RE: The final Ford Capri: Driven

RE: The final Ford Capri: Driven

Sunday 5th May 2019

The final Ford Capri | UK Review

2019 marks half a century since the Capri's introduction - what better time to drive the very last one...



Regardless of age, there’ll be a fast Ford that defined your formative car years; the one watched on stage or circuit with your hero at the wheel, the one that Dad should have bought but ended up with a GL, the one you desperately tried to emulate with your first Ford but that never looked quite as good…

The V6 Capris have endured in the collective memory as well as, if not better than, any other, thanks to such a long and storied history. Arriving soon after the first fast Cortinas and Escorts in 1969, and lasting for nearly two decades after that, the flagship Capris built quite a reputation from themselves – one that lasts to the present day. Similarly to today’s Fiesta ST in fact, the Capri V6 succeeded in offering exactly what the buying public wanted at that moment in time – in the 70s and 80s that was a big, brawny engine, rear-wheel drive, coupe style and an affordable price. Bring that hit-list of attributes together with some downright sexy RS2600, RS3100 and Group 5 touring cars, and it’s not hard to see why the Capri captured the British public’s imagination for so long.

And, let’s be honest, why it still does. Look at how those not even born when the Capri finished production – guilty as charged – fawn over the old racers at classic meets. Look at Adrian Flux competition winner Matt from a few years back, who had to have a Capri because his dad did. And look at the guy who wanted to buy this very Capri during our photoshoot, having sold his 3.0 S recently and desperately regretted the decision. The popularity and success of the Capri during its time on sale meant it was part of so many car nuts lives, an enthusiasm that sustains well into the 21st century thanks to technology, family commitment and the undying affection for an iconic Ford.


In 2019, the Ford Capri is 50 years old. Europe’s Mustang, the car you always promised yourself, the Ford coupe that’s never really been directly replaced (because the Probe and Cougar most certainly don’t count) is half a century old. What a five decades it’s been: through 18 years on sale, dirt cheap secondhand project cars, race cars, restored cars, scrapped cars, the terrifying plummet in numbers and the sharp rise in values as a corollary – it’s been quite some lifetime.

Driving a Capri, therefore, seemed wholly appropriate, a reminder on this very significant anniversary of just what it was that so captivated British buyers. The car in the pictures you may recognise: D194 UVW is the last Ford Capri ever made, one of 1,038 Brooklands made at the end of the Capri’s run and owned since new by Ford Heritage. While there are cars registered after this one, that’s because – would you believe – Ford struggled to shift the £11,999 Capri when new, and 280s were left languishing on dealer forecourts. How times change…

By all accounts, the Capri was a little past it by the time 1987 came around. Tastes had changed, the hot hatch era was in its pomp and the Mk3 Capri, itself a heavily updated Mk2, was as modish as flares, prog rock and chunky sideburns – it belonged to a different time. That didn’t stop the 280 Brooklands being received as something significant; mere run-out special with nice paint or not, this marked the end of the road for a hugely popular Ford. Little did anybody know then, of course, that the Capri would never quite happen again.


It’s still a handsome car, the Brooklands, the slippery coupe silhouette lent some attitude to this version thanks to the larger 15-inch wheels. It still garners attention, too, now only of the positive kind; what a shame more of it can’t be lapped up, the woeful brakes ensuring Capri driver is always preoccupied with coming to any kind of stop, leave alone one for a friendly chat.

While many familiar classic car attributes are certainly present and correct with the Capri – it feels small, impossibly airy and tremendously simple – there is genuine enjoyment to derive here in a modern context. Of course the outright capability is lower, but the fundamentals for an entertaining steer are easy to identify: big engine up front, rear drive behind (with a limited-slip diff between the wheels), manual gearbox in the middle and not a great deal in between. No doubt by the standards of something like a 205 GTI the Capri does feel like somewhat of a barge, though in isolation there’s greater immediacy, responsiveness and verve here than might be expected – those touring car successes are much easier to understand.

That gravelly V6 is far more about lusty torque than screaming power, yet imbues the Capri with a fair turn of speed and an appropriately stirring soundtrack. That the gearbox isn’t given a second thought shows how co-operative it is, and dynamic it feels – with due deference to the fact the thing’s bloody priceless – as hoped for with this layout: predictable, reliable, balanced and faithful. This isn’t high stakes exhilaration, a thrill ride to be exploited by only the deftest of helmsmen, instead it's an easy going and immensely charming bruiser of a coupe. Only one more dynamic and less clumsy than you probably thought.


It never tries to be something that it’s not, the Capri. Those after the engagement and timeless appeal of a big engine in a good looking, rear-drive coupe have, and always will, find plenty to like here; those who aren’t already known to look elsewhere. The simplicity in a four-wheeled world of ever increasing jargon, niche exploitation and endless model ranges is extremely easy to rub along with.

So what a surprise, old and honest car proves refreshing in contemporary context. That said, and despite the rather unfortunate careers of both the Probe and Cougar, those advocates of the Capri school of fun can seek solace in 21st century recreations. The Nissan 240Z launched in the same year as the Capri, with a near identical recipe; while the Capri died the Zed was reborn, and while nobody will ever claim the 350Z or 370Z are the last word in sophistication, they are quite fun by following a similar template.

Finally, if it’s Ford or nothing, and if these half century celebrations have you longing for a Capri that no longer exists, don’t forget about the car it was always meant to evoke – the Mustang. Those after a brawny, good looking, good value Ford coupe that arguably sits a little out of kilter with contemporary tastes will find plenty to like in the pony car, even if the badge isn’t quite right. As for the classic Capri, expect the adulation to last a good while yet – for sexing up the Ford range right when required, for getting a generation into fast Fords and for continuing to entertain to this day, it deserves to be remembered as one of the greats. Even if it is now getting on a bit…

See Capris for sale in the PH classifieds here.


SPECIFICATION - FORD CAPRI 280 BROOKLANDS

Engine: 2,792cc, V6
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 160@5,700rpm
Torque (lb ft): 162@5,700rpm
0-62mph: 7.8sec
Top speed: 130mph
Weight: 1,230kg
MPG: N/A
CO2: It was 1986...
Price: £11,999 (new)

This Capri will be on display at Silverstone Classic, 26-28th July, as part of Ford's 50th anniversary celebration. If you have an eligible car, you can join us in the PistonHeads club area here from just £52 for two tickets. For general tickets from £45, click here.













Author
Discussion

mrclav

Original Poster:

1,279 posts

222 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
I'd rather have a Mustang...

cerb4.5lee

30,182 posts

179 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
cloud9

I have so much want for these that it hurts! biggrin

GT03ROB

13,207 posts

220 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
I had a Capri. There is something about the shape of the thing that I really think is great even a bit timeless.

I loved it. Probably awful to drive now, But great at the time.

foliedouce

3,067 posts

230 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
I bought a 1.6 LS in light blue with my student loan in 1992 (sensible!) - underpowered but still miss that machine.

Had my best mate help me to add a boot spoiler, as you do. Learnt to do doughnuts in it and ultimately crashed it into a ditch on a sharp bed smile

Would love to get another #nostalgia

832ark

1,224 posts

155 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
Surely if you want a nice 80s coupe you get a 635 CSi?

cerb4.5lee

30,182 posts

179 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
mrclav said:
I'd rather have a Mustang...
That is exactly what my Dad did! He test drove a 3.0s Capri but ended up buying a 1979 Mustang 5 Litre V8 Cobra instead. He had it for 10 years from me being 7 to 17...fantastic memories of that car for sure and the noise/exclusivity were off the scale.

He also had a couple of Capri's too...a Gold 2.0GL and a Blue GXL(or similar I can't remember as I was only a baby!).

GTIMAN2

38 posts

90 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
Drove a friend's one a few years back,so much more fun than the average turbo diesel of today.Lusty engine,good soundtrack,and looking over that long bonnet in that tiny cabin.You had to be on your guard,waiting for that rear end to step out.I was taking it to a specialist because it get stalling,ten minutes later after a few tweaks to the K jet fuel injection i was heading back again......

trails

3,623 posts

148 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
There was brand new one of these on my paper round...always admired it smile

A Winner Is You

24,942 posts

226 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
They were my favourite car as a child, although I couldn't explain why, and I do regret not getting one soon after I passed my test when Autotrader was full of sub-£1000 examples.

motco

15,918 posts

245 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
During the eighties I had two 2.8i Capris as company cars and did 150,000 more-or-less trouble free miles in the pair of them. One was a 1983 five speed (earlier had a 4 speed box) and open diff, and the second, a 1985 'Special', which had a limited slip diff. They were great but the article is right about the brakes, they were grim. Before speed cameras, if you had a good eye and sense for the traffic you could cruise on motorways well into three figures all day in the 2.8i - it was lovely! The children grew too big for the rear seats in 1987 and I ended up with a Granada (Scorpio) after that. frown

Mothersruin

8,573 posts

98 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
The days when an eight second 0-60 had bragging rights.

Christhepostie

647 posts

69 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
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.

Christhepostie

647 posts

69 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
That is exactly what my Dad did! He test drove a 3.0s Capri but ended up buying a 1979 Mustang 5 Litre V8 Cobra instead. He had it for 10 years from me being 7 to 17...fantastic memories of that car for sure and the noise/exclusivity were off the scale.

He also had a couple of Capri's too...a Gold 2.0GL and a Blue GXL(or similar I can't remember as I was only a baby!).
He got rid of it as you turned 17? Was he telling you something? I'd still be fuming..

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
I still prefer the pepperpots, the alloys on this look disproportionate, but I will always harbour a love for the mkIII - it was the first car that caught my eye as a child.

warch

2,941 posts

153 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
motco said:
During the eighties I had two 2.8i Capris as company cars and did 150,000 more-or-less trouble free miles in the pair of them. One was a 1983 five speed (earlier had a 4 speed box) and open diff, and the second, a 1985 'Special', which had a limited slip diff. They were great but the article is right about the brakes, they were grim. Before speed cameras, if you had a good eye and sense for the traffic you could cruise on motorways well into three figures all day in the 2.8i - it was lovely! The children grew too big for the rear seats in 1987 and I ended up with a Granada (Scorpio) after that. frown
I love the idea of someone using a Capri as a company car, I'd always assumed that they went straight into the hands of boys racers/Ci5. Awesome cars, probably fairly mediocre using hard logic, but so cool and a 70s/80s icon.

jason61c

5,978 posts

173 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
Launched the same year as the 240z(s30 range) however was already so far behind in terms of engineering and design. Thats why one range continued and the other did not.

Squiddly Diddly

22,362 posts

156 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
I learned to drive in a Capri. Always had a soft spot for them.

Still a good looking car.

skyrover

12,668 posts

203 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
The poor man's mustang. It's still a nice little car, but everything it does the mustang does that bit better.

I can appreciate nostalgia though, reason enough to own one.

axeman54

1 posts

175 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
I love these cars so much i have 1x 2.0 laser (daily driver) and 2x 2.8 injections (under restoration)

Jellinek

274 posts

274 months

Sunday 5th May 2019
quotequote all
warch said:
motco said:
During the eighties I had two 2.8i Capris as company cars and did 150,000 more-or-less trouble free miles in the pair of them. One was a 1983 five speed (earlier had a 4 speed box) and open diff, and the second, a 1985 'Special', which had a limited slip diff. They were great but the article is right about the brakes, they were grim. Before speed cameras, if you had a good eye and sense for the traffic you could cruise on motorways well into three figures all day in the 2.8i - it was lovely! The children grew too big for the rear seats in 1987 and I ended up with a Granada (Scorpio) after that. frown
I love the idea of someone using a Capri as a company car, I'd always assumed that they went straight into the hands of boys racers/Ci5. Awesome cars, probably fairly mediocre using hard logic, but so cool and a 70s/80s icon.
That was the real success of the car imho, that it could be used every day with little compromise by a family man, was affordable, yet had aspirational styling in bucketloads (for the time). Amazing to think that at one point, 25% of all fords sold in Europe were Capri’s. As a kid, I thought they were the mutts. As soon as I got a job, got a bank loan and bought a 2.0 Laser which I still have 20 years on. A real icon.