RE: Ford Capri 2.8 | Spotted
Discussion
aeropilot said:
carinaman said:
Touring442 said:
GTEYE said:
As far as I know there was never a 2,0 V6, a 3.0 for sure and Europe got a 2.3 V6....but the 2.0 was a 4 pot Pinto engine.
£30k seems a bit steep to me if not a ‘280’ but if someone buys it it looks a good example.
There was indeed a 2.0 V6 in Europe with the Cologne engine. £30k seems a bit steep to me if not a ‘280’ but if someone buys it it looks a good example.
I see no mention of a 1.8 engine?
Which isn't a surprise given the only 'production' engine (if you can call it that) that Ford offered during the Capri's life was the 1.8 BDA in the RS1800, and the 1.8 BDT in the RS200.
The Essex V4 was a pretty nasty thing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq7A2sSKLT8
You could not help but improve on it. The short stroke Cologne V4 as fitted to the Saab 95 and various German Fords was much nicer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq7A2sSKLT8
You could not help but improve on it. The short stroke Cologne V4 as fitted to the Saab 95 and various German Fords was much nicer.
The problem with the GTV6 and all Alfetta cars was that the standard dampers were generally garbage. Not only that that but quality control was so alarmingly random that you'd get cars delivered with suspension geometry all over the place. They had to be 100% correct to handle correctly but it was worth the effort - a properly set up standard car on some proper dampers was superb.
The Capri was very good though, standard Bilsteins all round and single leaf springs. I never got on with the driving position though.
The Capri was very good though, standard Bilsteins all round and single leaf springs. I never got on with the driving position though.
carinaman said:
CAR Magazine piece on taking the 2.8i and GTV6 to Exmoor with stunning photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/alb...
Well done and thanks for posting this link, Carinaman - thoroughly enjoyed reading such a well-written 'road test' comparison. Always liked the way Car magazine took their test cars out on the long journey/adventure across stimulating and enjoyable roads such as described in that article. For me, that kind of road trip embodies the very essence of driving and bonding with the car of your choice. And like that article I found myself thinking: Head - Capri, Heart - Alfa !https://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/alb...
Memories!! I bought a 4 speed 2.8i on a Y, '83 plate back in the late 80s and it was such fun. The client who sold it to me also had a matching 5 speed on a sequential plate. Then one wet afternoon after a long hot spell, on a windy lane, the back let go and I ended up in a ploughed field upside down. No injuries but with the roof touching the dash, it was written off. My customer bought the salvage, took it home to Walsall and re-shelled it. He had lots of cars so hope it is still around. I always found the Manta Hatch I had much easier to handle though. He also then took the Manta and swapped the 2.0 GM for a Ford 2.9i V6 - always wonder how that ended up!! Saw a 2.8 the other day in traffic - looked sooo small!!
Touring442 said:
The problem with the GTV6 and all Alfetta cars was that the standard dampers were generally garbage. Not only that that but quality control was so alarmingly random that you'd get cars delivered with suspension geometry all over the place. They had to be 100% correct to handle correctly but it was worth the effort - a properly set up standard car on some proper dampers was superb.
The Capri was very good though, standard Bilsteins all round and single leaf springs. I never got on with the driving position though.
Yes, there was a massive variation in dampers on the Alfa's. Shame, as a good one was awesome. The Capri was very good though, standard Bilsteins all round and single leaf springs. I never got on with the driving position though.
The previous 105's showed you could make something decent to drive with a live axle. I guess the Capri 2.8 is another example of decent engineering and development overcoming the rather basic chassis.
Walter Sobchak said:
I always thought they were quite cool, there used to be a Tickford Turbo I’d see on the road fairly often in Surrey, haven’t seen it for a number of years now though, probably too valuable to drive.
Didn’t know they did a V4 in one either, I’ve always considered that engine format much more of a 2 wheeled thing.
Well just for you I saw this one at a monthly classic car meet at the Black Swan pub in Ockham in May! Didn’t know they did a V4 in one either, I’ve always considered that engine format much more of a 2 wheeled thing.
And yes, the MK1/Mk1.5 2 litre ones did indeed have a V4 engine but it was terrible.
I think it was primarily developed to fit in a Transit because the engine bay was so short - a straight 4 Pinto in a MK2/3 is a much better option.
But a Capri really needs a V6!
Edited by Mr Tidy on Saturday 20th July 00:17
V6 a nice old thing; but in that era even the 1.6 litre 4-cylinder Mk1 Golf would match it to 110mph; the 1.8 litre 4-cyl Mk 1 and Mk II Golfs would shade it and 1984's 1.6 litre 16v Golf beat it every which way - drag race, top speed, cross country. In the early '80s, kids voted with their feet and bought hot hatches, or maybe a Manta or Twin-Cam Corolla.
Although, so what, frankly. These days, I'd love one. Especially without a body kit, they look well - here's one for £10k:
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1104471
Although, so what, frankly. These days, I'd love one. Especially without a body kit, they look well - here's one for £10k:
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1104471
When you can buy this for £18'000, the Capri is just overpriced. The Capri would probably be a bit of a let down but the E30 would still feel and go like a proper thing. It's done 170k but a 90k car would still be 25 grand. Still way too much money really but it shows the 2.8i up - you'd need to want one really, really badly.
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1128152
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1128152
I've been a huge Capri fan over the last 30+ years / 150,000 miles and had six in a row, the last of which (2.8i) I sold quite recently.
They are just huge amounts of fun to run and own and I love them dearly.
However, you're quite right.
I could never spend £10-£15k on another as I simply couldn't justify it by any means.
The whole point of the Capri, the three litre especially, was that it was the cheapest way to go fast.
Now, it just isn't.
Still love them though.
They are just huge amounts of fun to run and own and I love them dearly.
However, you're quite right.
I could never spend £10-£15k on another as I simply couldn't justify it by any means.
The whole point of the Capri, the three litre especially, was that it was the cheapest way to go fast.
Now, it just isn't.
Still love them though.
Edited by cologne2792 on Saturday 20th July 20:24
cologne2792 said:
I've been a huge Capri fan over the last 30+ years / 150,000 miles and had six in a row, the last of which (2.8i) I sold quite recently.
They are just huge amounts of fan to run and own and I love them dearly.
It's been a long, long time since I owned a V6 Capri,I think I had 5 or 6. Compared to an RS2000, what they lost in the corners, they gained on the straights. I moved on to mk1 Golf GTI's, and although they were a better car, they were less fun to drive at the limit.They are just huge amounts of fan to run and own and I love them dearly.
tommy1973s said:
V6 a nice old thing; but in that era even the 1.6 litre 4-cylinder Mk1 Golf would match it to 110mph; the 1.8 litre 4-cyl Mk 1 and Mk II Golfs would shade it and 1984's 1.6 litre 16v Golf beat it every which way - drag race, top speed, cross country.
I'd certainly agree about the 1.8 16v Mk2 Golf - you'd expect it to be faster with 140bhp in 1000kg vs the 1200kg Capri Any actual road test figures/mag scans to back up the claims for the 1.6/1.8 Mk1s matching a 2.8 Capri to 110mph though?
Slowest 2.8 Capri test ( 5-speeder ) I've seen to 110 is 32.8 seconds. Personally my 1800gti never got near that performance although it was quick off the mark and up to about 60 was as fast. Capri really got going after that.
cologne2792 said:
I've been a huge Capri fan over the last 30+ years / 150,000 miles and had six in a row, the last of which (2.8i) I sold quite recently.
They are just huge amounts of fun to run and own and I love them dearly.
However, you're quite right.
I could never spend £10-£15k on another as I simply couldn't justify it by any means.
The whole point of the Capri, the three litre especially, was that it was the cheapest way to go fast.
Now, it just isn't.
Still love them though.
I couldn't agree with you more! I had both my 2.8is in the 80s when they were the cheapest way to get that sort of performance. They are just huge amounts of fun to run and own and I love them dearly.
However, you're quite right.
I could never spend £10-£15k on another as I simply couldn't justify it by any means.
The whole point of the Capri, the three litre especially, was that it was the cheapest way to go fast.
Now, it just isn't.
Still love them though.
Edited by cologne2792 on Saturday 20th July 20:24
I've got a mate who buys and sells older cars and he kept telling me I needed to buy a classic car (probably meaning one of his).
But at the time I had a BMW E46 325ti Sport Compact that I bought for less than £2K in 2014 which drove much better than my 2.8i Capris, was way quicker and was far better equipped. OK I lost £500 on it in 3 years, but that's hardly ruinous. Certainly much cheaper than getting rust on an old Ford fixed!
And in terms of "Bang for Buck" it makes £18K for an E30 BMW look absurd, unless you really, really want one.
If I had £18K to put into a weekend toy I'd look for a Toyota Supra, BMW Z4M or an M3.
But it's good to see they are still being cherished!
s m said:
I'd certainly agree about the 1.8 16v Mk2 Golf - you'd expect it to be faster with 140bhp in 1000kg vs the 1200kg Capri
Any actual road test figures/mag scans to back up the claims for the 1.6/1.8 Mk1s matching a 2.8 Capri to 110mph though?
Slowest 2.8 Capri test ( 5-speeder ) I've seen to 110 is 32.8 seconds. Personally my 1800gti never got near that performance although it was quick off the mark and up to about 60 was as fast. Capri really got going after that.
We had a Golf GTI new in 1982, a 1600. It was as fast in a straight line as a Manta GTE, but a 323i or Capri 2.8i was just........faster. The Capri was a 130 mph car, the Golf wasn't. Any actual road test figures/mag scans to back up the claims for the 1.6/1.8 Mk1s matching a 2.8 Capri to 110mph though?
Slowest 2.8 Capri test ( 5-speeder ) I've seen to 110 is 32.8 seconds. Personally my 1800gti never got near that performance although it was quick off the mark and up to about 60 was as fast. Capri really got going after that.
2.8i 4 speed 0-100 is 23.7 secs. 1/8 Golf GTI was 28.8.
Touring442 said:
We had a Golf GTI new in 1982, a 1600. It was as fast in a straight line as a Manta GTE, but a 323i or Capri 2.8i was just........faster. The Capri was a 130 mph car, the Golf wasn't.
2.8i 4 speed 0-100 is 23.7 secs. 1/8 Golf GTI was 28.8.
2.8i 4 speed 0-100 is 23.7 secs. 1/8 Golf GTI was 28.8.
Yes, even the slowest times for a 2.8 5-speeder put them to 110 in around 32/33seconds, the Mk1 1.8 Gti was 10 seconds slower at 42 seconds to 110.
Just can’t see a Mk1 1.6 Gti matching a 2.8 to 110 as said earlier - even a 205 1.9 Gti was struggling at higher speeds
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