MK1 3 Litre Capris, How Many Survive ?
Discussion
Fancy a little Capri story?
You got it anyway.
I was driving my bright yellow RS3100 around Southampton at night back in 82 and it would lift a rear wheel on the roundabouts and growl as the wheel spun, suddenly a young copper who was riding his bicycle jumped in front of me with his hand stretched out to stop.
His words will never be forgotten to my wife and I as he asked "was that you making all those revvy revvy noises back there"?
My wife and I laughed as he could have easily been run over and his bike lay at the side the front wheel spinning as the street lights picked out his shiny spokes.
We still look at each other and ask if it was one of us making revvy revvy noises.
I was young then and 60 now but I still think a buried throttle is a happy one.
You got it anyway.
I was driving my bright yellow RS3100 around Southampton at night back in 82 and it would lift a rear wheel on the roundabouts and growl as the wheel spun, suddenly a young copper who was riding his bicycle jumped in front of me with his hand stretched out to stop.
His words will never be forgotten to my wife and I as he asked "was that you making all those revvy revvy noises back there"?
My wife and I laughed as he could have easily been run over and his bike lay at the side the front wheel spinning as the street lights picked out his shiny spokes.
We still look at each other and ask if it was one of us making revvy revvy noises.
I was young then and 60 now but I still think a buried throttle is a happy one.
Lol.... Great story !! And didn't they just lurve to spin that inside rear tyre..
Another 3 Litre memory for you from early 82. I had seen a mint , 68 , Blue Shelby GT500 Mustang smoking around Chingford a few times, when suddenly he apears I'n front of me I'n a quiet back street. He hits the gas and lights the rear tyres up, the race is on, the Fast back has the edge, but not by much , we hang a left and the Stang is sideways I'n a cloud of tyre smoke, closely followed by my Capri, also Very side ways on it's Kelly Springfield 185x70s . ( Kelly Skidfields as we nicknamed them.
We carry on for another 200 yards or so when the Stang pulls over. We both get out and briefly talk cars, with me as a Pennyless 20 year old drooling and muttering that one day he will have a Bullit Rep 68 Fastback.... I'n Highland Green.....
Well , ime looking at one soon.
Another 3 Litre memory for you from early 82. I had seen a mint , 68 , Blue Shelby GT500 Mustang smoking around Chingford a few times, when suddenly he apears I'n front of me I'n a quiet back street. He hits the gas and lights the rear tyres up, the race is on, the Fast back has the edge, but not by much , we hang a left and the Stang is sideways I'n a cloud of tyre smoke, closely followed by my Capri, also Very side ways on it's Kelly Springfield 185x70s . ( Kelly Skidfields as we nicknamed them.
We carry on for another 200 yards or so when the Stang pulls over. We both get out and briefly talk cars, with me as a Pennyless 20 year old drooling and muttering that one day he will have a Bullit Rep 68 Fastback.... I'n Highland Green.....
Well , ime looking at one soon.
Then I'n 93 after wanting one since they first came out, I finally get my self a Pearl White 1986 Phase 1 R5 GT Turbo.... Bought with light front end damage for 900 Quid I'n Walthamstow via Loot.
Had it a few weeks and am out late one night when a White H plate 5 Turbo pulls up on my right.... The lights change and we are both smoking our front tyres. Unfortunately I didn't get a good start and he has the edge on me, we head towards Lambourn End , Chigwell when he suddenly turns sharp left, I follow , but must have clipped the kerb, as my 5 is up on 2 wheels ,( drivers side ) she seams to be balancing forever when suddenly she slams back down again...., another lucky escape ...!!
Had it a few weeks and am out late one night when a White H plate 5 Turbo pulls up on my right.... The lights change and we are both smoking our front tyres. Unfortunately I didn't get a good start and he has the edge on me, we head towards Lambourn End , Chigwell when he suddenly turns sharp left, I follow , but must have clipped the kerb, as my 5 is up on 2 wheels ,( drivers side ) she seams to be balancing forever when suddenly she slams back down again...., another lucky escape ...!!
Going away from mk1 capris briefly. My brother had a mk3 3000s back in the mid 80's, had mag minilites fitted 8x13's on the front and 10x13's on the rear, all under the standard arches. Tyre technology wasnt any near advanced as it is today and in order to get tyres with a low enough profile he would buy slicks and get treads cut into them, The grip was amazing once they were warmed up, used to find balls of rubber stuck under the arches. Only downside is they lasted no time at all, luckily the tyres wern't that expensive
3000 S . I moved on to those ( had 3 I'n total , a Red T plate, with hideous Glass sunroof and Recarros ,, a Velvet red S reg one, Vinle roof and steel sunroof and then the last one I'n early 86 , I'n Oyster Gold , with sunroof , but GL brown seats ( Recarros had been nicked ! ) I'n late 85 , but I disliked them intensly .
Far too heavy, a major step backwards for Ford. A Huge dissapointment for me . Their only redeeming feature to me was the Optional Steel sliding Sunroof, The Superb Recarro Seats and Power Steering , which sapped power. But Many 3000s were Poverty Spec and the Recarros and Sunroof were not common extras due to their cost . Pas was standard though.
At the time their were lots and lots of 323is around , maily driven by Greek or Turkish enthusiasts and they were quicker.
Far too heavy, a major step backwards for Ford. A Huge dissapointment for me . Their only redeeming feature to me was the Optional Steel sliding Sunroof, The Superb Recarro Seats and Power Steering , which sapped power. But Many 3000s were Poverty Spec and the Recarros and Sunroof were not common extras due to their cost . Pas was standard though.
At the time their were lots and lots of 323is around , maily driven by Greek or Turkish enthusiasts and they were quicker.
v46m4n said:
As far as enfine transplants go, How about sierra cosworth running gear, now that would be fun.
v6's were always a bit heavy, they originally designed the block to do a diesel version but it never happened.
Saying that theres plenty of power to be had from a v6. My brother had one in a capri back in the late 80's Swaymar built, steel bottom end, used to rev to 9,000. With running nitrous was 290bhp on rolling road
Ive had several engine modifications in my capri , Standard Essex V6 / Cologne 2.8i with Turbo Technics conversion.v6's were always a bit heavy, they originally designed the block to do a diesel version but it never happened.
Saying that theres plenty of power to be had from a v6. My brother had one in a capri back in the late 80's Swaymar built, steel bottom end, used to rev to 9,000. With running nitrous was 290bhp on rolling road
I'm now in the process of going the LS7 route with tremec gearbox ,fitting to a 1970 Cologne capri at the moment everything is stripped out , in preporation for seam welding the chassis , otherwise the chassis is going to twist with the amount of torque in the region of 550 HP as standard.
The reason for the LS7 its the smallest most powerfull small block V8 / other than the ls9 ..Which would be close to 20k to fit
The other good point it should return around 25mpg more than the original Essex 3 litre.
The car itself is the most Solid mk1 I have ever seen, and I've owned everything from 1969 1600GT , V4 200GT , 3000 E ( with the early gearbox ) 3000 GXL , 2.8i Special. But much prefer the MK1'S There photos of the car in my profile. Will make a seporate blog as work progresses
cheers
neutral 3 said:
LS7 Into a Capri, i Can't wait to see it . Is that the All Alloy O H Cam small block Chevy Lump ? Think this is the Lump that can be fitted to TVRs ?
Hi yes it started off life ready to go in an Ultima kit car project , then the car was sold , I bought the engine and gearbox , and had the Capri and really wanted a fast track / road car following along the lines of John Barkers (EVO) V8 capri, , The capri has had an interesting history 1970 , with facelift upgrades GXL lights and rear clusters.
I bought the car in 85 , it was originally a standard 3 litre E , I sold her to a chap on the condition if he sold her I would get first refusal , during this time I had a 3.0 GXL and a Nimbus grey 2.8i Special , unfortunately the special was stolen , when the police recovered her , she had been wrapped around a tree...I sold her on for parts , someone got an immaculate half leather interior out of that car!!.The GXL ended up sitting in the garage for 20 years !! after moving house ( sold last year ) , then my old Cologne came up for sale , the previous owner had taken good care of her , full restoration , several different colours new panels, and new cologne kit , the old 3 litre engine had been replaced with a 2.8i with turbo techics conversion, it was an absolute nightmare in the wet , running 220 hp , you would put your foot down , nothing ...then bang all this power had a few scary moments when the throttle stuck open on the approach to a roundabout , nice pirouette bit of parking on the safety island and it was time to sell the turbo kit. Then of course I was in the right place at the right time when a chap was building an Ultima , ordered the engine and gearbox then he ran out of money , I bought the engine , box ( crate engine )
It should deliver 505 hp with the magic 427 cu and be a hell of a track day car
http://www.corvettemuseum.com/specs/2006/LS7.shtml
am in the process of strengthening the chassis , the only problem I have is time , or rather lack of it , I also have The Lotus in bits ,and currently working overseas the capri sat in France, with me in Russia !!but hopefully next year I will really be able to devote some time on her , will make a separate blog of progress ,
Previous set up 2.8i with turbo technics conversion
note single exhaust for v6 turbo outlet ....and brick !!....the handbrake had failed !!
My Dad had a pair of Capris in the seventies/early eighties. The first (which replaced a 1973 Mexico), VAA875R was a Jade green 2000S, one of the last Halewood built Capris and the last S with plain black trim and no front spoiler. This was repllaced by GYD153T, a black 3000S which was a year old and came with the 7 inch wide RS four spoke wheels and fishnet Recaro seats. Sold it to a local garage in 1982, but whoever bought it owned/ran it until 1994 when it was last taxed. Would be great if it was found in a lock up.
I could never get on with the driving position. The only Capri I owned was an immaculate 2000GL (SMG813Y) that I virtually stole from a car auction in 1998. It had been restored with new wings and a full repaint by Perrys (Ford dealer) and hadn't done a lot of miles - about 60'000 iirc. Even so, it was a hateful thing. Dog slow, not very good on fuel, wobbly handling and that clunky old side change gearbox that Ford saddled the 2000 Capris with (why not the lovely 2000 Cortina box??). I paid £350 for it and sold it 2 months later for a grand. It was still taxed or Sorned last time I checked. I hated it even more when the splines stripped off the wiper motor and I had to get relayed home - Capri wiper motors were apparently a common failure and a right b
d to change.
I did drive a very nice early 2.8i in the mid nineties. An X reg one in Crystal/Forest green with the Pepperpot wheels and the proper 4 speed box - the 5 speed box was never that great. That was a very nice car to drive - it was in Practical Classic mag in 1995 along with an Alfa GTV6 and a Nissan 280ZX. I hope that car still exists because it was sich a clean low mileage example - unusual, even 16 years ago.
I could never get on with the driving position. The only Capri I owned was an immaculate 2000GL (SMG813Y) that I virtually stole from a car auction in 1998. It had been restored with new wings and a full repaint by Perrys (Ford dealer) and hadn't done a lot of miles - about 60'000 iirc. Even so, it was a hateful thing. Dog slow, not very good on fuel, wobbly handling and that clunky old side change gearbox that Ford saddled the 2000 Capris with (why not the lovely 2000 Cortina box??). I paid £350 for it and sold it 2 months later for a grand. It was still taxed or Sorned last time I checked. I hated it even more when the splines stripped off the wiper motor and I had to get relayed home - Capri wiper motors were apparently a common failure and a right b
d to change.I did drive a very nice early 2.8i in the mid nineties. An X reg one in Crystal/Forest green with the Pepperpot wheels and the proper 4 speed box - the 5 speed box was never that great. That was a very nice car to drive - it was in Practical Classic mag in 1995 along with an Alfa GTV6 and a Nissan 280ZX. I hope that car still exists because it was sich a clean low mileage example - unusual, even 16 years ago.
Touring442 said:
I did drive a very nice early 2.8i in the mid nineties. An X reg one in Crystal/Forest green with the Pepperpot wheels and the proper 4 speed box - the 5 speed box was never that great. That was a very nice car to drive - it was in Practical Classic mag in 1995 along with an Alfa GTV6 and a Nissan 280ZX. I hope that car still exists because it was sich a clean low mileage example - unusual, even 16 years ago.
Yes, I had a couple of 4-speed 2.8i's - a Forest Green 'W' and a Cardinal Red 'X'; a strong 'box with an excellent gearchange.The red one (WLE 200X) is still around, apparently.
Petrol never seemed that expensive back when i had mine. We would just put some in as and when it needed it. I do recall one incident when i had an xpack back in mid 80's fuel was about 80p a gallon, went into one garage and filled up for under £2 !! There was a fault with there pumps;)
Years ago I drove a black 3.0S with the proper Essex engine - to which the owner had fitted the 2.8i K Jetronic system on a custom made inlet manifold. Very nice it was too.
I also drove a German Mark 1 Capri 1300 V4. It revved quite well and sounded surprisingly good - certainly more interesting than the 1300 Kent. In the same vein, the 2.0 V6 must be more pleasant than the Pinto although it must be even more fartless than the 2.3.
I also drove a German Mark 1 Capri 1300 V4. It revved quite well and sounded surprisingly good - certainly more interesting than the 1300 Kent. In the same vein, the 2.0 V6 must be more pleasant than the Pinto although it must be even more fartless than the 2.3.
Touring442 said:
Years ago I drove a black 3.0S with the proper Essex engine - to which the owner had fitted the 2.8i K Jetronic system on a custom made inlet manifold. Very nice it was too.
I also drove a German Mark 1 Capri 1300 V4. It revved quite well and sounded surprisingly good - certainly more interesting than the 1300 Kent. In the same vein, the 2.0 V6 must be more pleasant than the Pinto although it must be even more fartless than the 2.3.
All 3.0s had the essex engine ? nicer to drive than the cologne never liked the 2.5 much though maybe cos it was in a big ole Mk1 granny ?I also drove a German Mark 1 Capri 1300 V4. It revved quite well and sounded surprisingly good - certainly more interesting than the 1300 Kent. In the same vein, the 2.0 V6 must be more pleasant than the Pinto although it must be even more fartless than the 2.3.
not sure i'd fancy a 1300 V4 the 1700 was bad enough mind you it was in a transit so that didn't help
the 2.0 V6 was a revvy bugger couldn't pull the pants off a hoe but revvy lol
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