Ford Capri
Encyclopedia
Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company
for three different automobile
models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain
between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986. The Ford/Mercury Capri convertible was produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia from 1989 to 1994.
The Capri name was also used by Ford's Lincoln-Mercury Division on six different models which did not bear the Ford name. The Lincoln Cosmopolitan Capri
from 1950 to 1951; the Lincoln Capri
from 1952 to 1959; the Mercury Comet Capri
in 1966-1967; and three different generations of Mercury Capri
s from 1970 to 1994.
saloon made by Ford of Britain. The Ford Classic was a result of 4 years of development. Approval for the project was given in autumn 1956. The styling of the car was the last project undertaken by Colin Neale before he left Dagenham for Dearborn. The initial design requirement was for the Ford Classic to be a full range model to take Ford into the new decade. Ford even developed a full-size estate (station wagon) prototype.
The Capri Project was code named "Sunbird" and took design elements from the Ford Thunderbird
and the Ford Galaxie
Sunliner. It was instigated by Sir Horace Denne, Ford's Sales Director. He wanted a "co-respondent's" car to add glamour to the product line. It was designed by Charles Thompson who worked under Neale and had sweeping lines, a large boot space and a pillarless coupé roof.
On its September announcement the Consul Capri was for export only but went on sale to the domestic British market in January 1962. The bodies were sub-assembled by Pressed Steel Fisher, with only final assembly taking place at Dagenham. It was intended as part of the Ford Classic range of cars but the body was complex and expensive to produce. With new production methods, time demands from Dearborn and a need to match opposition manufacturers in price, the Ford Classic and Consul Capri were almost doomed from the start. The Ford Classic was made from 1961 to 1963, and replaced by the Cortina-derived Ford Corsair
.
The Consul Capri included Ford Classic De-Luxe features, including four headlights
, variable speed wipers, 9.5 in (241 mm) front disc brakes, dimming dashboard lights, and a cigar lighter. The four speed transmission was available with either a column or floor change. It was proclaimed as "The First Personal car from Ford of Great Britain" (Ford of Great Britain, sales literature, December 1961)
Initially fitted with a 1340 cc 3 main bearing engine (model 109E), the early cars were considered underpowered and suffered from premature crankshaft failure. Engine capacity was increased in August 1962 to 1498 cc (model 116E) and this engine was a vast improvement. The first 200 Capris were left-hand-drive cars for export including Europe and North America. In Germany at the 1961 Frankfurt Auto Show, Ford sold 88 Capris.
In February 1963 a GT version (also 116E) was announced. The new GT engine, developed by Cosworth, featured a raised compression ratio to 9:1, a modified head with larger exhaust valves, an aluminium inlet manifold, a four branch exhaust manifold and, most noticeably, a twin-choke Weber carburettor - this being the first use of this make on a British production car. The same engine was announced for use in the Ford Cortina
in April 1963.
Overall the car was very expensive to produce and in the latter part of its production was running alongside the very popular Ford Cortina. Sales were disappointing and the Consul Capri was removed from sale after just two and a half years with 19,421 sold, of which 2002 were GT models. Just 1007 cars were sold in 1964, the last year of production, 412 of them being GTs. The Consul Capri was discontinued in July 1964. The Consul Capri (335) is one of the rarest cars from Ford of Great Britain.
A Capri was tested by the British The Motor
magazine in 1962 and had a top speed of 79 mph (127.1 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 22.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 36.7 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £915 including taxes of £288.
; to produce a European pony car
. It was mechanically based on the Cortina
and built in Europe at the Dagenham
and Halewood
plants in the United Kingdom, the Genk
plant in Belgium, and the Saarlouis
and Cologne
plants in Germany. The car was named Colt during development stage, but Ford were unable to use the name, as it was trademarked by Mitsubishi
.
Although a fastback
coupé, Ford wanted the Capri Mk I to be affordable for a broad spectrum of potential buyers. To help achieve that, it was available with a variety of engines. The British and German factories produced different line-ups. The continental model used the Ford Taunus V4 engine
in 1.3, 1.5 and 1.7 L engine displacement
, while the British versions were powered by the Ford Kent straight-4 in 1.3 and 1.6 L form. The Ford Essex V4 engine
2.0 L (British built) & Cologne V6
2.0 L (German built) served as initial range-toppers. At the end of the year, new sports versions were added: the 2300 GT in Germany, using a double-barrel carburettor with 125 PS, and in September 1969 the 3000 GT in the UK, with the Essex V6
, capable of 138 hp.
Under the new body, the running gear would have been familiar to anyone used to working on the underside of a 1966 Cortina. Rear suspension employed a live axle supported on leaf springs with short radius rods. MacPherson strut
s featured at the front in combination with rack and pinion steering which employed a steering column that would collapse in response to a collision.
The initial reception of the car was broadly favourable. In the June 1970 edition of the Monthly Driver's Gazette, tester Archie Vicar wrote of the gearchange that it was "...in Ford fashion easy to operate but not very jolly". In the same review Vicar summed up the car as follows: "Perhaps with a bit of work it can be given road-holding and performance less like an American car and more like a European one".
The range continued be broadened, with another 3.0 variant, the Capri 3000E introduced from the British plant in March 1970, offering "more luxurious interior trim".
In April 1970, Ford began selling the Capri outside Europe, in the North American, South African and Australian markets. These versions were all powered by the underpowered Kent 1.6 engine although a Pinto
straight-4 2.0 L replaced it in 1971. All North American versions featured the "power dome" hood and four round 5 3/4" US-spec headlights. They carried no "Ford" badging, as the Capri was sold by only Mercury dealers and promoted to US drivers as "the sexy European".
A new 2637 cc version of the Cologne V6 engine assembled by Weslake
and featuring their special all alloy cylinder heads appeared in September 1971, powering the Capri RS2600. This model used Kugelfischer fuel injection
to raise power to 150 PS and was the basis for the Group 2 RS2600 used in the European Touring Car Championship
. The RS2600 also received modified suspension, a close ratio gearbox, lightened bodywork panels, ventilated disc brakes and aluminium wheels. It could hit 100kph from a standstill in 7.7 seconds. The 2.6 L engine was detuned in September for the deluxe version 2600 GT, with 2550 cc and a double-barrel Solex
carburettor. Germany's Dieter Glemser won the Drivers' title in the 1971 European Touring Car Championship at the wheel of a Ford Köln entered RS2600 and fellow German Jochen Mass did likewise in 1972.
The very first Ford Special, was the Capri Vista Orange Special.
The Capri Special was launched in November 1971 and was based on the 1600 GT, and 2000 GT models. It was only available in Vista orange and was optional fitted with a boot mounted spoiler and rear window slats - a direct link to the Mustang. The Special also had some additional standard extras such as a push-button radio, fabric seat upholstery, inertia reel seat belts, heated rear screen and black vinyl roof. There were only 1200 Vista Orange Capri specials made.
One of the last limited editions of the original Mk I, was a version that came in either Metallic Green or black with Red interior and featured some additional extras, such as cloth inserts in the seats, hazard lights, map reading light, opening rear windows, vinyl roof and for the first time a bonnet bulge was fitted to the sub-3.0 litre models. This special edition was only available with a 1.6 or 2.0 engines and had the full title of GTXLR Special.
and the previously UK-only 3000 GT joined the German lineup. In the UK the 2.0 L V4 remained in use.
In addition, North American versions received larger rubber-covered bumpers (to comply with U.S. DOT regulations) for 1973.
1973, saw the highest sales total the Capri ever attained, at 233,000 vehicles: the 1,000,000th Capri, an RS 2600, was completed on 29 August.
In December, Ford replaced the Cologne V6 based RS2600 with the Essex V6 based RS3100, with the usual 3.0 L Essex V6's displacement increased to 3098 cc. Unlike its predecessor, it used a double-barrel Weber
carburettor, and reached the same 150 PS. Only 250 RS3100s were built for homologation
purposes. However, the car was still competitive in touring car racing
, and Ford Motorsport produced a 100-model limited edition with this new engine. The Group 4 RS3100’s engine was tuned by Cosworth
into the GAA, with 3412 cc, fuel injection, DOHC, four valves per cylinder and 435 hp in racing trim. The car also featured improved aerodynamics. Besides the racing RS3100, the GAA was also used in Formula 5000
.
, Ford chose to make the new car more suited to everyday driving with a shorter bonnet, larger cabin and the adoption of a hatchback
rear door. By the standards of the day, the Capri II was a very well evolved vehicle with very few reliability issues.
For Germany the Capri now offered 1.3 litre (55 PS), 1.6 litre (72 PS) or 2.0 litre (88 PS) in-line four cylinder engines, complemented by a 2.3 litre (108 PS) and the UK sourced 3.0 litre V6.
Although it was mechanically similar to the Mk I, the Capri II had a revised larger body and a more modern dashboard including a smaller steering wheel. The 2.0 L version of the Pinto engine was introduced in the European model and was placed below the 3.0L V6. The Capri still maintained the large square headlights, which became the easiest way to distinguish between a Mk II and a Mk III. Larger front disc brakes and a standard alternator finished the list of modifications.
Ford introduced the John Player Special
limited edition, (known as the JPS) in March 1975. Available only in black or white, the JPS featured yards of gold pinstriping to mimic the Formula 1 livery, gold colored wheels, and a bespoke upgraded interior of beige cloth and carpet trimmed with black. In May 1976, and with sales decreasing, the intermediate 3.0 GT models disappeared to give way for the upscale 3.0 S and Ghia designations. In October 1976, production was limited to the Saarlouis factory only and the following year the Capri left the American market with only 513,500 models sold.
, essentially previewed the model some time before launch. The Mk III featured improved aerodynamics, leading to improved performance and economy over the Mk II and the trademark quad headlamps were introduced.
At launch the existing engine and transmission combinations of the Capri II were carried over, with the 3.0 S model regarded as the most desirable model although in truth the softer, Ghia derivative with automatic rather than manual transmission the bigger seller of the two V6 engined models.
Mk III models available:
Special limited addition trimmed models:
Ford began to focus their attention on the UK Capri market as sales declined, realizing the car had something of a cult following there. Unlike sales of the contemporary 4-door Cortina
, Capri sales in Britain were to private buyers who would demand less discounts than fleet buyers allowing higher margins with the coupé. Ford tried to maintain interest in 1979 with Ford Rallye Sport, Series X, "X Pack" options from the performance oriented RS parts range. Although expensive and slow selling these proved that the press would enthusiastically cover more developed Capris with higher performance.
Despite being the most popular sporting model in Britain for most of its production life, the third generation Capri was also one of the most stolen cars in Britain during the 1980s and early 1990s, being classified as "high risk" of theft in a Home Office
report.
The 3.0 S was used extensively in the TV series The Professionals
, with characters Bodie driving a silver 3.0 S and Doyle a gold 3.0 S, which was credited with maintaining interest in the car in the UK.
. Externally the car could be easily distinguished by seven spoke RS wheels (without the customary "RS" logo since this was not an RS vehicle) and color coded grille and headlamp surrounds. At the same time the 2.0 L Capri was rationalized to one model the 2.0 S, which simultaneously adopted a mildly modified suspension from the Capri Injection. The 1.6 model was also reduced to one model, the 1.6 LS.
engine. Figures of around 200 produced examples are common, but numbered transmission tunnels possibly indicate 155 conversions were made.
Capri used a turbocharged 2.8 Injection Cologne engine which developed 205 hp, allowing it to reach 60 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds, topping out at 137 miles per hour. This version also featured a luxury interior with optional full leather retrim and Wilton
carpeting and headlining, large rear spoiler, colour coded front grille, deeper bumpers and 'one off' bodykit designed by Simon Saunders, later of KAT Designs and now designer of the Ariel Atom
.
Rear disc brake
s were standard on the Tickford, which featured numerous other suspension modifications. This model was essentially rebuilt by hand by Tickford at approximately 200 hours per car. It sold fewer than 100 units. One problem was the relative price difference to the standard Capri Injection, with the Tickford version costing twice as much.
, full leather Recaro
interior and 15 inch versions of the seven spoke 13 inch wheels fitted to the superseded Capri Injection Special. Ford originally intended to make 500 turbo charged vehicles (by Turbo Technics) complete with gold alloy wheels and name it the Capri 500 but a change of production planning meant a name change to Capri 280 as the cars were simply the last models that ran down the production line. A total of 1,038 Capri 280s were built.
When the last Capri was made on 19 December 1986, 1,886,647 cars had rolled off the production lines. Production had ended at Halewood, UK in 1976 and the Capri was made exclusively in Germany from 1976 to 1986. Most of those (more than a million) were the Mk I, because the Mk I sold well in North America and Australia, while the Mk II and Mk III were only exported outside Europe (to Asia and New Zealand) in limited numbers.
(73 PS)
5300 || style="text-align:center;"|74 kW
(101 PS)
5200 || style="text-align:center;"|66 kW
(90 PS)
5100|| style="text-align:center;"|84 kW
(114 PS)
5300|| style="text-align:center;"|118 kW
(160 PS)
5700|| style="text-align:center;"|138 kW
(188 PS)
5500||101 kW
(138)
5000
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Max. Torque
at peak RPM: ||92.2 Nm
4000|| style="text-align:center;"|113 Nm
2700 || style="text-align:center;"|117 Nm
2700 || style="text-align:center;"|153 Nm
4000 || style="text-align:center;"|141 Nm
3000|| style="text-align:center;"|176 Nm
3000|| style="text-align:center;"|221 Nm
4300 || style="text-align:center;"|263 Nm
4500||235 Nm
3000
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Compression ratio: ||9.2:1|| style="text-align:center;"|8.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|8.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.0 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.2 : 1||9.0:1
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Fuel system: || colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|1 Downdraft carburettor|| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|1 Twin-choke downdraft carburettor|| style="text-align:center;"| Fuel injection (Bosch K-Jetronic)|| style="text-align:center;"| 1 Garrett turbo charger||1 Twin-choke downdraft carburettor
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Valve control: ||(OHV)|| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|overhead camshaft (OHC), timing belt || colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|central camshaft (OHV), bumpers and rockers, timing wheels
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Cooling: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|Water cooled
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Transmission: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|4-speed manual transmission
(later 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic (Ford C3
))
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Front suspension: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|McPherson-Struts, coil springs
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Rear suspension: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"| Rigid axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Chassis: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"| Steel, monocoque chassis
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Track width front/rear: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|1353 - 1400/1384–1431 mm
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| Wheelbase: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|2563 mm
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Length: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|4376–4439 mm
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Unladen weight: ||1010 kg|| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|1060 kg|| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|1031–1250 kg
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Top speed: ||157 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|157 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|160 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|180 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|170 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|183 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|210 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|220 kilometre per hour||196.3 kilometre per hour
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Acceleration
0–100 km/h: ||16.3 s|| style="text-align:center;"|16.3 s || style="text-align:center;"|13.8-19 s || style="text-align:center;"|11.1-14.5 s || style="text-align:center;"|13-15.5 s || style="text-align:center;"|10.5-13 s || style="text-align:center;"|8.1-8.5 s || style="text-align:center;"|8 s||8.8 s
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Fuel consumption
Liter/100 Kilometer: ||9.0|| style="text-align:center;"|11.5 || style="text-align:center;"|11.5-12.5 || style="text-align:center;"|13-14 || style="text-align:center;"|13.5-14.5 || style="text-align:center;"|13.5-14.5 || style="text-align:center;"|15 || style="text-align:center;"|15.5||
|}
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
for three different automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain is a British wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Its business started in 1909 and has its registered office in Brentwood, Essex...
between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986. The Ford/Mercury Capri convertible was produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia from 1989 to 1994.
The Capri name was also used by Ford's Lincoln-Mercury Division on six different models which did not bear the Ford name. The Lincoln Cosmopolitan Capri
Lincoln Cosmopolitan
The Lincoln Cosmopolitan is a full-size sedan sold by Lincoln from 1949 to the early 1950s. The Cosmopolitan featured four-speed manual transmission and a 5.5 liter 152 hp V8 as well as an "aerodynamic" hood ornament. Like the Continental of the 1960s, the Cosmopolitan featured suicide...
from 1950 to 1951; the Lincoln Capri
Lincoln Capri
The Lincoln Capri was a full-size automobile sold by Ford's Lincoln luxury division. It was introduced for the 1952 model year and discontinued soon after the 1959 model year....
from 1952 to 1959; the Mercury Comet Capri
Mercury Comet
The Mercury Comet is an automobile produced by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company from 1960–1969 and 1971-1977 — variously as either a compact or an intermediate car.The Comet was based on the compact Ford Falcon and later the Ford Maverick...
in 1966-1967; and three different generations of Mercury Capri
Mercury Capri
-First Generation :See also Ford CapriThe Mercury Capri was built in Cologne, Germany, and was sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealers in North America. The European Capri was first sold in the US in April 1970 and carried the Mercury marque identification as Ford already had a Mustang for the same...
s from 1970 to 1994.
Ford Consul Capri (335) (1961–64)
The Capri was a two door coupé version of the Ford ClassicFord Classic
The Ford Consul Classic or 'Consul 315' was a mid-sized car built by Ford in the UK from 1961 to 1963. Available with two or four doors, in Standard or De Luxe versions, with floor or column gearshift. It is commonly referred to as the Ford 109E , though four such codes are possible as explained...
saloon made by Ford of Britain. The Ford Classic was a result of 4 years of development. Approval for the project was given in autumn 1956. The styling of the car was the last project undertaken by Colin Neale before he left Dagenham for Dearborn. The initial design requirement was for the Ford Classic to be a full range model to take Ford into the new decade. Ford even developed a full-size estate (station wagon) prototype.
The Capri Project was code named "Sunbird" and took design elements from the Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird , is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in the United States over eleven model generations from 1955 through 2005...
and the Ford Galaxie
Ford Galaxie
The Ford Galaxie was a full-size car built in the United States by the Ford Motor Company for model years 1959 through 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford’s full-size range from 1959 until 1961, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race...
Sunliner. It was instigated by Sir Horace Denne, Ford's Sales Director. He wanted a "co-respondent's" car to add glamour to the product line. It was designed by Charles Thompson who worked under Neale and had sweeping lines, a large boot space and a pillarless coupé roof.
On its September announcement the Consul Capri was for export only but went on sale to the domestic British market in January 1962. The bodies were sub-assembled by Pressed Steel Fisher, with only final assembly taking place at Dagenham. It was intended as part of the Ford Classic range of cars but the body was complex and expensive to produce. With new production methods, time demands from Dearborn and a need to match opposition manufacturers in price, the Ford Classic and Consul Capri were almost doomed from the start. The Ford Classic was made from 1961 to 1963, and replaced by the Cortina-derived Ford Corsair
Ford Corsair
The Ford Consul Corsair, manufactured by Ford Motor Company in the United Kingdom, was a midsize car introduced at the London Motor Show in October 1963 and available as either a saloon or estate from 1964 until 1970...
.
The Consul Capri included Ford Classic De-Luxe features, including four headlights
Automotive lighting
The lighting system of a motor vehicle consists of lighting and signalling devices mounted or integrated to the front, sides, rear, and in some cases the top of the motor vehicle...
, variable speed wipers, 9.5 in (241 mm) front disc brakes, dimming dashboard lights, and a cigar lighter. The four speed transmission was available with either a column or floor change. It was proclaimed as "The First Personal car from Ford of Great Britain" (Ford of Great Britain, sales literature, December 1961)
Initially fitted with a 1340 cc 3 main bearing engine (model 109E), the early cars were considered underpowered and suffered from premature crankshaft failure. Engine capacity was increased in August 1962 to 1498 cc (model 116E) and this engine was a vast improvement. The first 200 Capris were left-hand-drive cars for export including Europe and North America. In Germany at the 1961 Frankfurt Auto Show, Ford sold 88 Capris.
In February 1963 a GT version (also 116E) was announced. The new GT engine, developed by Cosworth, featured a raised compression ratio to 9:1, a modified head with larger exhaust valves, an aluminium inlet manifold, a four branch exhaust manifold and, most noticeably, a twin-choke Weber carburettor - this being the first use of this make on a British production car. The same engine was announced for use in the Ford Cortina
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
in April 1963.
Overall the car was very expensive to produce and in the latter part of its production was running alongside the very popular Ford Cortina. Sales were disappointing and the Consul Capri was removed from sale after just two and a half years with 19,421 sold, of which 2002 were GT models. Just 1007 cars were sold in 1964, the last year of production, 412 of them being GTs. The Consul Capri was discontinued in July 1964. The Consul Capri (335) is one of the rarest cars from Ford of Great Britain.
A Capri was tested by the British The Motor
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
magazine in 1962 and had a top speed of 79 mph (127.1 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 22.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 36.7 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £915 including taxes of £288.
Ford Capri Mk I (1969–1974)
The first Ford Capri to bear that precise name was introduced in January 1969 at the Brussels Motor Show, with sales starting the following month. The intention was to reproduce in Europe the success Ford had had with the North American Ford MustangFord Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
; to produce a European pony car
Pony car
Pony car is an American class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964. The term describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image.-Origins of the breed:...
. It was mechanically based on the Cortina
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
and built in Europe at the Dagenham
Dagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
and Halewood
Halewood
Halewood is in Merseyside, England and is located in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. The district lies near Liverpool's southeastern boundary, bordered by the suburbs of Hunts Cross and Woolton....
plants in the United Kingdom, the Genk
Genk
Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the city of Genk itself...
plant in Belgium, and the Saarlouis
Saarlouis
Saarlouis is a city in the Saarland, Germany, capital of the district of Saarlouis. In 2006, the town had a population of 38,327. Saarlouis, as the name implies, is located at the river Saar....
and Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
plants in Germany. The car was named Colt during development stage, but Ford were unable to use the name, as it was trademarked by Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors
is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
.
Although a fastback
Fastback
A fastback is a car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back. The word can also designate the car itself. The style is seen on two-door coupés as well as four-door sedans.-History:...
coupé, Ford wanted the Capri Mk I to be affordable for a broad spectrum of potential buyers. To help achieve that, it was available with a variety of engines. The British and German factories produced different line-ups. The continental model used the Ford Taunus V4 engine
Ford Taunus V4 engine
The Taunus V4 was a V4 piston engine with one balance shaft, introduced by Ford Motor Company in Germany in 1962. The German V4 was built in the Cologne plant and powered the Ford Taunus and German versions of the Granada, Capri and Transit...
in 1.3, 1.5 and 1.7 L engine displacement
Engine displacement
Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches...
, while the British versions were powered by the Ford Kent straight-4 in 1.3 and 1.6 L form. The Ford Essex V4 engine
Ford Essex V4 engine
The Essex V4 was a V4 engine from Ford Motor Company made at the plant in Essex. The engine was available in two capacities, 1663 cc and 1996 cc, differing only in stroke. This engine was used on the Ford Corsair, Capri Mk I, Consul/Granada Mk I, Ford Zephyr 4 Mk IV and certain early models of the...
2.0 L (British built) & Cologne V6
Ford Cologne V6 engine
The original Ford Cologne V6, also known as the 'Ford Taunus V6', is a series of 60° cast iron block V6 engines produced continuously by the Ford Motor Company in Cologne, Germany since 1968...
2.0 L (German built) served as initial range-toppers. At the end of the year, new sports versions were added: the 2300 GT in Germany, using a double-barrel carburettor with 125 PS, and in September 1969 the 3000 GT in the UK, with the Essex V6
Ford Essex V6 engine
Ford Motor Company has produced two different V6 piston engines which have been commonly referred to as Essex:* Ford Essex V6 engine - A 60° V6, 2.5/3.0 L* Ford Essex V6 engine - A 90° V6, 3.8-4.2 L...
, capable of 138 hp.
Under the new body, the running gear would have been familiar to anyone used to working on the underside of a 1966 Cortina. Rear suspension employed a live axle supported on leaf springs with short radius rods. MacPherson strut
MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...
s featured at the front in combination with rack and pinion steering which employed a steering column that would collapse in response to a collision.
The initial reception of the car was broadly favourable. In the June 1970 edition of the Monthly Driver's Gazette, tester Archie Vicar wrote of the gearchange that it was "...in Ford fashion easy to operate but not very jolly". In the same review Vicar summed up the car as follows: "Perhaps with a bit of work it can be given road-holding and performance less like an American car and more like a European one".
The range continued be broadened, with another 3.0 variant, the Capri 3000E introduced from the British plant in March 1970, offering "more luxurious interior trim".
In April 1970, Ford began selling the Capri outside Europe, in the North American, South African and Australian markets. These versions were all powered by the underpowered Kent 1.6 engine although a Pinto
Ford Pinto engine
The Ford Pinto engine was the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4-cylinder internal combustion engine built by Ford Europe. In Ford sales literature it was referred to as the EAO or OHC engine and because it was designed to the metric system, it was sometimes called the "Metric engine". The...
straight-4 2.0 L replaced it in 1971. All North American versions featured the "power dome" hood and four round 5 3/4" US-spec headlights. They carried no "Ford" badging, as the Capri was sold by only Mercury dealers and promoted to US drivers as "the sexy European".
Weslake
Weslake Research and Development was founded by Harry Weslake, with premises in Rye, East Sussex, England. Weslake was a cylinder head specialist who had been instrumental in modifying the side valve standard engine used in the first SS sports car. He also worked on the larger SS engine: "The...
and featuring their special all alloy cylinder heads appeared in September 1971, powering the Capri RS2600. This model used Kugelfischer fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
to raise power to 150 PS and was the basis for the Group 2 RS2600 used in the European Touring Car Championship
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
. The RS2600 also received modified suspension, a close ratio gearbox, lightened bodywork panels, ventilated disc brakes and aluminium wheels. It could hit 100kph from a standstill in 7.7 seconds. The 2.6 L engine was detuned in September for the deluxe version 2600 GT, with 2550 cc and a double-barrel Solex
Solex
Solex was a French manufacturer of carburetors and the powered bicycle VéloSoleX.The Solex company was founded by Marcel Mennesson and Maurice Goudard to manufacture vehicle radiators...
carburettor. Germany's Dieter Glemser won the Drivers' title in the 1971 European Touring Car Championship at the wheel of a Ford Köln entered RS2600 and fellow German Jochen Mass did likewise in 1972.
The very first Ford Special, was the Capri Vista Orange Special.
The Capri Special was launched in November 1971 and was based on the 1600 GT, and 2000 GT models. It was only available in Vista orange and was optional fitted with a boot mounted spoiler and rear window slats - a direct link to the Mustang. The Special also had some additional standard extras such as a push-button radio, fabric seat upholstery, inertia reel seat belts, heated rear screen and black vinyl roof. There were only 1200 Vista Orange Capri specials made.
One of the last limited editions of the original Mk I, was a version that came in either Metallic Green or black with Red interior and featured some additional extras, such as cloth inserts in the seats, hazard lights, map reading light, opening rear windows, vinyl roof and for the first time a bonnet bulge was fitted to the sub-3.0 litre models. This special edition was only available with a 1.6 or 2.0 engines and had the full title of GTXLR Special.
Mk I facelift
The Capri proved highly successful, with 400,000 cars sold until 1970. Ford revised it in 1972 to become what is known by enthusiasts as the Capri "Bis" (i.e. "second") or, in the UK, the "Mk I facelift" Capri. The car received a new and more comfortable suspension, rectangular headlights, enlarged tail-lights and new seats. The Kent engines were replaced by the Ford Pinto engineFord Pinto engine
The Ford Pinto engine was the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4-cylinder internal combustion engine built by Ford Europe. In Ford sales literature it was referred to as the EAO or OHC engine and because it was designed to the metric system, it was sometimes called the "Metric engine". The...
and the previously UK-only 3000 GT joined the German lineup. In the UK the 2.0 L V4 remained in use.
In addition, North American versions received larger rubber-covered bumpers (to comply with U.S. DOT regulations) for 1973.
1973, saw the highest sales total the Capri ever attained, at 233,000 vehicles: the 1,000,000th Capri, an RS 2600, was completed on 29 August.
In December, Ford replaced the Cologne V6 based RS2600 with the Essex V6 based RS3100, with the usual 3.0 L Essex V6's displacement increased to 3098 cc. Unlike its predecessor, it used a double-barrel Weber
Magneti-Marelli
Magneti Marelli S.p.A. is an Italian company which deals with development and manufacturing of systems, modules and high-technology components for the automotive industry...
carburettor, and reached the same 150 PS. Only 250 RS3100s were built for homologation
Homologation
Homologation is a technical term, derived from the Greek homologeo for "to agree", which is generally used in English to signify the granting of approval by an official authority...
purposes. However, the car was still competitive in touring car racing
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
, and Ford Motorsport produced a 100-model limited edition with this new engine. The Group 4 RS3100’s engine was tuned by Cosworth
Cosworth
Cosworth is a high performance engineering company founded in London in 1958, specialising in engines and electronics for automobile racing , mainstream automotive and defence industries...
into the GAA, with 3412 cc, fuel injection, DOHC, four valves per cylinder and 435 hp in racing trim. The car also featured improved aerodynamics. Besides the racing RS3100, the GAA was also used in Formula 5000
Formula 5000
Formula 5000 was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula...
.
Ford Capri Mk II – 'Capri II' (1974–1978)
In February 1974, the Capri II was introduced. After 1.2 million cars sold, and with the 1973 oil crisis1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
, Ford chose to make the new car more suited to everyday driving with a shorter bonnet, larger cabin and the adoption of a hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
rear door. By the standards of the day, the Capri II was a very well evolved vehicle with very few reliability issues.
For Germany the Capri now offered 1.3 litre (55 PS), 1.6 litre (72 PS) or 2.0 litre (88 PS) in-line four cylinder engines, complemented by a 2.3 litre (108 PS) and the UK sourced 3.0 litre V6.
Although it was mechanically similar to the Mk I, the Capri II had a revised larger body and a more modern dashboard including a smaller steering wheel. The 2.0 L version of the Pinto engine was introduced in the European model and was placed below the 3.0L V6. The Capri still maintained the large square headlights, which became the easiest way to distinguish between a Mk II and a Mk III. Larger front disc brakes and a standard alternator finished the list of modifications.
Ford introduced the John Player Special
John Player & Sons
John Player & Sons, known simply as Player's, was a tobacco and cigarette manufacturer based in Nottingham, England. It is today a part of the Imperial Tobacco Group.-History:...
limited edition, (known as the JPS) in March 1975. Available only in black or white, the JPS featured yards of gold pinstriping to mimic the Formula 1 livery, gold colored wheels, and a bespoke upgraded interior of beige cloth and carpet trimmed with black. In May 1976, and with sales decreasing, the intermediate 3.0 GT models disappeared to give way for the upscale 3.0 S and Ghia designations. In October 1976, production was limited to the Saarlouis factory only and the following year the Capri left the American market with only 513,500 models sold.
Ford Capri Mk III (1978–1986)
The Capri Mk III was referred to internally as "Project Carla", and although little more than a substantial update of the Capri II, it was often referred to as the Mk III. The first cars were available in March 1978, but failed to halt a terminal decline in sales. The concept of a heavily facelifted Capri II was shown at the 1976 Geneva show: a Capri II with a front very similar to the Escort RS2000 (with four headlamps and black slatted grille), and with a rear spoilerSpoiler (automotive)
A spoiler is an automotive aerodynamic device whose intended design function is to 'spoil' unfavorable air movement across a body of a vehicle in motion. Spoilers on the front of a vehicle are often called air dams, because in addition to directing air flow they also reduce the amount of air...
, essentially previewed the model some time before launch. The Mk III featured improved aerodynamics, leading to improved performance and economy over the Mk II and the trademark quad headlamps were introduced.
At launch the existing engine and transmission combinations of the Capri II were carried over, with the 3.0 S model regarded as the most desirable model although in truth the softer, Ghia derivative with automatic rather than manual transmission the bigger seller of the two V6 engined models.
Mk III models available:
- Capri L (1.3, 1.6)
- Capri LS (1.6)
- Capri GL (1.6, 2.0)
- Capri S (1.6, 2.0, 2.3, 3.0)
- Capri Laser (1.6, 2.0)
- Capri Ghia (2.0, 3.0)
- Capri 2.8 Injection (2.8)
- Capri 2.8 Injection Special (2.8)
- Capri 280 (2.8)
Special limited addition trimmed models:
- Capri Cabaret I and II (1.6, 2.0)
- Capri Calypso I and II (1.6)
- Capri Cameo (1.3, 1.6)
- Capri GT4 (1.6, 2.0)
- Capri Tempo (1.3, 1.6)
Ford began to focus their attention on the UK Capri market as sales declined, realizing the car had something of a cult following there. Unlike sales of the contemporary 4-door Cortina
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
, Capri sales in Britain were to private buyers who would demand less discounts than fleet buyers allowing higher margins with the coupé. Ford tried to maintain interest in 1979 with Ford Rallye Sport, Series X, "X Pack" options from the performance oriented RS parts range. Although expensive and slow selling these proved that the press would enthusiastically cover more developed Capris with higher performance.
Despite being the most popular sporting model in Britain for most of its production life, the third generation Capri was also one of the most stolen cars in Britain during the 1980s and early 1990s, being classified as "high risk" of theft in a Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
report.
The 3.0 S was used extensively in the TV series The Professionals
The Professionals (TV series)
The Professionals was a British crime-action television drama series produced by Avengers Mk1 Productions and London Weekend Television that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983. In all, 57 episodes were produced, filmed between 1977 and 1981. It starred Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins and Gordon...
, with characters Bodie driving a silver 3.0 S and Doyle a gold 3.0 S, which was credited with maintaining interest in the car in the UK.
2.8 Injection models
In 1981, the 3.0 V6 powerplant was dropped from the line-up, while a new sporty version debuted at the Geneva Motor Show, called the 2.8 Injection. The new model was the first regular model since the RS2600 to use fuel injection. Power rose to 160 PS giving a top speed of 210 kilometre per hour, but the car still had a standard four-speed gearbox. The Capri 2.8 Injection breathed new life into the range and kept the car in production 2–3 years longer than Ford had planned. The four-speed gearbox was replaced with a five-speed unit early on – at the same time Ford swapped the dated looking chequered seats for more luxurious looking velour trim. A more substantial upgrade was introduced in 1984 with the Capri Injection Special. This development used half leather seating and included a limited slip differentialLimited slip differential
A limited slip differential is a type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...
. Externally the car could be easily distinguished by seven spoke RS wheels (without the customary "RS" logo since this was not an RS vehicle) and color coded grille and headlamp surrounds. At the same time the 2.0 L Capri was rationalized to one model the 2.0 S, which simultaneously adopted a mildly modified suspension from the Capri Injection. The 1.6 model was also reduced to one model, the 1.6 LS.
2.8 Turbo
From July 1981 to Sept 1982, German RS dealers marketed a limited edition, Zakspeed inspired, left-hand drive only, 'Werksturbo' model with 190 PS, which could propel the car to 220 kilometre per hour. Based on a 3.0 S, this derivative featured widened bodywork, front and rear 'Ford Motorsport' badged spoilers, deep 7.5j four-spoked RS alloy wheels and an RS badged engine. The engine was based on a normally aspirated 2.8 litre V6, Ford Granada (Europe)Ford Granada (Europe)
The March 1972 released Granada succeeded the British Ford Zephyr, and the German P7-series as Ford's European executive car offering. At first, lower models in the range were called the Ford Consul, but from 1975 on they were all called Granadas. The car soon became popular for taxi, fleet and...
engine. Figures of around 200 produced examples are common, but numbered transmission tunnels possibly indicate 155 conversions were made.
Tickford Turbo
The TickfordTickford
Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning and is famous for such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.-Early years:...
Capri used a turbocharged 2.8 Injection Cologne engine which developed 205 hp, allowing it to reach 60 miles per hour in 6.7 seconds, topping out at 137 miles per hour. This version also featured a luxury interior with optional full leather retrim and Wilton
Wilton, Wiltshire
Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...
carpeting and headlining, large rear spoiler, colour coded front grille, deeper bumpers and 'one off' bodykit designed by Simon Saunders, later of KAT Designs and now designer of the Ariel Atom
Ariel Atom
The Ariel Atom is a high performance sports car made by the Ariel Motor Company based in Somerset, England and under licence in North America by TMI Autotech, Inc. at Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia....
.
Rear disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s were standard on the Tickford, which featured numerous other suspension modifications. This model was essentially rebuilt by hand by Tickford at approximately 200 hours per car. It sold fewer than 100 units. One problem was the relative price difference to the standard Capri Injection, with the Tickford version costing twice as much.
Turbo Technics conversions
Independent tuner Turbo Technics also released a turbocharged 200 hp and 230 hp evolution which came supplied with a specially built gearbox. The Tickford Capri pricing issues meant that Ford also sanctioned the Turbo Technics conversion as semi-official, although only the German RS and British Tickford ever appeared in Ford literature as official Ford products.Capri Laser
From November 1984 onwards, the Capri was sold only in Britain, with only right hand drive cars being made from this date. The normally aspirated 1.6 and 2.0 variants were rebranded with a new trim level – "Laser" – which featured a fully populated instrument pod, leather gear lever, leather steering wheel, four-spoke alloy wheels as used on the S models, an electric aerial and colour-coded grille and mirrors.Capri 280
The last run limited edition "Brooklands" Green, 280 model, featuring a limited slip differentialLimited slip differential
A limited slip differential is a type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in angular velocity of the output shafts, but imposes a mechanical bound on the disparity...
, full leather Recaro
Recaro
RECARO GmbH & Co. KG, commonly known as Recaro, is a German company based in Kirchheim unter Teck in the vicinity of Stuttgart, known for their automobile bucket seats...
interior and 15 inch versions of the seven spoke 13 inch wheels fitted to the superseded Capri Injection Special. Ford originally intended to make 500 turbo charged vehicles (by Turbo Technics) complete with gold alloy wheels and name it the Capri 500 but a change of production planning meant a name change to Capri 280 as the cars were simply the last models that ran down the production line. A total of 1,038 Capri 280s were built.
When the last Capri was made on 19 December 1986, 1,886,647 cars had rolled off the production lines. Production had ended at Halewood, UK in 1976 and the Capri was made exclusively in Germany from 1976 to 1986. Most of those (more than a million) were the Mk I, because the Mk I sold well in North America and Australia, while the Mk II and Mk III were only exported outside Europe (to Asia and New Zealand) in limited numbers.
Mk III Specifications
5300 || style="text-align:center;"|54 kW(73 PS)
5300 || style="text-align:center;"|74 kW
(101 PS)
5200 || style="text-align:center;"|66 kW
(90 PS)
5100|| style="text-align:center;"|84 kW
(114 PS)
5300|| style="text-align:center;"|118 kW
(160 PS)
5700|| style="text-align:center;"|138 kW
(188 PS)
5500||101 kW
(138)
5000
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Max. Torque
at peak RPM: ||92.2 Nm
4000|| style="text-align:center;"|113 Nm
2700 || style="text-align:center;"|117 Nm
2700 || style="text-align:center;"|153 Nm
4000 || style="text-align:center;"|141 Nm
3000|| style="text-align:center;"|176 Nm
3000|| style="text-align:center;"|221 Nm
4300 || style="text-align:center;"|263 Nm
4500||235 Nm
3000
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Compression ratio: ||9.2:1|| style="text-align:center;"|8.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|8.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.0 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.2 : 1|| style="text-align:center;"|9.2 : 1||9.0:1
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Fuel system: || colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|1 Downdraft carburettor|| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|1 Twin-choke downdraft carburettor|| style="text-align:center;"| Fuel injection (Bosch K-Jetronic)|| style="text-align:center;"| 1 Garrett turbo charger||1 Twin-choke downdraft carburettor
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Valve control: ||(OHV)|| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|overhead camshaft (OHC), timing belt || colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"|central camshaft (OHV), bumpers and rockers, timing wheels
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Cooling: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|Water cooled
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Transmission: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|4-speed manual transmission
(later 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic (Ford C3
Ford C3 transmission
The Ford C3 transmission and its descendants are a family of light-duty longitudinal automatic transmissions built by the Ford Motor Company.The Bordeaux Automatic Transmission Plant, in Blanquefort, France produces automatic transmissions for a variety of rear-wheel drive vehicles...
))
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Front suspension: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|McPherson-Struts, coil springs
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Rear suspension: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"| Rigid axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Chassis: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"| Steel, monocoque chassis
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Track width front/rear: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|1353 - 1400/1384–1431 mm
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"| Wheelbase: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|2563 mm
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Length: || colspan="9" style="text-align:center;"|4376–4439 mm
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Unladen weight: ||1010 kg|| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|1060 kg|| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"|1031–1250 kg
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Top speed: ||157 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|157 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|160 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|180 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|170 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|183 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|210 kilometre per hour|| style="text-align:center;"|220 kilometre per hour||196.3 kilometre per hour
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Acceleration
0–100 km/h: ||16.3 s|| style="text-align:center;"|16.3 s || style="text-align:center;"|13.8-19 s || style="text-align:center;"|11.1-14.5 s || style="text-align:center;"|13-15.5 s || style="text-align:center;"|10.5-13 s || style="text-align:center;"|8.1-8.5 s || style="text-align:center;"|8 s||8.8 s
|- style="background:#eee;"
| style="text-align:left;"|Fuel consumption
Liter/100 Kilometer: ||9.0|| style="text-align:center;"|11.5 || style="text-align:center;"|11.5-12.5 || style="text-align:center;"|13-14 || style="text-align:center;"|13.5-14.5 || style="text-align:center;"|13.5-14.5 || style="text-align:center;"|15 || style="text-align:center;"|15.5||
|}
Mercury Capri
See also Mercury CapriMercury Capri
-First Generation :See also Ford CapriThe Mercury Capri was built in Cologne, Germany, and was sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealers in North America. The European Capri was first sold in the US in April 1970 and carried the Mercury marque identification as Ford already had a Mustang for the same...
From 1970 to 1978, the Capri was sold in North America through Ford's Lincoln
Lincoln (automobile)
Lincoln is an American luxury vehicle brand of the Ford Motor Company. Lincoln vehicles are sold mostly in North America.-History:The company was founded in August 1915 by Henry M. Leland, one of the founders of Cadillac . During World War I, he left Cadillac which was sold to General Motors...
-Mercury
Mercury (automobile)
Mercury was an automobile marque of the Ford Motor Company launched in 1938 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to market entry-level luxury cars slotted between Ford-branded regular models and Lincoln-branded luxury vehicles, similar to General Motors' Buick brand, and Chrysler's namesake brand...
Division. All were German-produced. Headlamps were four round sealed-beams, and turn signal lamps were grill mounted on all U.S.-spec 1971-74 Capris and 1976-78 Capri II's. Ford hood letters were replaced with Capri letters, and a trunk-mounted Mercury script was added. Full instrumentation wasn't available on 1971-72 4-cylinder models but was made standard equipment from 1973 on. An optional interior decor package, changed by name to the "Ghia" package for the Capri II, featured deluxe interior trim and features. 1973 Ford Capris were the Mk I facelift models featuring the new grill, larger taillights and new interior and dash. The 1973 model had the Federally-mandated 5-mph front bumper for '73. The bumper was extended, the gap closed with a silver filler panel. 1974 models had larger bumpers front and rear with wraparound urethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
, body-color bumper covers to meet the revised Federal front and rear 5 mph standard. 1976-78 models were the re-designed hatchback models offered worldwide since 1974, fitted with the grill-mounted turn signal lamps and the required round sealed-beam headlamps, 5 mph body-color bumpers and catalytic converter
Catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
, requiring no-lead fuel. In 1976, an 'S' (JPS) special edition featured black or white paint with gold-colored wheels, gold pinstriping, and upgraded two-tone interior in beige and black.
Originally Cologne-built Capris imported to North America were fitted only with the British 1600 OHV (1.6 L), 64 hp Kent
Ford Kent engine
The Ford Kent is an internal combustion engine from Ford of Europe. Originally developed in 1959 for the Ford Anglia, it is an in-line four-cylinder engine with a cast-iron cylinder head and block.-Pre-Crossflow:...
engine with the 4-speed manual transmission. The 1971 Capri offered the Kent-built 1600 I4 and the optional, Cologne-built OHC 2000 (2.0 L) I4 engine for improved performance with 101 hp. An optional 3-speed automatic transmission was made available with the 2000 I4 engine. In 1972-73, the 2000 I4 became the standard engine, and an OHV 2600 (2.6 L) Cologne V6 was optional, which produced 120 hp. The 1600 I4 was dropped. For 1974, new engines were used-the OHC 2300 (2.3 L) I4 and OHV 2800 (2.8 L) Cologne V6; producing 88 hp and 105 hp respectively. The engines were carried over for the 1976-77 Capri ll hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
models, although the V6's power had crept up to 109 hp at 4,800 rpm. The last Capris were brought in in 1977 although sales of leftovers continued into 1978. Capri sales had slid considerably by the time of the introduction of the Capri II, and the high price contributed to ending sales of German-built Capris in the US.
In 1979, no longer importing the Ford Capri, but capitalizing on the model's positive image, Mercury dealers began selling a new Capri that was a re-styled Ford Mustang. It was initially available with a 88 hp 2.3 L4, 2.8 L V6 and 302 (5.0 L) V8. The 2.8 L V6 was phased out very early in the 1980 model year and the 3.3 L (200 ci) V6 replaced it. The 3.3 L V6 would be phased out in 1983 for a 3.8 L V6 with a carburetor and then CFI fuel injection in 1984. In 1984, the Capri was available with a 175 hp turbocharged 2.3 L 4-cylinder engine or a 175 hp 302 V8. While lighter than the V8 model, the Capri Turbo lacked the torque of the V8 and suffered from turbo lag, making it slower. Next year, the V8 was rated at 210 hp and the turbo model was dropped.
After 1986, the US-built Mercury Capri was dropped.
In 1991, a new Mercury Capri was introduced, this model being fully imported from Australia (see below). It was a convertible with four seats, front wheel drive and a 100 hp 4-cylinder 1.6 L engine. It was also available with a 132 hp 1.6 turbo engine. Both versions were dropped after 1994.
Mk I
The Ford Motor Company of Australia manufactured the European designed Mk I Capri at its plant in the SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
suburb of Homebush from 1969 until 1972. The Capri was offered to the Australian market from 3 May 1969, as the 1600 Deluxe and the 1600 GT, using the 1.6 L Ford Kent OHV engine. On 25 February 1970, the 3000 GT was launched, equipped with the 3.0 L Ford Essex V6
Ford Essex V6 engine (UK)
The Ford Essex V6 engine was a 60° V6 engine built between 1966 and 1981 by the Ford Motor Company in the United Kingdom at their engine plant in Dagenham, Essex, which gave the engine its name. It was produced in two main capacities, 2.5 L and 3.0 L, and was fitted to a wide range of...
. At the same time the 1600 GT became the 1600 XL while the 1600 Deluxe remained unchanged.
In November 1972, production of the Capri ended in Australia, with a total of 15,122 vehicles having been made. In 1973, Ford Australia imported fifty Capri RS3100 models. Neither the Mk I facelift Capri nor the subsequent Mk II and Mk III models were ever produced in Australia.
SA30
The Ford Capri name was revived in Australia in 1989. The Australian Capri, codenamed the SA30, was an entry point convertible. It used Mazda 323 engines and mechanicals which Ford AustraliaFord Australia
Ford Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Ford Motor Company and was founded in Geelong, Victoria, in 1925 as an outpost of Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited. At that time, Ford Canada was a separate company from Ford USA...
had adopted as the basis of the Laser
Ford Laser
The 1985 KC Laser/GC Meteor was the model's first major redesign. All body styles were carried over, with the addition of a station wagon from 1986. A new "TX3" variant, which was half-way between "GL" & "Ghia" in specification level, replaced the "Sport" variant from the KB series. Unlike the...
. It had a bodyshell designed by Ghia and an interior by ItalDesign. Ironically during development of the Capri (that Mazda was aware of), Mazda was developing the MX-5, a vehicle that although considerably more expensive is commonly considered its direct competitor, perhaps because they both lack a metal roof. Two models were originally offered: a standard 1.6 L model, and a turbocharged variant, with 136 PS.
The Australian-built Capri was intended primarily for export to the US. Exports began in 1991, as the Mercury Capri
Mercury Capri
-First Generation :See also Ford CapriThe Mercury Capri was built in Cologne, Germany, and was sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealers in North America. The European Capri was first sold in the US in April 1970 and carried the Mercury marque identification as Ford already had a Mustang for the same...
, and sales briefly exceeded those of the MX-5, but then dropped rapidly, so production ceased in 1994. The media played that the car was plagued by quality problems and recalls, although many still exist today perhaps due to the mechanical robustness of the Laser/323 upon which it was based.
The retail price of a US specification Capri in the US was less than the retail price of an Australian specification Capri in Australia. Approximately 90% of production was exported to the US and the increased shipping costs were offset by the reduced cost of manufacturing the "mainstream" left hand drive model compared with the small volume right hand drive model for the Australian market.
The 1989-94 Capri was assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "worse than average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash. It was also highly criticized as commonly having leaking roof problems, even after multiple replacements from Ford Dealerships. This was eventually resolved by a new roof sealing system, and 100% testing in the factory
Mk I
Ford of South Africa assembled the Capri from 1970 to 1972 with a similar model range to the UK. No facelift models or RS variants were marketed in South Africa.About 500 Capris were converted by specialist Basil Green Motors to run the 302 Ford Windsor V8 engine
Ford Windsor engine
The Windsor is a 90-degree small-block V8 engine from Ford Motor Company. It was introduced in 1962, replacing the previous Ford Y-block engine. Though not all of the engines in this family were produced at the Windsor, Ontario engine plant , the name stuck...
. These models were known as the Capri Perana and were very successful in local touring car events, winning the 1970 South African championship and, in a different format, the 1971 championship as well.
No Mk II and Mk III Capris were exported to, or built in South Africa.
Zakspeed Ford Capri
