Ford MKI Capri

[anglaslt]

I was a big Capri fan. I owned a number of 3.0 (first car I owned with power steering) and 2.8i versions. Probably where my love of big engine RWD cars comes from. One 2.8i I bought new off a policeman who had won it in a raffle (he said) and the last was an "E" reg 280 Brooklands. I should have kept that one but it was probably the least reliable of them all.

I never realised until this thread that Capris were designated as Mk1, Mk2 and Mk3, so says Wiki.

 

[Scott_F]

Had a Manta, these handled much much better than any Capri.

So does a Tesco trolley with a wonky wheel.

 

[brucemillar]

So does a Tesco trolley with a wonky wheel.

Cruel. But possibly true.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[anglaslt]

Ah, memories

Having been brought up on them, I never really thought of the Capri as being a particularly badly handling car. They just seemed to be normal during their day. I'd accept that damp roundabouts deserved particular respect, as they do in any car, even today. FWD were still in their infancy during the Capri era and the first I tried, an Escort XR3i, was awful. For me a real step change in handling came with AWD in the shape of a 2.9 Sierra.

 

[BMF]

Ah, memories
For me a real step change in handling came with AWD in the shape of a 2.9 Sierra.

The XR 4X4, A friend had one, A very quick way of going round corners.

 

[GeordieN]

Ah, memories

Having been brought up on them, I never really thought of the Capri as being a particularly badly handling car. They just seemed to be normal during their day. I'd accept that damp roundabouts deserved particular respect, as they do in any car, even today. FWD were still in their infancy during the Capri era and the first I tried, an Escort XR3i, was awful. For me a real step change in handling came with AWD in the shape of a 2.9 Sierra.

If you jumped in a Capri now and just gave it some on a damp twisty road, i think you might need a replacement pair of underpants lol.
I had an XR4x4 but with the 2.8L engine, mate had a XR4i also with a 2.8L engine.

 

[BTB 500]

Having been brought up on them, I never really thought of the Capri as being a particularly badly handling car. They just seemed to be normal during their day.

I seem to remember there being some issues when the police had 2.8 Capris? Modern RWD cars with ESP etc. are a world apart. I had a very humble Viva 1100 in the '70s and managed to spin that twice in the wet (fortunately without any serious consequences), thanks to cross-ply tyres

 

[anglaslt]

If you jumped in a Capri now and just gave it some on a damp twisty road, i think you might need a replacement pair of underpants lol.

Ha ha, maybe but with only 160 hp, I'd hope I'd still manage, even with no DSC, ESP, or whatever. They did sound good though, especially the 3.0 V6s.

Of Fords of that era, much more frightening was the Escort MkII RS2000. Only 120hp but it weighed nothing and was properly quick. Problem was it had awful, ineffective brakes.

We only did Fords in those days My older brother was a Ford employee.

 

[anglaslt]

I seem to remember there being some issues when the police had 2.8 Capris? Modern RWD cars with ESP etc. are a world apart. I had a very humble Viva 1100 in the '70s and managed to spin that twice in the wet (fortunately without any serious consequences), thanks to cross-ply tyres

I don't remember seeing any Police Capri 2.8i but there are plenty of pics of them on the internet. You're right, it's easy to take for granted modern driver aids and improved tyre technology. Bad handling cars, little traffic, no speed cameras and more pragmatic traffic enforcement = fun days (or most likely just nostalgia for a less controlled past).

 

[BTB 500]

I read an interview somewhere with a retired traffic cop who mentioned the Capri's "interesting" handling. I never saw one in real life either ... I did once spot an MGB GT in full jam sandwich livery though! It was parked up watching the traffic on the A22.

 

[brucemillar]

According to Ant Ansteads Police Car book. The Police did indeed use Capri's with mixed results. I do seem to remember seeing the MKII's driving around with the striped livery.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

My Dad really wanted to love the capri, he was a Ford man for years.

He bought a N reg 1976 or so from new but it didn't stay with him long, I cannot recall why.

After a number of Cortina ghias he bought another new Capri in 1982, a 2.0 Caberet, sound a bit gay now but it was a decent car in 2 tone blue.

He hated it for 2 main reasons, he could hear his golf clubs rattling in the boot and it had a steering judder which no one could cure.

His loss was my gain, he allowed me to borrow it whenever I liked and I liked it a lot! In hindsight I think he was hoping that I would write it off.

I have very happy memories of myself and my (very attractive) girlfriend from that time posing about in it.

 

[Chugg]

If you jumped in a Capri now and just gave it some on a damp twisty road, i think you might need a replacement pair of underpants lol.
I had an XR4x4 but with the 2.8L engine, mate had a XR4i also with a 2.8L engine.

If a ‘proper’ driver (the kind which has a hairy chest and drives cars like Capri’s) has never taken a rear wheel drive Ford down a damp, twisty road for pure sport, there is an appreciation in life they are sorely missing out on!

I hear you though, they certainly are a different animal to modern cars.

I had use of my dads XR4x4 and his 2.0iS too when I was younger. As said the XR stuck to the road like sh!t on a blanket. Great fun, good memories.

I suppose as a result of having a (late, but great) petrol head dad, old Fords have always been with me.

And so it continues, here is my eldest lad, 12yrs old, eager to get out there from some side ways action!

 

[Chugg]

Of Fords of that era, much more frightening was the Escort MkII RS2000. Only 120hp but it weighed nothing and was properly quick. Problem was it had awful, ineffective brakes.

Ha! There was Princess four pots for that!

Wilwood’s these days.

 

[WDB124066]

Last of the Falcons... the vid says it all!

The car Ford was too scared to make

 

[Deleted member 126251]

I had a Mk 1 Granada 3.0 Ghia - lovely car. Pretty basic by modern standards though - steel wheels, manual windows, manual sunroof, etc.!

I had a 2.0L Granada - what a POS (in terms of power) - lived in Johannesburg - 2000m above sea level (so no power) and in SA it came with a 100L fuel tank (think 100kg in the boot) that needed a 2nd mortgage to fill (we had sanctions in those days and huge petrol restrictions).

 

[NOMONEYBUTAMERC]

I had a Consul Capri in about 1974. Pillar box red , black vinyl roof "bubble arches" with 7.1/2 j rear and 6.1/2 j front wheels. It was fitted with a 1600 Ford crossflow engine , weber carb , and customised interior. Front bumper had been replaced by Lotus Cortina 1/4 bumpers . I think it was a 62` model and reg. was 700FWO. Thought it was a great car , main problem was that it had been lowered , and if you had two ( rather cramped ) passengers in the back , if you went over a bump the silencer got torn off. I remember going to Engine Services at Ashton , Bristol , every 6 weeks or so to get the carb reset , which cost 50p. A great deal of time and money had obviously been spent on the car , so I was rather horrified after 11 months ownership to find the chassis had been well and truly bodged. A friend of my dads made some repair panels and tried to weld it with his Arc welder , but unfortunately just resulted in even more holes. These days it could have been probably easily welded by a mig welder? Have seen a couple of Consul Capris at the Classic show at Powderham castle , one of which the owner valued at around £16 - £18k , and looks mint.

 

[gaz_l]

I remember leaving work back in the 90s, in the 1.3 works Astravan, and sitting behind a 2.8i Capri. It had been raining, and the roads were a bit slippery. After we'd left the estate and gone through a couple of roundabouts, we were out to the ring road. Mr. Capri obviously thought it was time to put his foot down and shake off the van that had been sat up his backside. Cue a glorious bout of oversteer and a swift 90 degree exit off the road into the hedge whilst I just steered around him and shot off up the road..

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[moonloops]

I only ever looked at buying one Capri as my best mate's brother loved them. I jacked up the car to look at the floorpans. Only problem was that there was no metel and I had just lifted the carpets up with the jack.... The salesman just commented that the seats where fully adjustable - I said what ? In all 3 dimensions?

 

[Deleted member 126251]

My friend's mother had a 3.0L V6 Capri & she was a hottie. - I had all sorts of Mrs Robinson stuff going on in my head!