RE: The final Ford Capri: Driven
Discussion
I remember drooling over the Capri 2.8 Injection Special in the 1984 Ford 'Cars' brochure as a car mad 9 year old, and debating long and hard with my dad who thought the Capri was a bit naff, and the XR4i was far better. I knew or cared nothing of the medallion man image it had in the early 80s. I just knew it looked brilliant, and the beautifully produced studio photography in the Ford brochure made it look almost exotic.
In profile, the Capri remains one of my favourite car designs of all time. All bonnet and that iconic swooping rear quarter. Lovely looking thing even today, IMO.
In profile, the Capri remains one of my favourite car designs of all time. All bonnet and that iconic swooping rear quarter. Lovely looking thing even today, IMO.
Pistom said:
Isn't it exceptions which prove the point?
Not that my opinion counts for anything. I would have probably bought an Alfa in the day.
Hard to argue though that a leaf sprung pretend sporty car based on Mk2 Cortina underpinnings isn't a bit crap.
The one thing Ford have been pretty consistent with is persuading the hard of thinking to part with their money for pretty dross products.
and then you come to racing heritage... for a company with dross products Ford's racing heritage isn't far off Alfa's, indeed if you remove F1 then Ford exceeds Alfa full-stop 
(and I am far from a Ford fanboi)QuadCamCapri said:
Never been without a Capri since 1981, and still doing my bit for the Capri's racing heritage 
Will be at Brands Hatch on the 18th September for 'Ford Power Live', lots of classic Fords on show, and Fords racing, including 4 races for the hugely popular 'Modified Fords Series', in which I will be racing, along with Cosworth's, and Escorts etc.
ohhhh more details on this please, looks very interesting!Will be at Brands Hatch on the 18th September for 'Ford Power Live', lots of classic Fords on show, and Fords racing, including 4 races for the hugely popular 'Modified Fords Series', in which I will be racing, along with Cosworth's, and Escorts etc.
DodgyGeezer said:
QuadCamCapri said:
Never been without a Capri since 1981, and still doing my bit for the Capri's racing heritage
Will be at Brands Hatch on the 18th September for 'Ford Power Live', lots of classic Fords on show, and Fords racing, including 4 races for the hugely popular 'Modified Fords Series', in which I will be racing, along with Cosworth's, and Escorts etc.
ohhhh more details on this please, looks very interesting!Will be at Brands Hatch on the 18th September for 'Ford Power Live', lots of classic Fords on show, and Fords racing, including 4 races for the hugely popular 'Modified Fords Series', in which I will be racing, along with Cosworth's, and Escorts etc.
Is there a build thread?
Back in the day I was sharing a flat in the city of London and my roommate got a burgundy 2.8i special as a company car. We were a only a few yards from his office and he couldn't park it outside the flat during the day so it effectively became my company car and I used it to commute to the east end.
I had that thing for about a year and I loved every minute of it. It subsequently got replaced with a Mk2 Golf GTi 16V and I almost cried. That Capri was so much fun and the Golf so utterly boring.
I had that thing for about a year and I loved every minute of it. It subsequently got replaced with a Mk2 Golf GTi 16V and I almost cried. That Capri was so much fun and the Golf so utterly boring.
DodgyGeezer said:
ohhhh more details on this please, looks very interesting!
I started racing it in 1987, bought as a standard 3.0S and has evolved over the years through various championships. Currently race it in the Modified Fords and Classic Thunder, it has a 32V Cobra V8 with around 500bhp, Tractive 6 speed Sequential, Front Suspension is E46 M3 CSL Struts/Hubs, AP 6-pots & 368mm discs. Rear is E90 M3 Subframe/Suspension and Gripper LSD, 4 pots & 330mm discs. All the bodywork is carbon fibre, 18" wheels with ex BTCC Slicks.'What the Deuces' sorry no build thread, wouldn't know where to start as it would be 35 years long
DodgyGeezer said:
Pistom said:
Isn't it exceptions which prove the point?
Not that my opinion counts for anything. I would have probably bought an Alfa in the day.
Hard to argue though that a leaf sprung pretend sporty car based on Mk2 Cortina underpinnings isn't a bit crap.
The one thing Ford have been pretty consistent with is persuading the hard of thinking to part with their money for pretty dross products.
and then you come to racing heritage... for a company with dross products Ford's racing heritage isn't far off Alfa's, indeed if you remove F1 then Ford exceeds Alfa full-stop (and I am far from a Ford fanboi)QuadCamCapri said:
I started racing it in 1987, bought as a standard 3.0S and has evolved over the years through various championships. Currently race it in the Modified Fords and Classic Thunder, it has a 32V Cobra V8 with around 500bhp, Tractive 6 speed Sequential, Front Suspension is E46 M3 CSL Struts/Hubs, AP 6-pots & 368mm discs. Rear is E90 M3 Subframe/Suspension and Gripper LSD, 4 pots & 330mm discs. All the bodywork is carbon fibre, 18" wheels with ex BTCC Slicks.
Wow, bet that goes a bit!!When I were a lad, back in the late 70's, I had a Mk1 Facelift 3000GT much like this one below.
Same colour, same wheels etc.
Fitted D port heads, 38 DGAS Webber & manifold, did the exhaust & made some slapper bars for the rear.
It was a demon little street racer, not that I ever street raced it for money. Oh no officer.
In somewhat of a role reversal, I let my father borrow it one day (he had s
tty cars) & he wrote it off pulling out in front of somebody at the end of our road.
In the mid 80's. I bought a Mk3 3000S the same as this one. Bright Orange.
I loved it, my then wife hated it. It didn't suit her leadfoot style of driving.
When I was away working offshore, she spun it out big time at a roundabout at the end of a dual carriageway by down shifting from 4th to 2nd & ended up on a grass embankment.
Some bloke helped her get it back down & told her "all Capri's are death traps" so it had to go.
She got to choose the next car. We bought a Fiat Uno
Same colour, same wheels etc.
Fitted D port heads, 38 DGAS Webber & manifold, did the exhaust & made some slapper bars for the rear.
It was a demon little street racer, not that I ever street raced it for money. Oh no officer.
In somewhat of a role reversal, I let my father borrow it one day (he had s
tty cars) & he wrote it off pulling out in front of somebody at the end of our road.In the mid 80's. I bought a Mk3 3000S the same as this one. Bright Orange.
I loved it, my then wife hated it. It didn't suit her leadfoot style of driving.
When I was away working offshore, she spun it out big time at a roundabout at the end of a dual carriageway by down shifting from 4th to 2nd & ended up on a grass embankment.
Some bloke helped her get it back down & told her "all Capri's are death traps" so it had to go.
She got to choose the next car. We bought a Fiat Uno
1971 Father wanted to chop in his Mk2 Cortina and buy a new Capri. Mother (who used to travel a lot in the back) said no as she would struggle getting in and out of the car and suggested a Mk3 Cortina. Father duly obliged and bought a 2 door Mk3 GXL. 
In later years he got his way and had a black JPS and then a red 2.8i.
In later years he got his way and had a black JPS and then a red 2.8i.
HD Adam said:
When I were a lad, back in the late 70's, I had a Mk1 Facelift 3000GT much like this one below.
Same colour, same wheels etc.
Fitted D port heads, 38 DGAS Webber & manifold, did the exhaust & made some slapper bars for the rear.
It was a demon little street racer, not that I ever street raced it for money. Oh no officer.
In somewhat of a role reversal, I let my father borrow it one day (he had stty cars) & he wrote it off pulling out in front of somebody at the end of our road.
In the mid 80's. I bought a Mk3 3000S the same as this one. Bright Orange.
I loved it, my then wife hated it. It didn't suit her leadfoot style of driving.
When I was away working offshore, she spun it out big time at a roundabout at the end of a dual carriageway by down shifting from 4th to 2nd & ended up on a grass embankment.
Some bloke helped her get it back down & told her "all Capri's are death traps" so it had to go.
She got to choose the next car. We bought a Fiat Uno
If it was an Uno Turbo, it would in everyday driving outpace the Capri, whilst getting 30 plus MPG as opposed to High Teens. Same colour, same wheels etc.
Fitted D port heads, 38 DGAS Webber & manifold, did the exhaust & made some slapper bars for the rear.
It was a demon little street racer, not that I ever street raced it for money. Oh no officer.
In somewhat of a role reversal, I let my father borrow it one day (he had s
tty cars) & he wrote it off pulling out in front of somebody at the end of our road.In the mid 80's. I bought a Mk3 3000S the same as this one. Bright Orange.
I loved it, my then wife hated it. It didn't suit her leadfoot style of driving.
When I was away working offshore, she spun it out big time at a roundabout at the end of a dual carriageway by down shifting from 4th to 2nd & ended up on a grass embankment.
Some bloke helped her get it back down & told her "all Capri's are death traps" so it had to go.
She got to choose the next car. We bought a Fiat Uno
Rob 131 Sport said:
HD Adam said:
When I were a lad, back in the late 70's, I had a Mk1 Facelift 3000GT much like this one below.
Same colour, same wheels etc.
Fitted D port heads, 38 DGAS Webber & manifold, did the exhaust & made some slapper bars for the rear.
It was a demon little street racer, not that I ever street raced it for money. Oh no officer.
In somewhat of a role reversal, I let my father borrow it one day (he had stty cars) & he wrote it off pulling out in front of somebody at the end of our road.
In the mid 80's. I bought a Mk3 3000S the same as this one. Bright Orange.
I loved it, my then wife hated it. It didn't suit her leadfoot style of driving.
When I was away working offshore, she spun it out big time at a roundabout at the end of a dual carriageway by down shifting from 4th to 2nd & ended up on a grass embankment.
Some bloke helped her get it back down & told her "all Capri's are death traps" so it had to go.
She got to choose the next car. We bought a Fiat Uno
If it was an Uno Turbo, it would in everyday driving outpace the Capri, whilst getting 30 plus MPG as opposed to High Teens. Same colour, same wheels etc.
Fitted D port heads, 38 DGAS Webber & manifold, did the exhaust & made some slapper bars for the rear.
It was a demon little street racer, not that I ever street raced it for money. Oh no officer.
In somewhat of a role reversal, I let my father borrow it one day (he had s
tty cars) & he wrote it off pulling out in front of somebody at the end of our road.In the mid 80's. I bought a Mk3 3000S the same as this one. Bright Orange.
I loved it, my then wife hated it. It didn't suit her leadfoot style of driving.
When I was away working offshore, she spun it out big time at a roundabout at the end of a dual carriageway by down shifting from 4th to 2nd & ended up on a grass embankment.
Some bloke helped her get it back down & told her "all Capri's are death traps" so it had to go.
She got to choose the next car. We bought a Fiat Uno
HD Adam said:
Rob 131 Sport said:
HD Adam said:
When I were a lad, back in the late 70's, I had a Mk1 Facelift 3000GT much like this one below.
Same colour, same wheels etc.
Fitted D port heads, 38 DGAS Webber & manifold, did the exhaust & made some slapper bars for the rear.
It was a demon little street racer, not that I ever street raced it for money. Oh no officer.
In somewhat of a role reversal, I let my father borrow it one day (he had stty cars) & he wrote it off pulling out in front of somebody at the end of our road.
In the mid 80's. I bought a Mk3 3000S the same as this one. Bright Orange.
I loved it, my then wife hated it. It didn't suit her leadfoot style of driving.
When I was away working offshore, she spun it out big time at a roundabout at the end of a dual carriageway by down shifting from 4th to 2nd & ended up on a grass embankment.
Some bloke helped her get it back down & told her "all Capri's are death traps" so it had to go.
She got to choose the next car. We bought a Fiat Uno
If it was an Uno Turbo, it would in everyday driving outpace the Capri, whilst getting 30 plus MPG as opposed to High Teens. Same colour, same wheels etc.
Fitted D port heads, 38 DGAS Webber & manifold, did the exhaust & made some slapper bars for the rear.
It was a demon little street racer, not that I ever street raced it for money. Oh no officer.
In somewhat of a role reversal, I let my father borrow it one day (he had s
tty cars) & he wrote it off pulling out in front of somebody at the end of our road.In the mid 80's. I bought a Mk3 3000S the same as this one. Bright Orange.
I loved it, my then wife hated it. It didn't suit her leadfoot style of driving.
When I was away working offshore, she spun it out big time at a roundabout at the end of a dual carriageway by down shifting from 4th to 2nd & ended up on a grass embankment.
Some bloke helped her get it back down & told her "all Capri's are death traps" so it had to go.
She got to choose the next car. We bought a Fiat Uno
Is she still choosing your cars.
I can’t say my wife has taken much of an interest in the cars I’ve bought over the last 22 years, other than she likes 4x4’s like Range Rovers, X5’s, Q7’s etc that I absolutely loathe. She’s never been that keen when I’ve previously expressed an interest in buying a New Jaguar XF.
Rob 131 Sport said:
I suppose to get a true comparison between the Manta / Cavalier and the Capri, a good starting point would be the MK3 2.0S against say the 2.0 GLS Cavalier Sports Hatch.
Let the debate commence.
It isn't a fair comparison but after I sold my first 2.8i to go towards a deposit on my first house I replaced it with a Cavalier Sportshatch 2000GLS. The Cavalier definitely had more interior space and a bigger boot, which came in handy for getting flatpacks home from MFI! Let the debate commence.
The Cavalier rolled more but no more than the MK2 2000GT Capri my then girlfriend's brother had at the time, the Vauxhall engine and gearbox felt more refined and the Cavalier felt a bit quicker.
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