RE: 942-mile Ford Capri 280 Brooklands for sale

[mfp4073]

cerb4.5lee said:

I was only saying this to my mrs the other day how much I like the character/crudeness of the 370Z. The clutch and gearbox make some right funny/odd noises...and that might annoy/worry some people, but I find that it just adds a little bit of something to the car. I'm a fan of the GT86 as well and I always like seeing them out on the road.

If you want to drive a crude car that makes funny odd noises you should try a Monaro that will blow your mind. I expect your Nissan will be far superior
I had a Capri 2.0 in the eighties as did my brother, sadly we couldn't afford a 3.0s or a 2.8 which is what we both really wanted.
Yes they were dated and some people slag them off, but here we are in 2020 still taking about them and wishing we could go back in time to get one.
I often wonder how many young people lust over new cars today never mind who will be remotely interested in them in 30-40 years time ?....I expect most probably couldn't care less.

[s m]

mfp4073 said:

If you want to drive a crude car that makes funny odd noises you should try a Monaro that will blow your mind. I expect your Nissan will be far superior
I had a Capri 2.0 in the eighties as did my brother, sadly we couldn't afford a 3.0s or a 2.8 which is what we both really wanted.
Yes they were dated and some people slag them off, but here we are in 2020 still taking about them and wishing we could go back in time to get one.

Every trip to fill up with fuel, get something from the retail park, shops etc /trip to the coast and you get accosted by someone who had one/wants one/wants to tell you about how fast their mate’s one was ......

[cerb4.5lee]

mfp4073 said:

If you want to drive a crude car that makes funny odd noises you should try a Monaro that will blow your mind. I expect your Nissan will be far superior

Yes and I'm sure that I'd really enjoy a Monaro, and it is definitely my type of car.

I also liked the crude feeling of my Cerbera too. Cars now seem to be all about acres of sound deadening, and they are built to be as quiet as a mouse in all areas...where is the fun in that?!

[texaxile]

Earlier thread here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Same questions concerning the mileage / condition which most definitely does not look to be what is claimed.

[swisstoni]

texaxile said:

Earlier thread here:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Same questions concerning the mileage / condition which most definitely does not look to be what is claimed.

For a car of this mileage and fanatical ownership I’d expect every atom of its history to be carefully curated and available for inspection.

The reading on an odometer and a few blokes saying good things would not be enough for me that’s for sure.

[Mr Tidy]

Car_Nut said:

Spot the blinkered Ford fanatics! Sorry I was obviously wrong - we all know that live rear axles are renowned for offering the best ride quality.

When I bought my Golf GTI in 1984, a Capri was never on the list of possible cars - saw it as a ghastly bit of old tat based on Stone Age technology, intended for people who knew nothing about cars. Awful when it came out, a total joke by the 1980s, and awful today.

A 2.8i wasn't a total joke by the 80s, seeing as they didn't go on sale until 1981!

I drove a late 70s Scirocco and had a MK1 Golf GTi briefly - do they actually have any brakes?

Still once the clutch cable pulled through the bulkhead on mine you couldn't go anywhere so you didn't need the pitiful brakes.

[swisstoni]

Car_Nut said:

J4CKO said:

swisstoni said:

Car_Nut said:

The Capri was a terrible car though - think my late father summed it up best when he had one as a hire car: “a Mk3 Cortina without springs”.

Nonsense.

Yeah, Capri was a sensation at the time and was basically a Cortina underneath, they rode quite well.

Spot the blinkered Ford fanatics! Sorry I was obviously wrong - we all know that live rear axles are renowned for offering the best ride quality.

When I bought my Golf GTI in 1984, a Capri was never on the list of possible cars - saw it as a ghastly bit of old tat based on Stone Age technology, intended for people who knew nothing about cars. Awful when it came out, a total joke by the 1980s, and awful today.

Alright Enzo.

[Petrolism]

I drove a few Capris in the past. Forgettable events... The owner probably tried it, realised the error in his ways and drove more interesting cars.
The fact the battery caused corrosion, means it wasn't really a cherished car. More a forgotten one.

[s m]

varsas said:

In Classic Cars this month there is an interesting group test that includes the Capri, and then an interview which talks about how it was marketed. The car does seem like a bargain in period for the performance it offered.

Interesting stuff too from the Ford guy as you say re the ads

[carinaman]

s m said:

varsas said:

In Classic Cars this month there is an interesting group test that includes the Capri, and then an interview which talks about how it was marketed. The car does seem like a bargain in period for the performance it offered.

Interesting stuff too from the Ford guy as you say re the ads

Thanks for that. Yet to read all of it, but I am not sure where they're going with the lack of chrome badging on the 2.8i. Surely stickers were of their time, I am particularly thinking of the mid-70s Porsche 924. Even more expensive Porsches didn't have chrome badges.

It's an 80s car, not a 70s car. FFS, the four ring decals on the 1980? Quattro? The full length plastic stripe adorning the earlier Sunbeam Lotus.

Yeah, just got to the start of the second paragraph

Edited by carinaman on Sunday 25th October 10:22

[nomis36]

I have had 3 capris in my 32 year driving career. Wish I’d kept them all now. First was my nans G reg mk1 1300gt which she bought before I was born in 1969! By the time I got it in 1989 it was pretty rusty despite only done 60 odd thousand miles and garaged all it’s life. With hindsight, it should have been stored until I could afford to have it properly repaired.

Mid 90’s I had a blue x reg 2.8i which was half decent. My mate had a black one at the same time.

Mid 2000’s I got all nostalgic and bought a C reg 2.8i special which obviously had the 5 speed box and an LSD. What a hoot that was in the wet ;-) Sadly, not got a photo of that one for some reason. Wish I still had it. They were a great car with loads of personality.

[J4CKO]

Car_Nut said:

J4CKO said:

swisstoni said:

Car_Nut said:

The Capri was a terrible car though - think my late father summed it up best when he had one as a hire car: “a Mk3 Cortina without springs”.

Nonsense.

Yeah, Capri was a sensation at the time and was basically a Cortina underneath, they rode quite well.

Spot the blinkered Ford fanatics! Sorry I was obviously wrong - we all know that live rear axles are renowned for offering the best ride quality.

When I bought my Golf GTI in 1984, a Capri was never on the list of possible cars - saw it as a ghastly bit of old tat based on Stone Age technology, intended for people who knew nothing about cars. Awful when it came out, a total joke by the 1980s, and awful today.

Hmm, decided I am a "Ford fanatic", I did have a selection of Capris and they rode just fine, they were sixties technology when they came out, as it was 1969. They were a sensation as in a world of dull stuff they offered something sporty for the masses who couldnt afford something more exotic and had a family so it ruled out two seater sports cars.

I went from a Capri to a Golf GTI Mk1 and it was like night and day, but then that was ten years further on tech wise and had quite a bit more power.

Considering they were so bad, they sold quite a few and are fondly remembered by a lot of people, they can also be modified to make a serious performance car, the basics are there and I just watched them on tv as part of Goodwood Speed Week, still looked fantastic.

This 280, even being at he end of the run was still regarded as desirable, a lot knew it was old tech, but didnt care, it worked and looked good.

There is perhaps a reason that even a not that nice MK3 Laser 1.6 goes for 8 grand, I had one of those and as a performance car, well it wasnt, still looked good and was fairly practical, wouldnt want one now and I suspect even a 2.8i may feel a bit old and slow, but then they are even older than I am.

[s m]

carinaman said:

Thanks for that. Yet to read all of it, but I am not sure where they're going with the lack of chrome badging on the 2.8i. Surely stickers were of their time, I am particularly thinking of the mid-70s Porsche 924. Even more expensive Porsches didn't have chrome badges.

It's an 80s car, not a 70s car. FFS, the four ring decals on the 1980? Quattro? The full length plastic stripe adorning the earlier Sunbeam Lotus.

Yeah, no worries. I’d agree with you there

Decals were very much of the time for sporty stuff
RS Cosworth and RS500 both had decals plus, as you say, stuff like Porsches

[mfp4073]

Car_Nut said:

Spot the blinkered Ford fanatics! Sorry I was obviously wrong - we all know that live rear axles are renowned for offering the best ride quality.

When I bought my Golf GTI in 1984, a Capri was never on the list of possible cars - saw it as a ghastly bit of old tat based on Stone Age technology, intended for people who knew nothing about cars. Awful when it came out, a total joke by the 1980s, and awful today.

I remember when the avalanche of hot hatch backs came out, I really couldn't believe what had happened. I looked at all of them and they left me cold, there was nothing and I mean nothing that I found desirable about them.
It's true that technically they were better than a rear wheel drive car with a live axel but a 3.0s or 2.8 Capri still looked and sounded fantastic in comparison.
Today of course I look back and my opinion hasn't changed. I am quite happy with Stone Age technology.
As I've said before its all horses for courses in the car world.

[biggbn]

mfp4073 said:

Car_Nut said:

Spot the blinkered Ford fanatics! Sorry I was obviously wrong - we all know that live rear axles are renowned for offering the best ride quality.

When I bought my Golf GTI in 1984, a Capri was never on the list of possible cars - saw it as a ghastly bit of old tat based on Stone Age technology, intended for people who knew nothing about cars. Awful when it came out, a total joke by the 1980s, and awful today.

I remember when the avalanche of hot hatch backs came out, I really couldn't believe what had happened. I looked at all of them and they left me cold, there was nothing and I mean nothing that I found desirable about them.
It's true that technically they were better than a rear wheel drive car with a live axel but a 3.0s or 2.8 Capri still looked and sounded fantastic in comparison.
Today of course I look back and my opinion hasn't changed. I am quite happy with Stone Age technology.
As I've said before its all horses for courses in the car world.

I hear ya. Its why my dream sportscar is likely a 370z rather than something more technically advanced. Big engined characterful bruiser. As I said earlier, I preferred the manta, and would still have a Monza over a 2.8i. I'm not a Ford guy but 'get' the Capri appeal and enjoyed my time with my 2.8i. (God knows what it would be worth now, I bought it needing a back axle from a guy going through a divorce, one owner car, 64k miles with a ffsh, stratos silver over nimbus grey 84 'A' plate, for £150, fixed it for less than £300 including a new mot, and sold it for £3k and thought I'd done well, which I had!!...I miss the horse trading days but just too much like hard work these days!)

[mfp4073]

biggbn said:

I hear ya. Its why my dream sportscar is likely a 370z rather than something more technically advanced. Big engined characterful bruiser. As I said earlier, I preferred the manta, and would still have a Monza over a 2.8i. I'm not a Ford guy but 'get' the Capri appeal and enjoyed my time with my 2.8i. (God knows what it would be worth now, I bought it needing a back axle from a guy going through a divorce, one owner car, 64k miles with a ffsh, stratos silver over nimbus grey 84 'A' plate, for £150, fixed it for less than £300 including a new mot, and sold it for £3k and thought I'd done well, which I had!!...I miss the horse trading days but just too much like hard work these days!)

Ah yes, the Opel Monza, that was comparatively rare and powerful machine. I seem to recall seeing a few GSE 3.0 cars with Recaro seats which I thought looked fantastic.
They were a step or two ahead of the Capri and probably aimed towards the upper management level.
I suppose my Monaro is the spiritual successor to the Monza which I'm quite happy about really.

[unpc]

mfp4073 said:

I remember when the avalanche of hot hatch backs came out, I really couldn't believe what had happened. I looked at all of them and they left me cold, there was nothing and I mean nothing that I found desirable about them.
It's true that technically they were better than a rear wheel drive car with a live axel but a 3.0s or 2.8 Capri still looked and sounded fantastic in comparison.
Today of course I look back and my opinion hasn't changed. I am quite happy with Stone Age technology.
As I've said before its all horses for courses in the car world.

Back in the day when these were new, I was given a 2.8i special for several months then it got replaced by a Golf GTi 16V and I almost cried. The Golf was the blandest PoS by comparison.

The Capri was an event every time you got in it. Was a proper feel good car. I have fond memories of smoking that thing all over London. The Golf was white goods.

[biggbn]

unpc said:

mfp4073 said:

I remember when the avalanche of hot hatch backs came out, I really couldn't believe what had happened. I looked at all of them and they left me cold, there was nothing and I mean nothing that I found desirable about them.
It's true that technically they were better than a rear wheel drive car with a live axel but a 3.0s or 2.8 Capri still looked and sounded fantastic in comparison.
Today of course I look back and my opinion hasn't changed. I am quite happy with Stone Age technology.
As I've said before its all horses for courses in the car world.

Back in the day when these were new, I was given a 2.8i special for several months then it got replaced by a Golf GTi 16V and I almost cried. The Golf was the blandest PoS by comparison.

The Capri was an event every time you got in it. Was a proper feel good car. I have fond memories of smoking that thing all over London. The Golf was white goods.

Whereas I love a good 16v golf. Quick, frugal, huge fun to throw about and hugely practical.

[unpc]

biggbn said:

Whereas I love a good 16v golf. Quick, frugal, huge fun to throw about and hugely practical.

Frugal and practical are hardly memorable qualities.

[biggbn]

unpc said:

biggbn said:

Whereas I love a good 16v golf. Quick, frugal, huge fun to throw about and hugely practical.

Frugal and practical are hardly memorable qualities.

Agreed, but I have loved each one of the several I have owned . Always up for fun, take being thrashed very well, even standard the handling is an absolute blast and I'd wager that a 2.8i wouldn't see which way one went on a twisty road. I liked my 2.8i and can see the attraction bit the golf 16v was king of the hot hatches for me, yes some were faster, some had more character but to live with..every day? Golf every time. And don't get me started on the two vr6 converted ones i had. Ballistic and grin inducing!!