Capri JPS USA version
Discussion
My eldest son lives in Albuquerque in USA, he and his wife are currently negotiating to purchase a Capri JPS. I have been trying to find info about these on the internet but am finding very little. Does anybody on here know about them. I think Capris were marketed as Mercury rather than Ford although do not think they were badged as Mercury - just Capri. Not sure if this was before VIN numbers, but info on body/chassis and engine numbers would be useful. Thanks in Advance.
I wonder if you'd get more information from a more specialist website for a Ford or Ford Capri Owners' Club.
Googling returned:
http://www.fordcapri.co.uk/mk2/specials/jps.htm
I think JPS was a colour/trim thing without any mechanical or chassis changes.
Googling returned:
http://www.fordcapri.co.uk/mk2/specials/jps.htm
I think JPS was a colour/trim thing without any mechanical or chassis changes.
I am not trying to encourage you off of PistonHeads but thinking stuff like VIN and Chassis Numbers you're more likely to get from the Capri Club that mentions their archives:
https://www.capriclub.co.uk/About_Us.html
There could well be PHers that are members of the Capri Club.
https://www.capriclub.co.uk/About_Us.html
There could well be PHers that are members of the Capri Club.
I seem to recall that, technically, the "JPS" special edition came along in 1975 but proved very popular so thereafter became a regular Capri S - black with gold pinstriping and white with silver pinstriping.
You see quite a lot of Capri IIs in "CHiPs" episodes before they abandoned the German-built cars and changed to a Mercury Capri based on the Fox body Mustang.
You see quite a lot of Capri IIs in "CHiPs" episodes before they abandoned the German-built cars and changed to a Mercury Capri based on the Fox body Mustang.
Edited by LuS1fer on Saturday 5th March 16:31
carinaman said:
I am not trying to encourage you off of PistonHeads but thinking stuff like VIN and Chassis Numbers you're more likely to get from the Capri Club that mentions their archives:
https://www.capriclub.co.uk/About_Us.html
There could well be PHers that are members of the Capri Club.
The ugly 'Federal Spec' Mk.1 & Mk.2 Capri's sold in the USA were built in Germany, so the UK Capri Club might be able to help..........but, it could be a long shot though?https://www.capriclub.co.uk/About_Us.html
There could well be PHers that are members of the Capri Club.
Steve Saxty's definitive Capri book has a lot of information that may be useful.
https://porterpress.co.uk/products/ford-books-stan...
Thanks Jerry for info about Steve Saxty's book. Are you aware if it covers the USA models? My own Capri experience dates back to 1975 when on starting a new job my designated company car was a 1.3GL Capri in Bronze. The performance would not knock a skin off a rice pudding but as we had 3 kids under age of 10 that was not really a major issue. My wife thought it looked like an E-Type so I got loads of Brownie Points.
The Capri V6 for the USA was Cologne built with the 2.6 until mid 1973 and the 2.8 from late 1973 on late facelift cars into 1974. They were sold via Lincoln Mercury dealers and despite being expensive, were popular - especially compared with garbage like the Mustang II. Facelift Mark 1's had the impact bumpers which don't look too bad plus factory fit A/C as an option. There was a 1600 Crossflow four cylinder Capri as well as the 2000 Ford Pinto engine version in 1971, 18 months before British cars. The Yanks wouldn't had accepted that ropey old V4.
Ford Germany continued to build the Mark 1 Capri for the USA well into 1975 after the Mark II arrived in Europe and the US finally got the Mark II as a '76 model. It was a 2.8 again but with two catalytic converters, Motorcraft carburettor and 109 bhp with most being Ghia spec. I can't recall a JPS version although there was a black Capri S with gold pin striping.
Ford Germany continued to build the Mark 1 Capri for the USA well into 1975 after the Mark II arrived in Europe and the US finally got the Mark II as a '76 model. It was a 2.8 again but with two catalytic converters, Motorcraft carburettor and 109 bhp with most being Ghia spec. I can't recall a JPS version although there was a black Capri S with gold pin striping.
Thanks Touring442, great info. I am now convinced that the car they are buying is a 1976 Capri S1, and does indeed have the Pinto - but it was a 2.3 OHC in USA rather than the 2.0 litre in UK from 1974. As you say it is in black with gold piping, similar to JPS in the UK but am now convinced they did not sell an actual JPS in the States, although the S had gold wheels etc as well.
grahambute said:
Thanks Jerry for info about Steve Saxty's book. Are you aware if it covers the USA models? My own Capri experience dates back to 1975 when on starting a new job my designated company car was a 1.3GL Capri in Bronze. The performance would not knock a skin off a rice pudding but as we had 3 kids under age of 10 that was not really a major issue. My wife thought it looked like an E-Type so I got loads of Brownie Points.
I don't think there's a lot of USA content actually.You could also try the Capri Power forum as there's a very active member on there who lives in Oregon who has a couple of Capri's. His username is "Crash & Burn" but he also answers to Gary!
https://www.capripower.co.uk/forum/index.php
I had a 1.6GL MkII automatic for a while. Very smooth, comfortable and great on the commute, but on the open road it was utterly hopeless. Now have a 2.8 injection which is a lot of fun.
Thanks again Jerry. The person selling to my son and his wife is called Gary from Oregon - so guess it is the same person. My interest arises because between 1986 and 1991 I ran the only specialist Finance Brokerage in the UK supplying finance for buyers of Classic Cars ranging from Morris Minors to Peter Waterman's £3.25 million Ferrari Testa Rossa. During that time I became aware of many vehicles advertised making untrue claims, so I personally like to check things as much as possible when looking to purchase. Being in late 70's now I no longer have my Classic Car collection (8 vehicles at highest count) made from from 1948 to 1968.
Once again, thanks for your information.
Once again, thanks for your information.
grahambute said:
Thanks Touring442, great info. I am now convinced that the car they are buying is a 1976 Capri S1, and does indeed have the Pinto - but it was a 2.3 OHC in USA rather than the 2.0 litre in UK from 1974. As you say it is in black with gold piping, similar to JPS in the UK but am now convinced they did not sell an actual JPS in the States, although the S had gold wheels etc as well.
The 2.3 OHC was the Lima iirc, quite a different engine with four cam bearings but still recognisably a Pinto derivative. I think there was also a 2.0 version; Pinto engines were built in Germany as exported to the US, UK etc and the Lima was built in the US. Pretty cool. There's a MK1 Mercury Capri close to me that I've thought about buying. He wants too much money for a car that looks like it hasn't been driven in 25 years. Interesting fact is that the Cologne engine was punched out to 4 liters and used in the Ford Explorer until the mid 90's as OHV and then as an OHC engine.
As already mentioned I don't think the JPS was sold in the U.S. but looks like their version of it had the same interior cloth, gold wheels and striping to the bonnet and wing tops
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Would be interesting to know what's on the chassis tag as the European JPS had 'JP Special' stamped on it.
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Would be interesting to know what's on the chassis tag as the European JPS had 'JP Special' stamped on it.
Edited by QuadCamCapri on Thursday 10th March 07:13
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