RE: The final Ford Capri: Driven
Discussion
The Capri had a huge image problem by the early 90s, then as now, people really wanted to buy something aspirational and upmarket, and as already pointed out this sort of car was considered rather naff and 70s.
Remember the 80s and early 90s were quite forward looking, the retro design aesthetic didn't really exist back then, 70s stuff was considered old hat and unfashionable.
Remember the 80s and early 90s were quite forward looking, the retro design aesthetic didn't really exist back then, 70s stuff was considered old hat and unfashionable.
EDLT said:
These have always been the rusty shed that's been dumped in someone's drive for years. Were the struggling sales down to the availability of the much more modern Sierra parked next to it in the dealership?
No. The XR4i was created to replace the 2.8 injection but the Capri outsold it and killed the Sierra off.The Mk3 Capri of 78-86 was still based heavily on the Mk1 from 1969 which in turn was essentially based on the MK2 Cortina.
Even by the end of the seventies it was just old.
Had it not been for the 2.8i the Capri would probably have died along with the 3.0 Essex V6 in 1981.
However the work by Rod Mansfield and his team at SVO made the Capri cool again and it sold around 18,000 units in it's final year - which was more than the total sales of the Probe.
cologne2792 said:
EDLT said:
These have always been the rusty shed that's been dumped in someone's drive for years. Were the struggling sales down to the availability of the much more modern Sierra parked next to it in the dealership?
No. The XR4i was created to replace the 2.8 injection but the Capri outsold it and killed the Sierra off.Had it not been for the 2.8i the Capri would probably have died along with the 3.0 Essex V6 in 1981.
However the work by Rod Mansfield and his team at SVO made the Capri cool again and it sold around 18,000 units in it's final year - which was more than the total sales of the Probe.
Can't remember the last time I saw a Probe???
warch said:
The Capri had a huge image problem by the early 90s, then as now, people really wanted to buy something aspirational and upmarket, and as already pointed out this sort of car was considered rather naff and 70s.
Remember the 80s and early 90s were quite forward looking, the retro design aesthetic didn't really exist back then, 70s stuff was considered old hat and unfashionable.
Apart from the MX5, which sold really well.Remember the 80s and early 90s were quite forward looking, the retro design aesthetic didn't really exist back then, 70s stuff was considered old hat and unfashionable.
Another trip down nostalgia lane!
I was 25 back in 1984 and had a MK2 Escort RS2000. Driving along the 4-lane road between Brighton and Rottingdean I was trying desperately to stay ahead of a Capri 2.8 Injection - I didn't for long!
So my next car was a 1982 Strato Silver 2.8 Injection (only 2 years old at the time). The newest car I'd owned, and I loved it. I particularly liked the way it lifted the inside rear wheel when you took a slow corner.
But then I got a promotion at work which meant moving with some relocation assistance if I bought a house, so my Capri had to go after just a year to help with the deposit on my 1st home.
Anyway after a couple of years of working all the overtime available and saving a mate told me about one a mate of his was selling. It was a 1981 model in Caspian Blue over silver. I fell in love again and a deal was done!
I kept that one for 2 years, but by then I wanted to try something else and got a good deal on a 1985 Granada 2.8i Scorpio. So same engine and RWD, just an auto.
The nearest newer option I found was a BMW E46 325ti Compact that I bought in 2014 and kept for over 3 years.
I still like them, but I doubt I'd find one nearly as exciting now and I couldn't justify spending what they sell for now on something that outdated and rust-prone. It'd be cheaper to just find another 325ti, which is a fair bit quicker and stops much better.
But it's good to see some are still getting enjoyed!
I was 25 back in 1984 and had a MK2 Escort RS2000. Driving along the 4-lane road between Brighton and Rottingdean I was trying desperately to stay ahead of a Capri 2.8 Injection - I didn't for long!
So my next car was a 1982 Strato Silver 2.8 Injection (only 2 years old at the time). The newest car I'd owned, and I loved it. I particularly liked the way it lifted the inside rear wheel when you took a slow corner.
But then I got a promotion at work which meant moving with some relocation assistance if I bought a house, so my Capri had to go after just a year to help with the deposit on my 1st home.
Anyway after a couple of years of working all the overtime available and saving a mate told me about one a mate of his was selling. It was a 1981 model in Caspian Blue over silver. I fell in love again and a deal was done!
I kept that one for 2 years, but by then I wanted to try something else and got a good deal on a 1985 Granada 2.8i Scorpio. So same engine and RWD, just an auto.
The nearest newer option I found was a BMW E46 325ti Compact that I bought in 2014 and kept for over 3 years.
I still like them, but I doubt I'd find one nearly as exciting now and I couldn't justify spending what they sell for now on something that outdated and rust-prone. It'd be cheaper to just find another 325ti, which is a fair bit quicker and stops much better.
But it's good to see some are still getting enjoyed!
I had a major love affair with Crapis (sic) back in the 70/80s. Had multiple 3 litres: Ghia (autos) and 'S' manuals. Loved them all but the best one was a car I took in part ex on an MG 'B' GT - a 3 litre with a Ford 5 litre V8 and so many beautifully done mods and upgrades it was a real 'gem'.
Was limited for top speed by the standard rear axle but up to 120 it was a proper scalded cat job and of course, it made all the 'correct' noises
Was limited for top speed by the standard rear axle but up to 120 it was a proper scalded cat job and of course, it made all the 'correct' noises
Johnny5hoods said:
So let me pose a question. Did the Capri die out because people really wanted hot hatches instead, or did it die out because Ford, essentially, left it largely unchanged all the way from 1974 to 1987???
The focus really switched to front wheel drive and the XR cars once the MK3 Escort arrived. The XR models must have made a lot of money for Ford and the Capri was a dinosaur alongside them. Its surprising it went on for quite as long as it did. blade7 said:
irocfan said:
I always liked the mk2 capri but they seem to be insanely rare
Always preferred these to the mk2.
Much Prefer the Pre Facelift MK1 as well, for me I would like at GT in Silver Fox with a black bonnet/rear panel and the original Rostyle wheels, no vinyl roof, perhaps with a little modernisation underneath like decent brakes, subtle drop and decent suspension and a modernish 2 litre NA engine on throttle bodies with say 170 bhp, or if a V6, maybe something a bit more recent, lighter and more powerful than an Essex or Cologne ?
I gave up the chance to swap my Leon for one last year. A 1.6 MK2 with a 3.0 V6 swapped in, dark blue. Absolutely stunning car, but I couldn't be arsed driving 200 miles back in it so I passed it up. Still regret it big time. I remember looking at the 2.8i's a few years ago when they were still pretty cheap, I always said I'd buy one as a first car. Unfortunately I didn't have the £10k needed to buy one by the time I was old enough to drive. Maybe one day.
aaron_2000 said:
I gave up the chance to swap my Leon for one last year. A 1.6 MK2 with a 3.0 V6 swapped in, dark blue. Absolutely stunning car, but I couldn't be arsed driving 200 miles back in it so I passed it up. Still regret it big time. I remember looking at the 2.8i's a few years ago when they were still pretty cheap, I always said I'd buy one as a first car. Unfortunately I didn't have the £10k needed to buy one by the time I was old enough to drive. Maybe one day.
To be honest I think you might be disappointed - they only had a claimed 160 bhp after all! I always promised myself a FHC E-Type, but they only just got to 150 mph in a magazine road test by skimming the head and fitting 3 carbs.
Whereas my Z4 Coupe also has a straight 6 petrol engine and RWD, but needs a 155 mph limiter - and cost less than 10% of what a FHC E-Type would be. Could the Jaguar really be that much better?
Christhepostie said:
I seem to remember one of these beauties, back in the late 90's, on an 'E' plate, in the Balham/Tooting area of London. The house it was parked at also had another Capri. I'm pretty sure that was on a 'D'. I wonder if that lucky person is on here? I actually lusted after those 2 cars.
Chris, do you by any chance recall a plum crazy / red metallic 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T SE 383 Magnum in the Balham area in the late 70s and 80s ?The car had an Oasis mural on the trunk lid.
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