Ford Capri 2.8 | Spotted
Ford never successfully replaced the Capri. That makes it a time machine for the nostalgist...
The Ford Capri's launch back in 1969 was timed perfectly to take advantage of Britain's rejuvenated economy which, after a couple of decades of post-war austerity, had fully enjoyed the swinging sixties. This was a time when the UK had re-established itself as a global centre for fashion, music and art, and Ford's existing line-up of comparably sensible models did little to take advantage of it. So a new car was developed to ride the wave - and nothing could do the job better than a two-door coupe with a sporting silhouette and angular lines like the Capri.
It was an instant hit, satisfying a burgeoning demand for a European Mustang and creating a new breed of stylish coupes that the working man and woman could afford. Against a backdrop of copy and paste designs the Capri looked like a premium product, although what lay beneath its fashionable exterior was actually tried and tested stuff - or, to be frank, old technology borrowed from the Cortina. But it equated to something fun and cool, which is probably what mattered most to those who bought one.
Still, there was an option for everyone, with the 1300 representing a cheap entry point, albeit with a measly 58hp on offer, while a V6 brought the muscle others so desired. Capris of differing variations sold in enormous numbers, so much so that when production ended in 1986, more than 1.8 million had been built. Although arguably the Capri's heyday had long since passed by that point, the peak having been and gone in the 1970s.
That wasn't just in sales terms, either, but in popularity as well. The officers of The Professionals drove Capris, with several filmed being flung around the streets of London in hot pursuit of a criminal in an old Jag. It was just cool. Sure, the Capri had a crude live rear axle suspended by leaf springs, but it rode and steered surprisingly well and offered proper rear-drive handling. When the 2.8i V6 was introduced, it had some decent poke, too.
Launched in 1981, the larger capacity, fuel injected six-cylinder engine had 162hp at 5,700rpm, enabling it to accelerate the now third-gen Capri from 0-60mph in 7.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 127mph. The then fashion icon of the early 1980s, the Golf GTI, could only manage 113mph with its 110hp four-cylinder - although by this point sales of the Capri had long been slowing. A two-door coupe, as desirable as that sounds today, just wasn't so hot back when the hot hatchback was beginning to find its form.
Nowadays, a two-door with lines as retro as the Capri's and a naturally-aspirated V6 driving its rear wheels is, well - see for yourself. Prices have been heading northwards for several years now, to the point that the highest spec Capri, the last of the line Brooklands, now commands £45k. Even today's Spotted, a very (very) late example of the aforementioned and far more common 2.8i, is up for thirty grand. Is a Capri, which, let's not forget uses suspension technology first developed for horse and cart, worth that much? To someone who wants to relive the glory days, quite possibly.
SPECIFICATION - FORD CAPRI 2.8I
Engine: 2,792cc, V6, fuel injection
Transmission: 4-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 162@5,700rpm
Torque (lb ft): 162@4,200rpm
0-62mph: 7.9sec
Top speed: 127mph
First registered: 1987
Recorded mileage: 25,000
Price new: £8,995
Price now: £29,995
Car fully loaded and I remember just being flat out constantly sitting in the back giggling. Needle was regularly past the 140 mark as far as it would go. And neither of the 2 he had let him down. Considering the thrashing he gave them, quite an achievement!
Shame they are just stupid money now, same as all "classic" Fords for some reason.
I couldn't stomach that so wrote and complained. They published my letter under the caption "Another Alfa Biggot" LOL.
I guess their point was that Ford had worked a bit of magic with the (crude) chassis which made it the better overall package - just.
I'd never driven a 2.8, only a pretty awful 2.0 GL and a couple of even worse Cortina's. And one of the words worst cars ever, my mate's Capri 1.3 resprayed in bus paint blue with an aftermarket sunroof fitted about 15 degrees off true. Talking about not being able to pull a greased out of a dog's arse......
In contrast I'd had the pleasure of spanking a GTV6 round the Highlands as well as many road trips in mates' 2.0 GTV's. Plus some fun in an early GT 1.8 and a Guilietta. They had their flaws but the chassis was magnificent when you really gave it some welly (De Dion & transaxle).
Anyway, of all the Capri's, the 2.8 seems to be the one. My mate agreed and got one for his 50th and used it as his DD until some nicked it at Christmas three or four years ago. The Ford Tax is strong with these now......
Remember going up to the Chelsea cruise in 1980 as few times in the back of a mate's Mk1 3.0 GXL that had a Weslake tuned V6.......the engine cost him 3 times what he paid for the slightly scabby complete car originally
It had been resprayed black and was fitted with Brut Faberage racing stickers
Went like stink though
But it was 3.0S they were famous for.
My dad bought one of the last 3.0S made just before they brought out the 2.8.
Lovely car, white with Wolfrace Mag slot wheels. Drove it sat in my dads lap unable to reach the pedals
He had a 3.0 Ghia before that (KAW118P) then the 3.0S (KNT10W)
Just wish he had kept the Lotus Cortina or the twin cam escort he also owned (or the 944), but at least I still have his 3.2 Carrera.
Replaced it with a 2.8i Special, but was stolen 1 month later.
I'll always have fond memories of the Capri. It is a shame Ford never recaptured the success of the Capri. Less said about the probe the better.
I liked everything about it and had to get one by hook or by crook. (Only a handful of cars have ever engendered that sort of car-lust in me).
What really made it compared to previous Capris looks wise, was the lowered suspension and the way the wheels sat in the arches just perfectly.
I've never particularly been a Capri fan, although my neighbour bought a brand new Mk2 in 1976; I was 5, and it was the first car I ever travelled in that had a trip meter (with 10ths of miles being clocked up at a rate).
£30k for today's example? Are KGF selling it?
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