very revolutionary car for Europe, almost on the same scale as the original Mustang was in the US. The whole idea of an affordable sporty family coupe was simply unheard of, and a very un-European concept. And the huge range of engines available, everything from a 1.1 L Kent four to the 3.0 L Essex V6 was also revolutionary. There was such a pecking order in engine size back then, and the Capri busted that wide open.
The Capri was an American-style car translated into European-size and handling that was hugely successful in Europe, the first, and almost the only one of its kind.
I drove and almost bought a 1979 Capri around 1985, just before the Jetta experience. In hindsight, I really should have bought it since it was low km and was only $3000, less than a third of what I paid for the Jetta.
The Cologne V-6 had lots of torque for the day and with manual transmission, it moved along very nicely for the times. The interior was first class, better than any American car of the interior.
The reason I didn’t but it was one of our mechanics talked me out of it, claiming (quite correctly) that the Cologne V-6 was a very high maintenance device. It certainly could not have been any worse than my Jetta and a whole lot cheaper in the long run.
The Capri ranks as “the one that got away.”
Just to clarify, it was a Euro-sourced Capri and not a Fox? Unclear because 1979 as stated above was actually the first year of Fox-based Capris.
I sit corrected. I was the last year of the German Capri, so it had to be a 1978.
Just to confuse things even more, for the first couple years of Fox body production, the Capri (III, as it was briefly called) DID come with the (2.8L) Cologne V6.
I think it might have been 1979-80 only, by the time I was shopping for 1981’s, Ford was shipping them with the 200 (3.3L) I-6. I went for a leftover 1980 2.3 Turbo model, maybe I should have popped for a 200 instead?
YES.. “the one that got away”… I had a ’77 Capri II with the Cologne V6 and 4 speed…Silver/Black… What a great car.. I bought it from the original owner with low miles, He had just had the transmission overhauled.. $$$$…. The headlights were stuck ON all the time… and that was the only thing that bothered me.. I sold it… Years later I regretted that… I should have fixed the headlights.. I hate Daylight running lights.. too.. I can.. and did… shut them off on my 124 Spider…..
My uncle’s 74 Capri also had its stick shift break off. It was only 3+ years old in 1977 when occured.
Still was a fun car to ride in, it had the V6.
The shifter on the German trans used a large nylon nut to thread it into the transmission housing so it was pretty easy to pull it out. The same thing occurred with the 2.0L Pintos that used the same basic transmission. The other problem spot is they will snap in half at the groove for the E clip that kept tension on the reverse lock out spring.
I pulled the shifter out of my ’74 Mustang II with a hard shift to 2nd. I was only 3 or so miles from home so made it there with only 2nd gear. Broke one of the shifter forks in the toploader 4 speed so replaced it with a junkyard unit from a Pinto. Bolted right in – except – the bell housing from the Pinto was about 1/4″ shorter than the Mustang unit. Several hours on my back and a fair amount of cursing before I figured that one out. Fortunately the Mustang bell housing bolted to the Pinto trans, so all was well in the end.
Paul, this site is a bit buggy – I commented earlier and it just vanished, it wouldn’t load at all earlier this AM and too often takes forever to load. Thought you’d like to know.
Back to topic:
I truly liked these cars the first time I saw one on base when in the air force. Sadly, I never got a ride in one, let alone drove one, but they sure looked like a viable option compared to the Japanese econoboxes back then, and certainly infinitely more desirable than any VW to me.
The styling, interior room, layout and proportions all seemed just right to me and I wanted one. They also looked good in every color, too, whether red, brown, green, or yellow.
I was beginning to look more at Ford’s offerings about that time, but other than this, not too much interested me in those days, except for the Bronco and F-150.
Sorry; see the latest post – we’re getting a dyno-tune.
The only part I don’t like is the tail light treatment in the rear. Other than that, I’ll agree with everyone above in saying that this was a really handsome little car.
I’m sure I’ve seen one somewhere, but I’ll be darned if I can remember it.
For those who were around when these were new, did they all rust away? What went wrong that they seem to have completely disappeared? Heck, I still see 70s era Civics and Corollas once in a while. Why not a Capri?
I think a combination of rust and over-enthusiastic modification got a lot of them.
It’s better than the original tail lights, which were narrow things shared with the Mk 1 Escort (Euro model). They looked too small for the car, didn’t really suit it – as per this 1970 replica Capri Perana (302 V8) currently on trademe..
I liked the original Capri but in ’74, I was just starting working and the ’70 VW was paid for. I did get to drive one on the interview trip to San Jose–ran afoul of the brake pedal when I went to downshift. I forgot I had an automatic. Could have been worse–my friend was into left-foot braking and did so in his stickshift rental Capri. Somehow, he got away without damage…
I had the bored-out 2.8 V6 in my ’84 Ranger. I gather the 2.6 was a lot easier on the exhaust valves. Not much fun for oil consumption.
I always kinda liked these, I remember the old LIFE and Time magazines in our garage from the early 70’s had ads for these that made them seem so cool, the lady in the reclined front seat, the pseudo leather looking seats and plastiwood dash with full gauges made seem like a baby Jaguar to me.
Later I learned that although they were fun cars, they had several weak points that led them to have short lives, I cant recall the last time I saw one in the wild, you cant even find any on ebay.
I would also like to add that cars such as this tend to live rather hard lives at the hands of somewhat exuberant young drivers.
And yes, the V-6 was not the longest living motor ever. A friend had one with the 2.3 litre four and it was a real dog.
Lima 2.3 turbo swap anyone?
Dan, as you so often speak of engine swaps, it is obvious you have never done one. Installing an non-spec engine is The Mother of All Nightmares.
The early Capri came with the “Pinto” 2.0, also a Lima mill. A Turbo 2.3 would drop in fairly easy.
I’m a tad too young to really appreciate the first series of Capri (1970-1976), by the time I was able to legally drive, they were all pretty much rust buckets. Back then it didn’t take long for almost any car to become a rust bucket, which explains why I had hardly had contact with these cars.
The Capri II (which I thought was an awful name, welcome to the imagination-less 1970’s) is much more cemented in my mind for several reasons.
The good: When I was in Germany in the late 70’s, I attended a couple of ADAC rallys with my cousins, and saw cafe-racer style modified Capris over there. They had the blistered fenders and the big spoilers, kind of looked like the contemporary IMSA racers over here in the States. They were beautiful and have wanted one ever since. IIRC, Hot Rod magazine did a 302 V8 Capri II project car, with said IMSA style fender flares & etc. I was hooked.
The bad: My older brother decided to get a new car in 1978, and since we were raised by a Ford man, there was no other place to start looking. To be honest, my brother did look at Le Cars (too funky), Rabbits (too expensive), AMC Gremlins (clunky and funky) and a couple of other cars. He finally wandered into the LM dealership to look at a Capri II upon my advice. Long story short, he drove out of there with a brand new Mercury Zephyr ES for much less than an equivalent 4 cylinder Capri would have cost. (I think it was about 50% less!)
What the Hell does a 15 year old know about how much things cost? 🙂
Ford was big into sequels, Mustang II, Capri II, LTD II, Bronco II, Mark III, IV,V etc……
Well, in this case, it made plenty of sense, as the Capri II was really just a cautious upgrade of the original, which had been very popular in Europe. Ford didn’t want to squander that image by having people think it was a completely different car, but I assume they wanted to draw attention to the fact that it had been updated (particularly vis-à-vis the hatchback).
@ Carmine & Aaron: I get the whole continuity thing, but why not just Capri again? When the Fox body version was released in 1979, there were some magazines (IIRC) unofficially calling it the Capri III…
I guess it’s a personal thing with me, it just seemed to lack imagination.
@ Aaron: I totally forgot about the hatchback with the II revisions.
I think that may have been the main reason — helping the average European buyer to realize that it was a new Capri with an increasingly important feature whose absence might prompt customers to be tempted away by something like a new Golf GTI. I can’t really begrudge Ford that…
though this want the first euro capri,the first euro capri was the ford consul capri 315 desighned at ford dagenham and based on the ford consul classic 315 the capri was basically a pillerless coupe vertion of the ford classic and was a very good lookin car in a kinda 60 ford starliner way but in minniture it was made alonge with its sister car for 3 years only to be replaced by the cortina both the capri and consul classic are now very very rare cars and both command big money if you can find them my first car was a 62 ivory over baby blue consul classic 2 door if people are interested google ford consul classic and capri 315 ..so that is the first euro capri
I had a chance to drive a V6 4-speed Capri that belonged to a friend. It was hard to deal with because his wife had nearly worn out the clutch so that it didn’t engage until about the highest 2 or 3 centimeters of pedal travel – that one fact has become the only thing I remember about the car. He got transferred so I never heard how they did with it over the longer term.
I had the ’74 Capri 2800 V6 in medium brown, just like the one on the cover of the brochure for that year. It was a ball to drive (mine had a stick), but the electrical gremlins drove me nuts. Bought it brand new and traded it one year and one day later.
Kinda regret that now, because I love the styling, the driving experience and they are so rare…but at age 19, I didn’t have the patience, foresight or pocketbook to sort out all the niggles and get the car right.
I’d love to have one now, but they are beyond rare…to the point where the Southern California Capri Club (which used to have a pretty decent little website 7 or 8 years ago) appears to have dried up. And So Cal is where you’ll find the last survivors.
Found a 315 classic tother day being restored neaby very rare cars here they rusted like mad no salt required the Consul Capri is rare as though there are 2 in town somewhere
One minor quibble that I’ve gotten boxed about the ears for myself is that the U.S.-spec car was not technically a Mercury Capri at all. If you look at the car, it doesn’t carry any sort of Mercury i.d., and the ads just said “Imported by Lincoln-Mercury.” In other markets, of course, it was marketed as a Ford.
I’d be curious how various states and Canadian provinces registered the cars. Did state DMVs treat them as Mercurys?
Good point and question. I can’t imagine it was titled and registered as just “Capri”. Must be an easy way to find out…
Interesting. Wikipedia says they had a Mercury badge on the bootlid, and references the 1971 brochure as evidence (this is noted on the Ford Capri entry, not the Mercury Capri one). But who knows how long it was there for – anyone got a good stock of Capri brochures through the 70s? I’ve only got the US-spec 1974/75 brochure, it’s buried away in a box, but I’ll try to dig it out and see what it has to say.
“there is some encroaching rust around the fenders. Maybe it’s not an original Oregon car.” This car probably came to Oregon around 2008, that’s when they were issuing numbers-first Cxx plates. Unless the previous owner had custom or ham plates. Oregon plates stay with the car. Makes it easier to spot who just moved here ;->
Anyway, I once had a ’74 Nova with a little rust like that it got from spending just its first winter in Wisconsin. So who knows when this Capri came west.
These were outstanding cars. I had the Cologne OHC 2.0L and 4-speed in my ’72 Pinto and much enjoyed it, especially after only driving VW bugs.
PS: Don’t forget the Transit of Venus today! Starts just 15 minutes from now!
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/134332798.html
The 1600 cc motor was known as the Kent. It was and is the motive power for Formula Fords. Tons of Pintos came with this engine and it was damn near bulletproof. A friend of mine had a Swiss cheese Pinto with the Kent engine with about 130,000 miles on it. Started every time. Looked like hell.
The 2300 cc Lima engine gets a bad rap. Some mechanics and tire dealers in the DC area established a local SCCA class called “GT Pinto” and ran them at Summit Point, WV. With very little modification, a GT Pinto could circulate the track at 1:28 seconds. For comparison, the fastest Show Room stock Corvette was turning 1:29s. This was in 1986. Fun stuff.
It’s pretty incredible that they started selling them with 1.6’s in the US – but I suppose a 2.0 V4 might not have gone over well, especially when they were (reportedly) a bit rough. Did the British Essex V6’s go into any US Fords? The 3 litre version would have been just the ticket.
There are still a good number of these cars over here, and you see them in every state from original to drag strip special.
Just to follow up on Canucknucklehead’s comments re ’78 versus ’79 Capri’s… Interesting point is that the first-year Fox Capri’s and Mustang’s did offer the 2.8 litre Cologne V6 as an option (perhaps auto trans only IIRC)….replaced in ’80 by the “boat anchor” 200-cid inline six. A very ill-considered move for sporty performance. A friend had an ’81 Capri with the inline six and manual trans (3 + OD) and it was truly a breathless pig to drive…
I just saw your comment about the 2.8 V6 Fox body Capri. I thought the 3.3L six came on line in for the 1981 model year, but I was interested in the Turbo model.
I wasn’t interested in either of the sixes or the V8 at the time. Gasoline was going up, up, up at that time and I wanted fuel economy. I thought the turbo motor would get me there. Sadly, it didn’t.
Really like the Mk I-III Capri, my favourite shape being the Mk III where the tops of the round headlights are hidden by the bonnet’s leading edge. Still a fair few Mk I-III Capris around down here – Ford sold them here new until 1987. Production of the Mk III ended 19 December 1986, and the up-spec models were by then well-equipped with optional factory a/c, ABS and the fuel-injected 2.8L V6. The special edition swansong Capri 280 also had an LSD and leather Recaro interior. The very last Mk III Capri ever registered new (in 1988) currently resides in NZ and is on trademe for an eye-popping NZ$35K if anyone’s feeling really, really wealthy.
I guess the Sierra (aka Merkur) XR4i was meant to replace the Capri, but the 2-door XR4i died around the same time. I remember seeing the XR4i and Mk III Capri alongside each other in the Ford showrooms in 1984-86, it was like they were related but with a generation gap between them Kind of like Grandpa showing the young un he could still shake his tail feathers!
My favourite Capri is the Mk III, too. In fact, my very first car was a by then ten year old 1980 Mk III 2.0 S (the sports trim, including recaro-seats), which featured the Cologne V6 with 90 hp. It was not very fast, but still fun to drive, it was very easy to have the rear step out in wet road conditions. When rust became too severe to get another TÜV (that is what the technical inspection is called in Germany) I replaced it with a 1987 Bronco II. Two years later I sold the Bronco because I got an offer for it which I just couldn`t refuse and succumbed to my Capri-love again, this time buying a 1979 Mk III 3.0 S with the Essex-V6-engine and 138 hp. I used that Capri only for two years as a daily-driver, then put it in strorage with plans to keep it as a classic and to drive it occassionally, but finally sold it in 2003 due to lack of time and storage-space.
Having two more classics around (my wife´s 1977 Ford Escort and my 1983 Porsche 944), the Capri had to go.
I am pretty sure someday I am going to add another MKIII to our little collection, probably this time the 2.8 Injection with the fuel-injected 2.8 L Cologne V6.
The California DMV registered mine as a 1974 Mercury Capri. But no, there wasn’t a single thing anywhere on the car that said “Mercury”. And looking at the language on the front of the brochure (“Imported for Lincoln-Mercury”), even Ford wasn’t going there.
I had two;a 1970 red base model 4 -cyl, and a ’73 4-cyl with decor group.
Very fond memories. Handled well, for the time, and looked great. I only wish the ’73 had the V-6; would have serious;y improved the acceleration.
They sold a lot of these, but I can’t recall ever seeing one of these in my life, not even in Europe.
I’m a little late getting in on this conversation, but for the record, I enjoyed owning a ’72 (still sported the chrome bumpers, which I liked better than the more “modular” looking ones in ’73) Capri… I remember thinking at that time that the thing really did “feel” a bit more European in driving and esthetically…. it’s hard to describe just “how” it was different, but it was. Mine was a nice medium-light low metallic green exterior with tan leatherette interior… a truly tasteful and somewhat sophisticated looking little car, I must say. Drove nicely, too. I’d say the biggest downside to mine was the fact that it was prone to develop cancerous rust on the body around the wheel wells. I ended up selling the nice little machine after owning it only several years, but the next owner seemed happy with it for several more, as I recall. I hadn’t even “thought” about that car until I saw it mentioned here on Curbside Classics… what a gas! Thanks…
Late to this discussion as well, In the late 1980’s I bought a 1977 Capri with the 2.8L V6 and 4 spd specifically for a Auto X car. Did that for a while and caught the racing bug and built it into a SCCA Improved Touring race car. Had a blast doing that, then we started a family and I sold the car in 1992. In December of 2011, I managed to track the car down and buy it back. I am slowly “restoring”. My goal is to have it look and run like a late 1980’s road racing car and get it back on track for a few vintage races.
Best of luck with the project… I can’t remember when I’ve seen a Capri (the original ’70’s era ones) on the road – it’s been a long time, now. They were neat little ol’ cars, and as I suggested in my former post, I thought it was sort-of “European” and interesting… something different. I never comparatively equated the car with the Mustang, as the main article writer seemed to do in an offhand way. I didn’t make that connection, personally. (I was only in my early-to-mid ’20’s then, and my perspective may have reflected that.) The article writer suggested that they sold pretty well in the US, but I never saw that many of them, personally, even in the late ’70’s, when the market should have been full of used units… at least not in the coastal areas of NC.
Michael – did you ever get you Capri back on the track? What SCCA Division/Region do you race in.
Thanks
Vince
I see that a lot of owners loved their Capri but my ’73 was a lemon. I assumed that they all were and stayed away from them.
The muffler came loose and set off a shower of sparks as I drove down the road with my wife screaming in the passenger seat.
The v-6 seemed gutless for such a small car. Various rattles and squeaks. I bought it new and traded it in less than a year later.
Maybe I should have tried another but it didn’t seem a good idea at the time.
I had no problems with my V6. It’s still one of the best cars I’ve ever owned. I drove it from 1973 until 1981 when I bought my first Honda, a hatchback.
just wondering if anyone can help as i recently saved this car and in the prossess of resoring but the 4 speed transmission was missing it is a 1977 v6 2.8 and was looking for advice as to what may be a good replacement if i cannot find an original transmission
thanks from a keen enthusiast
Do you want to sell your Silver Capri?
johnjgarvey55@gmail.com
1974 XSE Capri
I have a 1973 capri for sale complete runs drives needs restored $3000
Steve: Can you post photos, particulars, mileage, home, garaged, original, etc. Thx, Bill
I am interested. Please send photos. thanks
Steve did you ever sell your 73 Capri?
I bought a brand new, baby blue, 5 speed on the floor, vinyl roofed Capri in 1973. I loved that car. I moved 200 miles from my parents’ home and drove it back and forth every couple of weeks at about 90 mph continuous cruising speed. It purred like a kitten.
I bought a used ’72 for $1,400 around 1976 – my first car. It was a 4-speed 2.6 liter V6, metallic blue with white leather interior and hand-cranked sunroof. The former owner was smitten with a European rally version that was blue, white, and black. Since that model wasn’t available in the US, he set about converting this one, with alloy wheels and an awesome-sounding exhaust among other upgrades. But, since he always intended the final step of his conversion to be that Euro paint job, he let the factory paint go and it was quite faded when I had it. Operationally, though, it was perfect. Sure wish I could get that car back in that condition.
I am the original owner of a 1973 Capri, Yellow w/ black vinyl top, 2600 V6, 4 speed. Great condition. All original except for the rear muffler which has rusted out. I would like to get the original replacement muffler. Any recommendations?
I was fortunate enough to drive a 74 Capri for almost 7 years starting in 78. It was the orange paint, ( i think they called it something else), 2.0 4 and 4 speed and it was an awesome little car, I cannot believe I sold it. It got me through 4 years of college and 2 years of grad school. My summer job during college was scouting soybeans, I took this car in places it should NOT have gone, mud, rutted roads etc and it never let me down. Purred like a kitten its entire life. My stick shift broke off in my hand one time ( i later found out this was a recall item) and they had to order the part, it would not be in for several weeks they said so I found a nutdriver and socket that would fit over the stub that broke off. I could now get all 4 gears but no reverse. (you had to pull UP to get reverse) You have to be very careful where you park with no reverse! Drove it for almost 3 weeks like that. My sister had a 67 Mustang fastback with a factory installed 390 and a 4 speed which was of course a factory built racer and an awesome car to drive powerwise but it rode like a rock truck and would wear you out on any long trip. My Capri was almost as much fun to drive and the height of luxury compared to the stang. I think the little thing had about 40 thousand on it when we got it, and in the almost 7 years I drove it I put on another 130 or so, it was still going strong at over 170,000. I had little issues like a starter wire that worked loose sometimes at very bad times, ( had to open the hood and put it back on to start the car, sometimes in the middle of an intersection). then the hood release rusted a bit and was hard to pull, which means the plastic lever broke off. Solved that with a pari of visegrips to pull the cable. For what I did to this car and where I drove it, in retrospect it was an amazingly TOUGH car and held up very well. I drove it in TN and MS the first 4 years, so very little salt but grad school took me to central IL so the rust around the rear fenders was starting to show through. To this day I do not know why I did not park it in one of our sheds, now I wish I had. Capri’s were wonderful cars! Sure wish I had kept mine.
I had a 77 Capri ghia with v6,,, loved that car,,,always had a hard time with the front end,,i even replaced the whole thing but could never get the whooble out of it at a certain speed,,, I would love to get another one or similar but they seem to be none around anymore other than in the UK…. does anyone have one for sale please forward me the info Thanks
The first car I ever owned was a brown 73 v-6. I absolutely loved that car. In fact, I’m on the lookout for one now – doesn’t have to be brown but does have to be in good running order as I’m not interested in restoring cars. I’m just interested in driving it around again and enjoying it the way I did back then. Well, not exactly the way I did then but you get the general idea. So, if anyone has a car they’re interested in selling or knows of someone who might be, let me. Just reply to this post with details about the car, how much you’re asking for it and I’ll get back to you. Thanks
Looking to Purchase a 1972 to 1974 Capri. Please leave a message if you know of any that are for sale.
Thanks
Vince
About to buy this 1972 with a 2.0. Dont know much about it, has not run in a few years but is supposed to have a good engine. Was park because the clutch started slipping.
Hi Ken & Vince,
Nice to know an active site for Capris.
I have a 71 Capri 2.0 4spd all original CA car ( still has blue plates ).
never been in a wreck all panels original, seam sealer untouched, frame rails undamaged, not rust appearing from it, doors are fine. Only rust is around rear wheel wells and battery acid bore a hole in the battery area. Posted a pic of the in CurbSideClassic yesterday (9/4/2014). The pic is another Capri Blog in CurbSide.
Were does one find parts for this car, both offline and online?
Thinking dropping in my 5.0 v8 or do full resto or sell it and move on.
Feed back would be greatly appreciated.
Crossworth1
at
google
will only let me load one picture per message, so here is another
Car is located in western North Carolina
Ken – same pics I received from Leroy on a car in Knoxville TN. Car was on Knoxville Craigslist
Make sure BEFORE you exchange cash.
Good luck Vince
Vince,
any words of wisdom?
I had a 74 V6 in college and have always wanted another one.
This is only a 2.0 and does not have the decor package.
Started to backout, but he is taking a scooter as partial trade.
They are so are to find, it’s hard to say no.
no words of wisdom. just inspect the car first, look at the title to make sure it is registered in the state you buy the vehicle and then settle on the amount.
I am in the same situation. I had a 72 V6 red with the cream interior! I have chatted with some of the folks on the capri website and they all say buyer beware. Do your homework BEFORE you hand over the cash. One thing make sure that the underside, especially the frame rails are in good condition. I have had some of the sellers send me pics of the undersides and several have had serious rust issues on the rear frame rails. Floor pan and trunk pan you can do relativemy easy if they rust through. But the frame rails are structural and they can be fabricated but the $ add up fast. Also makes sure that there is no rust perforation around the doors another structural area that is almost impossible to repair. I do not think that the red car you are looking at has door issues.
On the car you are looking at did you first talk to a Leroy at 865-257-4080 and then get referred to a Chris at 865-454-3076? If so that is that is the same car as the Knoxville craigslist. There is also a 73 in Goosen CT. that car is silver and has a v6 with some interesting speed parts. Offy Dual Port intake and the Holley 390 along with headers and some other goodies.
Not sure where you live, but that might be something to check out. I am a Texas guy and Knoxville and CT are to far to go for those cars.
Good luck and I hope you get your car.
Vince
Ken – here is the link to the CT capri it is in Goshen and it is a 73 v6 and it is silver,that much I do know. He has been attempting to sell this car for about 30 days. He has pictures
Good Capri hunting!!!
Vince
http://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/4618749814.html
Thanks for the help and the heads up about the one in CT. I just can’t spend $4500 at this time. The one I showed pictures up is the same one in Knoxville. I am in Asheville NC so it’s about 2 hours away. I would not be able to go much further than that to get a car either. The Leroy guy wants it out of his yard ASAP and he got the price down form the asking price for me and even negotiated being able to trade the scooter. I am bringing my mechanic buddy to look it over before I make the deal. If I buy it and get it back to running and drivable, i will decide whether to keep it or just flip it..
I still want V6 version. I have fond memmories of drag racing some big V8″s and winning.
If i ever see any in your neck of the woods i will post them here for you.
I’ll let you know how things turn out.
Ken – sounds like you have a good plan with the mechanic friend going with you.
Best of luck
Vince
Vince,
Went to see it today. I am glad I brought my buddy with me. He said I should pass on the car. Had a lot more rust than you could see in the pictures. The death blow was a big rust hole in the unibody. it was down low at the bottom in front of the passager rear wheel. The area was gone where the front of the springs are attached to the inibody. My guy said it was dangous, could be fixed but would be a ridiculous cost. Rest of the car was pretty ruff. Too many other negitives. It would be good for parts, but my wife would kill me if i brought a parts car home to sit in the yard.
The search continues.
Ken – I understand what you are dealing with. The car can look pretty good in pics. But no one ever wants to show the underbody. The frame rails are key to a
successful restoration. You can get a new floorpan from a Mustang II and you can take a rusted wheel well from a Miata and you can patch most of the body.
That is why I will want to do a physical inspection before I part with my hard earned cash!
The most important areas on that car are the undersides frame rails. the front strut towers, the spring perch areas for the leaf springs, the frame areas around the doors, as well as the doors and the areas around the front and rear windows. Most everything else can be fabricated.
There is a new listing in Atlanta. It is highly modded with the Offey intake and a Holley 4 barrel. He wants 5K, a good bit high if you ask me. Wait a week or so and see if he has any nibbles. He might come down a good bit. He has the Broadspeed body kit, which is a bit to severe for my tastes. I want to do the RS flares, much more subtle and blend well with the lines of the original car.
I missed by a day in mid August, a great opportunity near Philly, a 74 v6 4 speed. he wanted $4400 and I was trying to do my due diligence on the seller and the morning I told him I wanted it and his price was OK. He told me a guy was coming by the next day with a trailer and a wad of cash!! FRUSTRATING!!!
If I hear of anything else near NC I will let you know. My regular email is hummer@netropolis.net, just in case
Good Capri hunting!!
Vince
Realize this is being posted to an old thread but the discussion is too germane to pass up. My first car was a 72 Capri which I loved and kept for years. I would love to find one now in good condition since I’m not overly enthused about doing much mechanical work myself. If anyone has any leads, just leave me a comment or drop me a note. It is still the most fun car I’ve owned with the possible exception of my Mini Convertible. The one thing I would have loved to see on my Capri was a drop top but they never made those for the States and as far as I know never made them for Germany either.
Mark , what is your location
Houston Texas here and
Ken is from North Carolina
Hey Vince,
thanks for you advice, here is my direct email also, motulken@aol.com. i will do the same if i see anything near TX.
The one in Atlanta look interesting but a little out of my priice range. I had found one in Atlanta about 4 years ago the I should have jumped on, but I never pulled the trigger.
I saw this on in Baton Rouge, but the links are not working
http://cars.oodle.com/1974-mercury-capri/baton-rouge-area/
http://usa.motoseller.com/c/sys.php?a=19
Probably already gone but who knows
Stay in touch if you see any others
I’m in Louisville Kentucky so if you see any up this way, let me know and I’ll do the same.
Hi Ken & Vince,
Nice to know an active site for Capris.
I have a 71 Capri 2.0 4spd all original CA car ( still has blue plates ).
never been in a wreck all panels original, seam sealer untouched, frame rails undamaged, not rust appearing from it, doors are fine. Only rust is around rear wheel wells and battery acid bore a hole in the battery area. Posted a pic of the in CurbSideClassic yesterday (9/4/2014). The pic is another Capri Blog in CurbSide.
Were does one find parts for this car, both offline and online?
Thinking dropping in my 5.0 v8 or do full resto or sell it and move on.
Feed back would be greatly appreciated.
Crossworth1
at
google
another pic
interior
Rust
Engine
Hey Cross,
Nice capri. Your 1971 2.0 is in really nice shape. How long have you owned it? What part of the country are you in? I have been looking for one off and on for years. i had a 74 with the 2800 nnotor and my buddy had a 73 with the 2600 back in the lare 70’s when at college. My mechanic buddy says the 2.0 motor is awesome.
I never bought anything from these guys but I found this source for parts:
http://www.teamblitz.com/
Here is a craigslist guy here in California:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/pts/4645114673.html
I glad to see I am not the only guy who wants one of these cars. If you see any in the south east please post up. my direct email is motulken@aol.com
Keep the capri alive, I would keep the stock motor unless it’s giving you trouble. Your’s is a fine example and there are not many around any more. If you were to sell it what would you be asking?
this is my car how and when did you get the pictures of it . I still have the car and it may be up for sale soon
Obviously, I took pictures of it sitting in the street, using a device called a camera. When? A few years back.
Robert – email when you get ready to sell. I might still be looking.
hummer@netropolis.net
Thanks
Vince
Robert,
Vince isn’t the only one who might still be interested when the time comes:
msament@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Mark
Here’s a 74 all orig in copper brown.
Asking $2,300
San Jose Ca
Found in CraigsList
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4670269968.html
Cross – thanks for the heads-up. I saw the listing on craigslist and sent the seller an email asking a few questions and for some more pics of the car. It is a pain being so from the cares and wanting to get info, From the pics in the add it looks very good. But I have seen several that looked the same until the trunk was opened of the undersides was shown. I have a guy close to Houston who is looking for a v6 with auto trans so selling the drivetrain would be so easy. Then I can do the resto and drop in either the ford V6 truck turbo – 360HP and 420lb of torque or wait a year or two and drop in the 2015 Mustang turbo 4 – 310 HP and a very lightweight engine. Either would be fun and a real sleeper!!
Vince
Here’s a nice looking Capri in California. Wish I was closer
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201237947384?forcerRptr=true&item=201237947384&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:SS:SS:US:3160
I had a 77 black cat model back in the 80’s. It lost oil pressure and ruined the engine which I couldn’t afford to fix. Sold it for $300. Last year, I found an early ’70s capri rusting in a field in Alberta which brought back memories of my 77. I managed to find 2, 76 capris last year, 1 in Alberta and 1 in New Brunswick. I got them both for less than $11gs since I’m bicoastal right now. The Alberta car is such low-mileage, 18 000, I couldn’t bear the thought of driving it back east for vacation every year and ruining that odometer. It’s a no-rust, original paint 4 speed V6. S model. It still has new car smell. The one back east has 110 000 miles on it and is showing it’s years but still very low rust. I found a 1976 recently near Edmonton AB for $2500. V6 was recently rebuilt but the transmission has not been hooked again yet if anyone is still looking, it on kijiji
Friend had a Capri in ’70’s…
I’d rather have another Opel Manta with 1.9
CIH Engine 4 speed
My 1974 XSE Capri
The XSE Capri has a 2800 V6 with a 4 speed manual transmission and air conditioning
XSE Capri Interior
Awesome car. The ultimate Capri IMHO. Sharp in yellow!
Just wondering, did the XSE package(dealer installed if I recall) include interior changes?
Hey, just saw this. Really nice Capri, I hope I can find one i can afford some day
I have a 1973 German-made Ford Capri, I’m restoring. It runs fine, have rust under the doors and the driver’s floor.
I have a 74 v6 2.8l auto. mercury capri would like to convert to std. Would like to know if any one has done this
thx
mercury capri
I owned a 1972 Capri V6 2600, (2.6 Liter Metallic Blue)which I bought in while in the military in Berlin, Germany. It was an American (Federal) model, so I later brought it back with me to the USA, when I got out of the Military
I paid $2200.00 US and picked it up at the factory in Cologne, Germany, and during the next 2 years put on 85000 miles on it in Europe. I loved that car! I could keep up with almost any car on the Autobahn, except for Porsche 911 (which I now own) and big Mercedes. It would drive it from one end of Germany to the other at 140 MPH, and as I was young and “indestructible” at the time, didn’t think anything about it.
The only thing that I had problems with, was that the front disk brakes were a bit too lite, and would warp after a time, making it shutter sometimes when braking.
After I brought it to the USA, I drove it for several years, and finally sold it to get something bigger. I did however, buy another 72 Capri 2600 years later, that was a basket case, and rebuilt it and drove it for several years after that.
I don’t see any more of the Capris any more on the road, but when I see pictures like those on this site, I think that if I found one again, I might want to restore one once more.
I like the first gen the best, simple and tight. The 2nd generation looks bloated and changed for the sake of change.
Love those first gen Capris.
My drug-addled stepdad drove head on in my mom’s Capri into a bus when I was four.
I went into the windshield. I have two large scars on my forehead.
And I still want one. Thats how much I love those things.
I had a 74 Capri 2000 in 1980. Gave $1200 bucks for it. Tinkered with it, learned some lessons working on it. Enjoyed the heck out of driving it even though it had no power to speak of and sold it a year later for $1200. In the interim my dad and I put rings a bearings in it. The parts cost me $50 back then. Would love to have another.