To me, the best R&T reviews are of cars such as this left-field Capri, which is why I’m posting this on my Birthday. (:
This one is from the recently published post of April 1979 issue. Read on:
I’ve included the Ad because of the $1 worth DUMB Catalog…
Happy Birthday, YOHAI71. I hope yours is fun. I’ve been reading Road & Track since I was a boy. Road Tests and Comparison Tests were my favourite articles. 🙂
I started reading R/T and C&D at about 14-15 years of age. C&D was publishing interesting/”unusual” comparisons, like the Ferrari GTO vs Pontiac GTO or the Cougar XR-7 vs Jaguar 420G. R/T was testing somewhat obscure sporty models.
I suppose it’s telling that I had subscriptions to C&D over the years but never had one to R/T …..that I recall.
Just yesterday I tried to find a vintage Capri on AutoTrader and Classic AutoTrader, but couldn’t find a classification for the NON Fox-bodied models.
Take a look around German and/or Dutch ads. From time to time used Capris are still available here… May I recommend the AutoScout24, Mobile and the related national Ooyyos…
I remember those dumb Crystal Sonics ads and the little shaggy-headed character they had in the header.
The Capri was such a good looking car. I rode in one daily as part of a high school carpool in the early 80s, but I’ve never driven one. The thing that stood out to me was the articulated map lamp on the right A-pillar, that was too Euro-cool.
I had met “the articulated map lamp” in a late ’80s 5 door Ford Sierra Laser as well…
My current late summer’s find: a british custom Capri II V8
>>>
Interesting the use of the ’74 grille on the ’78 on model. It works!
Unfortunatelly I didn’t take detailed pics from the fenders neither from the passenger compartment…BUT…it seems that these are kind of genuine Ford tune up fenders. Ford badges were stamped into the sheet metal’s surface nearby the fender corners. The supposed owner might be a big big FoMoCo fan but most of all a “Capri II” enthusiast. All clean and every detail was fixed to the perfectness. I’m just wondering if the engine is a 5.0 Litre Mustang V8!? I can’t remember if this was a stickshift manual OR a floorshift automatic!?
The RSR is very cool along with the South African Capri Perana.
http://hooniverse.com/2013/12/13/hooniverse-obscure-muscle-car-garage-the-ford-capri-perana/
http://www.carmag.co.za/road_test/from-the-archives-ford-capri-perana/
Happy birthday, Yohai! I’ve always enjoyed your photographs, and now you’ve just posted a review of what’s probably my favorite Ford product of the 1970’s.
Happy Birthday! I’m an October baby myself, but mine’s later in the month.
Great pix of a car I’ve never heard of before. The Cromodoras on the car in the opening picture really set off the beautiful body lines of the Capri II. One of my favorites of my childhood. But once the Fox body Capri was released, that became my favorite car.
Cheers!
My friend’s older brother had a 1st gen Euro Mercury Capri, it was black.
Not sure if it was a Capri or Capri II.
Anyway, Happy Birthday, Yohai… Hope you get what you want, and keep posting those retro articles.
I love old school.
I’ve owned a Capri, back in 1988-89… It was the car I learned to drive a manual transmission.
Even though, it wasn’t a German Capri, it was still badass… A 1980 Mercury Capri RS 5.0, kinda like this one…
Complete with nonfunctional hood scoop and TRX alloys.
I remember a same generation V8/manual tr. yellow Mustang with H.O. signs and black stripes over the hood with same Mercury Capri wheels as shown on this M.C. pic. A yellow Mustang which was used by a canadian relatives of a friend of mine while they came home for holidays once a year. During saturday evenings while we were out for having fun…that V8 Mustang was blowing fire out of its double exhausts while the lad was very agressively accelerating that car 🙂 It had always a very very cool appearance!
I had the turbo version of this car, but in black with the mint green stripes and RS stickers on the outside. It was a POS. Later, I bought a 1986 5.0L Capri, it was muuuuch better car.
Thank you all for your comments and best wishes. I am currently abroad and away from my PC, but l (and my posts) shall return… Have a good weekend.
I love these cars
I’ve got a ’75 Capri II, USA espec.
Good Car, strong and beatiful
Just gorgeous! You must/should be proud. I wanted a 15 year old Capri II as my first car back in 1991. If only it had looked like this.
Thanks for these words!
These pics were taken at Luxembourg Capri Meeting this August 2015
Hello all, I found this post while searching Rokstock Capri, which I do occasionally. The Rokstock car pictured in the article in Road test magazine posted here on October 8th 2015 is sitting in my garage. It is the one in the foreground, which is Rokstock RSR-007. The car in the background is RSR-001, Rick O. Kisers (ROK) car. I acquired the car back in the late 80’s, sold it in the early 90’s and reacquired it a few years ago and now it is awaiting restoration. I am a personal friend of ROK and he has the 001 car ready to restore as well. Much more to this story but wanted to throw this out there as I just happened on this site. We are in Portland Oregon, just up the street from Eugene.
ROK is wanting to re-start Rokstock if we can get enough interest, and, oh yeah, $$.
Rick
Oouhh!!! Yeah!!!
Please: some pics are very wellcome to see that Capri II, another time today.!!!
All the people who loves the Capri, any year, any form, any engine… Have in our creed, the word RokStock.
It represents for itshelf as far and serious as the US Capri can go.
Not only “show but don’t Go”, those ROKs, really do the job.
Even European KKK Turbo, with Mk3 Guise, only develops 180cv, comparatión with the Turbo Rokstock, with all the smog/catalityc converters, develops same figures.
OK, if Rick O Kizer, goes with the project, many people will follow him, for sure.
Me too
Hi- Foster glass; I have 003. would like contact from you and ROK to restore. up grade with either weber 4 or fast fuel injection, bat turbine wheel, possibly intercooler (?) water/alcohol injection,etc. I live in Bend, Oregon. With new tech, why can’t we retain the integrity of the Rokstock RSR, while increasing its performance, including power, handling, and stopping? 541-317-0703; fax: 541-317-0736. Does ROK still have access to parts? The German race cars had some serious horsepower I would like to duplicate or match.
I just purchased a 1975 Chevy Monza with a ROKSTOCK Turbo Engine in it? Have no idea how it ended up in this Chevy but am thrilled to own it. I am thinking about building a Capri for it as I had one in High School back in the late seventies. Me and my car were in a car magazine but can’t remember which one. If someone remembers an article on “underground Mulholland racing” I would love to find it again. My car’s license plate was “MULHLND” Thanks, Steve
strange thing is I now own this very engine , I purchased it , and shipped it to the UK. it’s been heavily modified for what exactly I have no idea , I have been trying to find info on it and what was done , it has been very difficult.
ROKSTOCK Rick Here!!! If ANY of you Capri enthusiasts WANT or NEED to speak with me call me or e-mail me anytime. And yes the rumors ARE true… I am planning on returning back into the automotive industry with the ROKSTOCK brand coupled to my educated talents and skills in Design/Engineering/Marketing and Promotion. Beginning with re-offering the Original ROKSTOCK Capri parts and accessories line to include the Restoration and re-make of the existing ROKSTOCK Capri RSR’s. In addition to some NEW ROKSTOCK Capri Mark I and Mark II automobiles in turn key offers for sale.
I am finishing up a new Capri II Drag Racer that should merit and earn some press and ink… we’ll find out soon enough how “Bad Ass” it is on the race track. Its powered by a modern day BOSS 351 engine that developed 457HP on the Dyno. After it gets broken in it should be right at 500HP according to the pro engine builder A C Nutter. Anyway, A book is in the works on the real ROKSTOCK Capri Story. I set the stage and started the ball rolling here in the USA for ANY and ALL aftermarket parts and accessories for the moniker as NO ONE including FOMOCO seemed to give two shits about the Capri car except the Auto Magazines in the early 70’s and of course yours truly I STILL have a passion for the Capri automobile and ” I’m not done yet”… ROK
Phone; 503-997-2221 or rsrturbocapri@gmail.com
Back in ’78 I bought a barely used 76 Black Cat Capri as my first car. Like your first girlfriend, you never forget the feeling! But like many things, you move on and I sold this car 3 years later. I currently own a ’77 V6, 4 speed and would love to see ROKSTOCK make a return with inovative performance and cosmetic aftermarket parts.
Hi Rick, did you get your business off the ground again? If so, I would be interested in what you have to offer. I have a 1978 Capri II Ghia with just over 50K miles and two prior owners. I’ve had the interior redone in original material and would like to know what else you may have to offer. Regards, David (dgkusick@gmaill.com).
Hi Rick, did you get your business off the ground again? If so, I would be interested in what you have to offer. I have a 1978 Capri II Ghia with just over 50K miles and two prior owners. I’ve had the interior redone in original material and would like to know what else you may have to offer. Regards, David (dgkusick@gmaill.com).