RE: The final Ford Capri: Driven
Discussion
blade7 said:
138 bhp. I modified one to around 180 bhp, and bought the 2.8 that I fitted the TT kit to. Ran them both down a long straight, and the turbo left the tuned 3.0 for dead. I stripped the Essex engine and sold all the bits.
Sounds like one hell of a car, there's a good episode of The Car's The Star about the Capri:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7A6C-e-6cQ
I've loved the Capri since my uncle had one when I was very young, I nearly bought one a few years ago, a 2.0 Laser in two tone silver over grey with 2.8i wheels and seats. At the time I would have had to use it as my daily and after test driving it I decided I couldn't live with the heavy steering, heavy clutch, the lack of brakes and whilst it pulled well, it wasn't quick, after liking them for so many years I was absolutely gutted I couldn't get on with it, I ended up with an e46 330d instead (and didn't really get on with that either!), but never mind, when I win the lottery I'm going to buy myself a nice 280 Brooklands. 
Regarding the 'new Capri' comments I've always thought Ford could have made a nice Capri replacement when they owned Mazda using the MX5 chassis, they could have stuck a stylish coupe body on and offered it with a 2.0 16v I4 or a 3.0 V6, close ratio six speed box and lsd, they would have sold a few I reckon.
Regarding the 'new Capri' comments I've always thought Ford could have made a nice Capri replacement when they owned Mazda using the MX5 chassis, they could have stuck a stylish coupe body on and offered it with a 2.0 16v I4 or a 3.0 V6, close ratio six speed box and lsd, they would have sold a few I reckon.
aaron_2000 said:
blade7 said:
138 bhp. I modified one to around 180 bhp, and bought the 2.8 that I fitted the TT kit to. Ran them both down a long straight, and the turbo left the tuned 3.0 for dead. I stripped the Essex engine and sold all the bits.
Sounds like one hell of a car, there's a good episode of The Car's The Star about the Capri:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7A6C-e-6cQ
. So I sold it and bought an 86 Escort Turbo, big mistake.yonex said:
spice said:
Great history , warranted 52k miles , it’s Crystal blue over Stratos silver , most were Mineral blue , registered 1987 on a D plate so one of the last 2.8i Specials , took me nearly two years to find the right one 
Strike Command?Grew up just down the road, we used to sneak into the bunker site during the build
Lovely car BTW
RS3100 and one of these might be in my Euro millions garage.
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A friend of mine had one of these a few years ago and I as lucky enough to get to drive it. A great garage piece but I think that I would save some money and stick with a normal 2.8 injection. It looked great but was carb fed and only had about 180bhp. It felt very wide, LHD, 4 speed ‘box and I was always slightly nervous driving something so rare.
My first 2.8 experience was test driving one from a dealer when I was about 20. Being aware of their reputation for ending up in hedges, I was duly cautious and couldn’t understand why the salesman was so quite. I looked at the dials and realised that I had been doing about 20mph more that I though everywhere.
I fell in love with the engine and the car even more that I was already. Unfortunately the girlfriend at the time refused to get in one (stating it had a image problem) and I ended up with an XR4x4.
I nearly bought one on three separate occasions and didn’t, I still regret it and still want one. This thread has reminded me though about how shocking the brakes were on all of the ones I drove.
When these were cheap bangers for a few hundred quid, Autocar had a look to see how fast you could go for £500
Steve Sutcliffe picked a 2.8 Capri and Colin Goodwin went for an SD1 Rover 3.5
They maxed them out and even a knackered example managed round 125mph, Capri just winning by 1 or 2mph on the timing gear
When they were new Motor coaxed a genuine 130mph out of a 4-speeder on the Millbrook banking, Autocar managing 129mph in their test of a similar car
Doesn't seem a lot now but in 1981 was fast!
Steve Sutcliffe picked a 2.8 Capri and Colin Goodwin went for an SD1 Rover 3.5
They maxed them out and even a knackered example managed round 125mph, Capri just winning by 1 or 2mph on the timing gear
When they were new Motor coaxed a genuine 130mph out of a 4-speeder on the Millbrook banking, Autocar managing 129mph in their test of a similar car
Doesn't seem a lot now but in 1981 was fast!
My first car was a Capri, just a 1.6 and memories of scarily tail happy handling as a new driver. Any wet bend taken more than averagely brisk would have the back end swinging out. No idea how I survived my first few weeks of driving without binning it. Some years later a friend had a mid 80s Capri 1.6 Laser and I remember thinking how much more understeery the handling was. The thing want to push on front ways first...I always wondered what mods they had made to the handling from the earliest MK3s to the last ones. Mine felt much more fun.
Anyway I digress, I always lusted after a 2.8 injection, buying up all the road tests as an 11/12 year old when they came out. However I find the current prices just ridiculous quite honestly. £30-£40K for a Capri? Sorry its just mental.
Fast Fords all seem to reach iconic status eventually so right now, I keep looking at that 90s Coupe that drove so much better out of the box than the Capri, yep, the Puma. Sure these things rust, but at £500-£600 for a cheap one they are an absolute steal right now. Just like the Capris were about 15 years ago........I need to buy one!!
s m said:
When they were new Motor coaxed a genuine 130mph out of a 4-speeder on the Millbrook banking, Autocar managing 129mph in their test of a similar car
Doesn't seem a lot now but in 1981 was fast!
Ford test fleet? There were rumours of the rev limiters being massaged to get a bit more top speed. I know of a couple of cars that were hammered down the local bypass after their PDI and just manged 130 on the speedo. And I think the 280 on 15" wheels was a bit slower.Doesn't seem a lot now but in 1981 was fast!
cayman-black said:
The four-speed(original) was faster and could top 130mph.
Yep, none of the later 5-so 2.8s quite managed the same top speed - 127 on the bowl for the 5-sp Special Autocar tested 4-speeders managed the same top speed as the XR4i
- round about 130 - clock was reading over 140 mark!
av185 said:
Had a few Capri 3.0 S then a blue siver then white then grey 2.8 Injection.
Then late 1987 ordered one of the last 280 Brooklands from Quicks Ford Bury £11k with discount.
Think the reg was E80 ONA or similar.
Often wonder where it is now.
Bought one of these in 1988 E280 MMU , went to by an escort 4 door, upgrade from a fiesta, as kids were getting bigger, saw this in the showroom 3000 miles 10k, and reasoned kids could squeeze into it alright 😊😊 sold it eighteen months later to buy sapphire Cosworth. Then late 1987 ordered one of the last 280 Brooklands from Quicks Ford Bury £11k with discount.
Think the reg was E80 ONA or similar.
Often wonder where it is now.
Realised almost immediately I had made a mistake
Who doesn't love a Capri?
My first classic car in 1999 was a Mk2 3.0 Ghia. Paid £700 for it and restored it over the following year and is still the most comfortable car I've ever owned, the seats were like armchairs! The guy I bought it from had just purchased a RS3100 and couldn't believe how much he paid for it. I remember thinking he must be mad!
I then got a 2.8i Special, very different to the mk2. I preferred the lazy torque of the Essex though, and it made a better noise. I then moved into classic Mustangs, but I would love a nice Mk3 3.0S. Maybe one day!
My first classic car in 1999 was a Mk2 3.0 Ghia. Paid £700 for it and restored it over the following year and is still the most comfortable car I've ever owned, the seats were like armchairs! The guy I bought it from had just purchased a RS3100 and couldn't believe how much he paid for it. I remember thinking he must be mad!
I then got a 2.8i Special, very different to the mk2. I preferred the lazy torque of the Essex though, and it made a better noise. I then moved into classic Mustangs, but I would love a nice Mk3 3.0S. Maybe one day!
It's actually aged so well the Capri - the Brooklands in the article looks great. Ford were always great at updates / subtle bodykits / facelifts in the day... The MK3 looked quite modern even though it was actually ancient...
I do sort of regret never owning one in the 80s/90s and ended up with the more regular 'bargain' performance car purchases in those halcyon days - Golf GTI Mk1, 205 GTI 1.9 ... I guess then I thought it had a bit of an image problem, the Capri ... but today, it certainly has a real nostalgia appeal - which, of course, comes at a price.
I do sort of regret never owning one in the 80s/90s and ended up with the more regular 'bargain' performance car purchases in those halcyon days - Golf GTI Mk1, 205 GTI 1.9 ... I guess then I thought it had a bit of an image problem, the Capri ... but today, it certainly has a real nostalgia appeal - which, of course, comes at a price.
s m said:
cayman-black said:
The four-speed(original) was faster and could top 130mph.
Yep, none of the later 5-so 2.8s quite managed the same top speed - 127 on the bowl for the 5-sp Special Autocar tested 4-speeders managed the same top speed as the XR4i
- round about 130 - clock was reading over 140 mark!
About 20 years ago i had a couple of Capris (which were part of a long succession of 80's Fords i went through from being 17 to my mid 20's.
The first was a reg 2.0 Laser which was rotten and didlnt stay with me long.
The second was a B reg Strato silver 2.8i Special which was very tidy and virtually rot free. It was a steal at £200 even back then!
It was great fun but was at the tail end of being unfashionable so was moved on an I kept the low mileage late Sapphire 2.0 Ghia with RS bodykit i also had at the time. Hindsight and all that!
Soon moved on to BMW's and E30's in particular with first being a D reg 325i with rare Recaro LS seats (same as the Capri) and importantly.. an LSD.
It brought back memories of the 2.8i but was on another level. Thankfully i still own an E30 325i to this day (a G reg Sport) but would love another Capri in my fantasy lottery win garage.
The first was a reg 2.0 Laser which was rotten and didlnt stay with me long.
The second was a B reg Strato silver 2.8i Special which was very tidy and virtually rot free. It was a steal at £200 even back then!
It was great fun but was at the tail end of being unfashionable so was moved on an I kept the low mileage late Sapphire 2.0 Ghia with RS bodykit i also had at the time. Hindsight and all that!
Soon moved on to BMW's and E30's in particular with first being a D reg 325i with rare Recaro LS seats (same as the Capri) and importantly.. an LSD.
It brought back memories of the 2.8i but was on another level. Thankfully i still own an E30 325i to this day (a G reg Sport) but would love another Capri in my fantasy lottery win garage.
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