Ford Capri

The Ford Capri was a car produced by Ford of Europe. Two different models named Capri were built.

Classic Capri

The first use of the name Capri was in a version of the Ford Classic saloon. The Ford Classic Capri was built from 1961 to 1963. It was a 2-door compact coupé, with a long tail and half-bubble roof. Initially available with an underpowered 1.3 L engine, it was replaced in 1962 by a 1.5 L, but sales were disappointing and the Capri vanished after three years.

Capri Mk1 (1969-1973)

The first real Ford Capri was introduced in January 1969 at the Brussels Motor Show, with sales starting the following month. The intention was to reproduce the success of the North American Ford Mustang in Europe, to produce a European pony car. It was mechanically based on the Cortina and built in Europe at the Dagenham and Halewood plants in the UK, the Genk plant in Belgium, and the Saarlouis and Cologne plants in Germany. The car was named Colt during development stage, but Ford were unable to use the name, as it was trademarked by Mitsubishi.

Although a fastback coupé, Ford wanted the Capri Mk.I to be affordable for a large spectrum of potential buyers. In order to that, it was available in a variety of engines. The British and German factories produced different line-ups. The continental model used the Ford Taunus V4 engine in 1.3, 1.5 and 1.7 L displacement, while the British versions were powered by the Ford Kent straight-4 in 1.3 and 1.6 L form. The Cologne V6 2.0 L served as initial range-topper. Until the end of the year, new sports versions were added: the 2300 GT in Germany, using a double-barrel carburettor and 125 PS (92 kW), and the 3000 GT in the UK, with the Essex V6, capable of 138 hp (103 kW).

In April 1970, Ford began selling the Capri outside Europe, in the North-American, South African and Australian markets. These versions were powered solely by the underpowered Kent 1.6 engine, but a Pinto straight-4 2.0 L replaced it in 1971. The American version featured new headlights and bumpers, and carried no brand badge.

A new 2637 cc version of the Cologne V6 appeared in September 1971, powering the Capri RS2600. This model used Kugelfischer fuel injection to raise power to 150 PS (110 kW), and was the basis for the Group 2 RS2600 used in the European Touring Car Championship. The RS2600 also received modified suspensions, a close ratio gearbox, lightened bodywork panels, ventilated disc brakes and aluminium wheels. The 2.6 L engine was detuned in September for the deluxe version 2600 GT, with 2550 cc and a double-barrel Solex carburettor.

Mk1 Bis / Mk1 Facelift

The Capri proved highly successful, with 400,000 cars sold until 1970, and Ford revised it in 1972, to become what is known by enthusiasts as the Capri “Bis” or, in the UK, the "Mark 1 Facelift" Capri. The car received a new and more comfortable suspension, rectangular headlights and new seats. The V4 and Kent engines were replaced by the Ford Pinto engine, and the previously UK-only 3000 GT joined the German lineup. The following year, 1973, saw the highest sales total the Capri ever attained, at 233,000 vehicles, and the 1,000,000th Capri sold in August.

In December, Ford replaced the RS2600 with the RS3100, with the Cologne V6’s displacement increased to 3098 cc. Unlike its predecessor, it used a double-barrel Weber carburettor, and reached the same 150 PS (110 kW). However, the car was still competitive in touring car racing, and Ford Motorsport produced a 100-model limited edition with this new engine. The Group 4 RS3100’s engine was tuned by Cosworth into the GAA, with 3412 cc, fuel injection, DOHC, four valves per cylinder and 435 hp in racing trim. The car also featured improved aerodynamics. Besides the racing RS3100, the GAA was also used in Formula 5000.

Capri Mk2 (1974-1977)

In February 1974, the Capri Mk2 was introduced. After 1.2 million cars sold, and with the 1973 oil crisis, Ford chose to make the new car more suited to everyday driving, with a shorter bonnet, larger cabin and the adoption of a hatchback rear door.

Although it was mechanically similar to the Mk1, the Capri II had a revised larger body and a more modern dashboard. The 2.0 L version of the Pinto was introduced in the European model, and was placed below the 2.0 V6, although it was more powerful. The Capri still maintained the large square headlights, which became the easiest way to distinguish between a Mk2 and a Mk3. Larger disc brakes and a standard alternator finished the list of modifications.

In order to keep the sporty appeal of the car, Ford introduced the John Player Special limited edition in March 1975, but in May 1976, and with sales decreasing, the intermediate 3.0 GT models disappeared to give way for the upscale 3.0 S and Ghia designations. In October 1976, production was limited to Saarlouis factory only, and the following year the Capri left the American market, after 513,500 models sold.

Capri Mk3 (1977-1986)

The Capri Mk III, officially referred to as "Project Carla", was little more than an update of the Mk2. Production began in April 1977 with the first cars being available in March 1978, but failed to halt a terminal decline in sales. However, this model was used in the TV series The Professionals, which was credited with keeping interest in the car in the UK. The Mk3 featured improved aerodynamics, leading to improved performance and economy over the Mk2 and the trademark quad headlamps were introduced.

In 1981, the 2.0 V6 was dropped from the lineup, while a new sporty version debuted in the Geneva Motor Show, called the 2.8i. The new model was the first regular model since the RS2600 to use fuel injection. Power rose to 160 PS (118 kW), but the car still had a standard 4-speed gearbox. Although the Capri no longer had a racing career, specialist Turbo Technics developed a limited edition turbocharged model with 200 bhp (147 kW), which could propel the car to 220 km/h (137 mph) in April 1982. A few months later, Tickford upped the deal with a 205 hp (153 kw) version, which also featured a luxury interior, large rear spoiler, white front grille and enlarged bumpers. Turbo Technics then released a revised 200 bhp version, and a new 230 bhp (169 kW) version which came supplied with a specially built gearbox. Uprated brakes were standard on the Tickford and 230 bhp Turbo Technics, and optional on the other models.

From November 1984 onwards, the Capri was sold exclusively in Britain, as only right hand drive cars were made from this date. The entire range of 1.6 L and 2.0 L variants were replaced by the "Laser" which featured a fully populated instrument pod, leather gearknob & gaiter, leather steering wheel and an electric aerial along with colour coded grille and mirrors. Also the 2.8i now was re-released in "Brooklands" Green as the 280 Special, featuring a limited slip differential, half leather Recaro interior and gas filled Bilstein shock absorbers.

When the last Capri was made on December 19th 1986, 1,900,557 cars had rolled off the production line. Production had ended at Halewood, UK in 1976 and the Capri was made exclusively in Germany from 1976 to 1986. Most of those (more than a million) were the Mk1, mostly because the Mk1 sold well in North America and Australia, while the Mk2 and Mk3 were not officially exported outside Europe.

The Capri is remembered for the classic advertising slogan The car you always promised yourself. The American ad campaign featured a line that was short but potent: Capri: The Sexy European.

United States

From 1970 to 1977, the Capri was sold in North America through Ford's Lincoln/Mercury Division. These cars carried no brand identification, only the "Capri" name. They were known however as the “Mercury Capri”.

Originally, the Cologne-built Capri 1600 was fitted with a British 1.6 L Kent engine. Initial output was just 64 hp (48 kw). The 1971 Capri 2000 featured the Cologne-built 2.0 L OHC engine for much-improved performance from 101 hp (75 kW). The 1600 variant of the Pinto engine replaced the crossflow Kent in 1973. A Capri 2600 GT was offered in 1972 with a 2.6 L Cologne V6 which produced a substantial 120 hp (89 kW).

Australia

The Ford Capri name was revived in Australia in 1989 for a convertible rivaling the Mazda MX-5. The Australian Capri, codenamed the SA30, used Mazda 323 engines and mechanicals which Ford Australia already used on the Laser. It had a bodyshell designed by Ghia and an interior by ItalDesign. However, by comparison with the MX-5, it looked dated by the time of its release - some two years after its originally scheduled date.

Two models were originally offered: a standard 1.6 L model, and a turbocharged XR2 variant., with 136 PS (100 kW).

The Australian-built Capri was also exported to the US beginning in 1991 as the Mercury Capri, but it fared poorly and was dropped in 1994. An interesting point was that it was cheaper to export a Capri from Australia to the US, than to ship one to Tasmania.

Additionally, the car was plagued by quality problems and recalls, though it eventually had success in the early 1990s with models modified by Tickford. Production ended in 1994.

Return of the Capri

Although rumored since 2002, there is still no official announcement that the Capri name will return. The British magazine Auto Express and German magazine Stern have already shown computer drawings of a proposed Focus-based Capri, with Auto Express advancing a 2005 release date in their July 2002 issue. In September 2003, Ford presented the Visos concept-car, a hatchback coupé, in the Frankfurt Auto Show.

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