I was manager of a Lincoln Mercury parts department at a dealership in the 70's. The Capri was lightly built which meant it handled well but didn't hold up well. I must have sold a hundred exterior rear view mirrors that couldn't take any hit without shattering. I also sold scores of windshield wiper switches, which plugged into the dash. One stocking problem with the car was that they kept switching parts. For things like wiper motors, the build date was critical in order to get the right one. If you ended with one in stock, the odds of getting a Capri in that needed the same motor was almost non-existent. Owners of the car were unique. When one came in the shop, you knew they were a Capri owner before they opened their mouth. Fingerless driving gloves, half tinted sunglasses, and sporty leather jackets was typical gear.
I had to get rid of my 73 1.6GT in 1981, when the drivers door finally rusted off, as did the suspension turrets - oh, and the leaf spring. Always loved it, however, and I still have a framed advertisement!
The mid 80's Mustang/Capri were rubbish. Did they handle well? It's an American car, so no and I could never find out as it was upshift and mash the pedal to the floor......................... where's the power. 5.0 v8 California emissions. It was heavy and rattled everywhere.
And T tops that leaked. The car would literally twist on rough roads at slow and fast speeds. Hitting a speed bump off square was rather unsettling. Horrendous noises as it flopped over the bump.
I was a total Capri fan except on rainy days when it could fish tail a lot. My favorite in the US was the 1973 with a 2600 v6. The engine had no timing chain but a nylon timing gear. Unfortunately, I hit a patch of ice and as the engine over revved and blew it out. The replacement was aluminum. This car was so easy to work on and the v6 had only a water pump and generator on the fan belt. No power steering or pollution controls with dual exhaust standard equipment. It was a little screamer. I could burn rubber in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears. I think it averaged around 26 MG on the highway. In 1974 they added 200 cc to the engine, big heavy bumpers and an air pollution pump that turned this stripped-down pony into a dog. You could pick one up in the mid 70's for $150 used. It also had a one piece welded body except for doors and hood. I saw an accident once where 3 of the cars were totaled but the Capri, although damaged, drove away. What a great fun car. Wish I had held on to mine. Hard one to find these days.
I had a Ford Capri for six years. She was named "Debbie", and I loved that car! I feel quite tearful about watching this. The Capri was fun, sexy, practical, affordable, easy to repair, and parts could be obtained almost anywhere. What modern car can we say that about now? Modern hot hatchbacks all look the same. The Capri had CHARACTER!
I had 5 Capris in my life. Still have one. This is unique and none of modern can compare. I will keep it for my son who has now 5 yo and love Capri more than my Porsche
I was fortunate to have a 1970.5 Mercury Capri. So much fun! 1600 cc four. Perfect car for driving the winding curves of US 101 on the Oregon Coast. I set the "unofficial" speed record between Neskowin and Cloverdale Oregon, covering to ten miles in a little over seven minutes. Cornered like it was on rails. I miss my little Capri.
This is the best video on the Capri that I've seen, well done. I had a rootbeer brown on for awhile in the mid 80's. It was my first "sportscar", having grown up with muscle cars. I remember it fondly, but I can't really say why for sure. Maybe the handling, or that it was just different from the cars I'd grown up with. Occasionally, I wonder if I found one today in good shape if I could recreate that fondness, but alas, I think it was just that period in my life that right for that sort of car.
My favorite oddball car was the Opel Manta! Even harder to find than the 70's Capri. I always liked the side sculpting and styling of the Capri. My buddy in H.S. had a brown/gold colored one...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
dude you're so good at making these (auto) biographies. i have enjoyed every one. you succeed in driving me on a loving nostalgia trip for every car. so well researched and the footage and photos are quality. i'd love to see a Volvo Estate video in this style!
Great video ! My first car was a Capri hatchback that I bought used in 1980. Loved that car, drove it up and down the east coast for a couple of years. The rear chamber with its fold down rear seat and hatchback served as my sleeping quarters when I didn't have enough money for a motel.
Very interesting video! I really enjoyed learning the Capri history. I bought a 1976 Capri when I lived in Germany. I remember it being called the Sexy European and it turned out to be a very good car. I shipped it back to the states and drove it for many years until our growing family needed a larger car. I always look for Capri's at the car shows I attend but have yet to find one.
Great work on this great car. I am writing from Canada as My very first car was a 1973 Ford Capri. Bronze in colour. I was a 2.0 liter 4 speed manual transmission. Loved it and enjoyed this car immensely. I did also owned the North American Mercury Capri 1986 with a 5 liter v8 5 speed manual transmission, white in colour with a T Top and red interior. This was a wonderful very quick car. Great memories of a great car
Nice to have found this site! I had three different Capris in the late 70s/early 80s, but the best car I've ever had was a 1976 Capri II "S", 2.8 V-6, 4spd, white exterior/gold with black interior. I wish I would have kept it. So easy to work on.
The best European Ford ever in my opinion. Proud owner of a 1975 Mk2 3000 Ghia, special order 4 speed Manual, it's got 306.000 miles now and is on it's second engine, it's been in the family from new and no amount of money would make me sell it :)
My yellow '73 2600 was awesome for its day, but was rusting away. The rear axle was a nightmare on anything less than good roads, but it was the BEST interior layout ever. I'd love to drive it again, but I'd probably hate the lack of sophistication vs what I drive today.
@@bgrzesiak5996 ....that was thé biggest problems of cars in general, rusting away in them seventies and before. Today most carchassis are already galvanized in the factory. They hardly rust anymore. Too bad it wasn't used in the 1970s!
My brother in law, who is English, had one of these in the mid eighties here in Australia. I remember saying to him "what's THAT" like I did'nt approve, but this did'nt dent his glee one bit. He proudly announced that this was "A Capri, a great product of Ford England". He then showed off the engine, I think there was something special about it (3.0L twin cam? can't remember now).
WOW! That first sketch was what motivated me to get into car design. I was a teenager then and that was the last time I saw that drawing. Nice work! I remember all the secrecy surrounding the Capri just before its launch. It was a really big deal.
Once again a first class video. I had a 1980 mk 3 Capri 2.0GL and although I preferred VW Sciroccos and Toyota Celicas it was a good practical and reliable car with decent performance. My ultimate Capri though is a Mk 2 Capri 3.0 JPS ( John Players Special). Thanks again.
Brilliant! I fondly recall being smitten by the root beer brown Capri one of my middle school (back then called Jr High) teachers drove in 1978. I'd drive one now if I could find one in good enough shape. Love the style!
Finally a decent recent Capri video. First car I ever started the engine to was the 1986 2.8 Capri I still have. Literally the car I always promised myself as I've wanted one since before I started school!
Thank u for posting this video, well done and please keep it up. Back in the mid 70s, I was in California, had a German built Capri under Lincoln Mercury dealership, V6 2.8 (NOT ENGLAND version 3.0). Had much motoring pleasure with this beauty real cool 🤙🏻🤙🏻 I worked 2 part time jobs so I could have extra dough to add stuffs on bit by bit. Dual Webber carburetors, Anna qual tips dual exhaust systems, front spoiler, real leather shift knob, Bilstein shocks and thicker anti-sway bars, also a set of Michelin XZX. I kid u not, after all these were done, I enjoyed occasionally burning rubbers shifting from 1st to 2nd 😎 I had more than a few encounters with Datsun Z, Camaro, TransAm, 911 ... ... all on Pacific Coast Highway One. Good old days, I luv Capri period.
Nice to see the Australian Capri mentioned. I worked at Ford Australia (Broadmeadows Assembly plant) 1989-1994. Started there just before the first car's came done the line. I remember there were difficulties in the soft-tops from sealing properly in the first early pre-production cars. The media here in Australia gave the Capri a bad wrap at the time and sales suffered as a result.(And the Mazda MX-5 was a big hit) The Capri underpinnings were based on the Ford Lazer/Mazda 323. Also available as an option was the removable Hard-top. 4 colour options were available : Indigo Blue ,Stark White, Le Man's Red, Platinum Silver. The initial power plant was the 1.6 lt 16 valve with 5 sp manual or 3 sp auto . Can't remember when the turbo option was released exactly but from memory it was based on the Lazer TX3 4x4. The American Mecury Capri was built on the same line as the Australian Capri. An updated model was released in 92 with a few changes. (New redesigned front and rear bars and new tail lights. Some new paint colour options. Everglade Green, Capricorn Blue , Black Pearl. Also released was a small run of Club- Sport Capris ( Available only in Black Pearl and 5 sp with a cover over the rear seat to give the impression of a 2 seater. Different bumpers and 4 circular tail-lights.) The Capri soldiered on till 94 when very low sales here and America finally killed off the Capri.
My dad passed away, he left me his Ford Capri. It’s a really cool convertible 30 years old, he did it up and made it looks beautiful. Thanks for all the info, I’m really happy I’m able to learn about his car.
I just love the Capri shape, it's so iconic, not to mention cool. It's the only car I ever remember thinking "one day, I'll have one of these" as I raced around with my little white Capri toy car. Still haven't got one, but if I had the money, I'd have a whole bunch of them...and a new Mustang for good measure. Great video, exactly what I was looking for.
Well done Andy, loved your introduction , I recall a friend of my mother's who had a gold one, quite exotic for Australia at the time, shame Ford Australia stuffed up the Aussie built Mazda based one, but there you go, they did, and now there's no Aussie motor Industry at all. Keep up the great work young man, I look forward to the next one.
the drivers car of choice in the 1980's I had three - one a 3.0l GXL and two 2.8i the best being the 1982 4 speed 2.8i, a real hooligan car, great video thanks for sharing this.
I had the 3.0s (ex-police car from Wrexham!) and although I loved it at the time, the back end was easy to slide out during sharp cornering even in dry weather. I guess the leaf springs didn't help! I heard stories of owners putting bags of sand in the boot. Also, mine was constantly overheating and only after I'd sold it to a mate did he tell me that it had a smaller Ford Transit radiator fitted by a previous (not the police) owner!! Sobering thought - that was 34 years ago!!
Great history, I never knew the story behind my wife's and my car. My wife had a 1974 "Mercury" Capri 4 cylinder 4 speed manual and I bought a 1976 "Mercury" Capri with the 6 cylinder, 4 speed manual. I miss those cars. Thank you for the video.
Yet another incredible video! Thanks ever so much indeed, Andy, you covered all the essential moments of the Capri story and certainly did not forget about The Professionals.
I'm glad to see you kept the name "Big Car", with a new channel. I remember the Ford Capri. Here in the USA, it was called the *"Mercury"* Capri. It looked just like the European version.
@@rimmersbryggeri The 1st gen Mercury Capri was based on the European Ford Capri. After it was discontinued, the 2nd generation, from about 1980 on, the Mercury Capri was a re-badged Ford (Fox body) Mustang.
@@jasoncarpp7742 They did one of those on wheeler dealers. I think it was the fox one becasue it looked the same as Clareice Starling's 5.0 mustang from Hannibal but had a german v6 in it.
@@rimmersbryggeri I remember that *"Wheeler Dealers"* episode. I love Ant. 1st generation Mercury Capris were based on the European Ford Capri, but later models, from 1980 onward, were based on the Fox bodied Ford Mustang.
@@rimmersbryggeri Which Hannibal movie was this? Who played Hannibal? I remember *"Silence of the Lambs",* starring Jodi Foster as Clarice Starling and (Sir) Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter.
That's pretty funny, the Manta looked great but was badly hindered in the U.S. market by it's anemic 1.9L engine which I think was the only option. I've owned a '69 Opel GT and a '70 kadett rally 1.9 and loved them both, but also was not too impressed with the steering shake both had and the rattliness of the kadett. later on a German friend laughed and explained that the German term for Opel was "earliest to rattle". We had a '72 Capri 2.6 (the V6 we got, increased to 2.8 later) which I loved and wish we had kept.
I always loved the Opel Manta. I still have the brochure booklet from the 1972 auto show. Great looking cars even today. They were frequent winners of SCCA races. I believe Mantas were one of the first mass produced cars to switch from carburetors to fuel injection.
Compared to the 1st gen Capri (before the hatchback models) , Opel Manta's trunk space was humongous. That alone made me prefer it over the Ford. That it was a better-looking car than the Capri didn't hurt, either.
I was dreaming of the Capri when I was a young boy in the early 80's. I finally bought a 1974 one in 1998 and kept it for four years. The engine was replaced by a 2.0 OHC from a Sierra but with the original 1.6 carburetor, and it was pretty fast... Thank you for bringing back those good memories ;)
I also had a 71 3.00 capri. I loved it. Sunflower with a black roof. Sold it to a mate in 78 and he wrapped it around a lampost. He was ok but the old girl was well bent. Broke my heart!
My dad got one of the first imported ones delivered in Northern California. It was a looker, black over metallic brown and had some good power and handling but it was an utter POS as far as reliability was concerned. It used to break down seemingly weekly, by far the worst car he ever owned.
@Mark Moses You obviously had a Friday car but please dont say it is shit. The capri was a beaut.Here in South Africa we got the 1600,2000 v4,3000 v6 and the V8 conversion by Basil Green. Fantastic cars. Wish Ford will re launch a new capri. It will outsell the Mustang
I am new to your channel. I am an American in my 60's and I am an avid history buff. I usually gravitate toward military and related history, but I also love cars, and your videos provide me with answers to questions I didn't know I had. It's just a shame the automotive world has taken such a weird turn. The British car industry is a shell of its former self and the 21st Century saw a lot of American car brands fold that I thought would be here forever. Your videos give me context as to why this happened, as well as providing me with nostalgic musings of a different era. Thank you.
A Great comprehensive history of the Capri!! i remembered my dad had a cream-coloured Capri when I was still little and always like to squeeze myself into the backseat from the door edge without pushing the front seat...🤣🤣🤣 Loads of memories on that car!! Thank you so much for the video and hope to see some videos on an Opel Gemini Coupe soon, which was also another car owned by my dad.
My dad bought a 72 2.0 in 1979 to help save on gas. I learned how to work on cars helping my dad get it through Maryland state inspection. I really loved the old girl. We had it until the late 80's , until the steel cancer came back. I drove it through my senior year in HS, and for my first 2 jobs. It never let us down until the trunk rusted out and the rear shocks blew into the trunk. That car was fun to drive, and I had some "amazing" dates in it! Would love to find another one here in the states to fix up!
I purchased a new Capri in 1973. It had the V-6 and the stick shift. What a wonderful automobile. With a good set of radial tires the thing was great on winding roads. It was very durable as well. I think I only had to replace a headlamp during my ownership. Wish I still had it.
Could have been done in an hatchback version those back seats folded foreward, I carried 2 full size keggs of beer and the attendant tub in ne with the hatch closed.
Loved the Capri, my old man had a purple mkI and a cousin of mine a yellow V6 mk III with a black hood and a firebird on it, LOL! Great cars! (love the dutch advertising about the capri btw) We've had so many Fords..Taunus 12M, Cortina mkII, Capri mkI, Taunus mkI, Ford Consul coupe, Escort mkI, too much to name. And a Sierra 2.0 GL 5-door ofcourse.
Yes yes. The Capri was a hit in the US, and I always thought it was German. My first "reliable" car was a 71 Pinto with the Cologne 2.6l Capri motor in it. The Pinto was smaller and a little lighter than the Capri and that car was fun. The motor would stop at 7 grand clutched (all the air it could flow) and could skip across an intersection. It would surprise near anything with an automatic transmission if it wasn't built.
Had 6 of these cars. Mk1, Mk1 facelift, Mk2s and Mk3s. The one I had for the longest was a 1973 1600Gt facelift but my favourite was a manual MK3 3 litre Ghia fitted with a laser interior to make it look more modern. Fantastic sound, felt really quick too but....years later in 1990 I made the mistake of going back - never go back. I was ultimately bitterly disappointed with my 1985 MK3 2.8 injection Special special. By 1990 cars had moved on and a 1960s car felt every bit the crap it was. I loved them though and I have many happy memories and somehow the MK 3 still looks relevant.
We had a 1971 tawny metallic 1600XL as our family car when I was young. My dad loved his Capri. We towed a caravan all over Europe with it (with leaf spring stiffeners) although it was underpowered and cramped in the back with 2 kids. Memories. We sold it when it got rusty in the sills- in 1975.
My all time favourite car. Started off with a 1.6s then two 2.0s before going onto a 2.8. Then later I saw a 2.8 Brooklands and emptied my savings to get one. Shame the brook lands was not shown or mentioned here. But still a great video.
Aussie here, the issue with the Mazda based 89-94 Capri was never reliability, it was the fact it was front wheel drive, slow as a snail with only a naturally aspirated 1.6 litre engine and finally the convertible soft top leaked like a sieve full of bullet holes. Everyone who's had anything to do with them will tell you the only good ones they made were the 93-94 Clubsprint and Barchetta variants, both of those were factory equipped with the newer 1.8 litre engine and 5 speed manual gearbox and a removable fibreglass hardtop to fix the water leak issue. Ford Australia did consider using the all wheel drive turbo drivetrain from the Ford Laser TX3 3 door hatchback in the Capri but due to the added weight of strengthening the chassis to deal with the extra power and torque dismissed the idea. Not many people were sad to see the back of what was by then considered a slow hairdressers car at best and a total white elephant and a lemon at worst.
While the 91-93 turbocharged Capri was not a muscle car they still run pretty good. As for the leaks. The worst part about them is not all of them leaked in the same place. I have one that only leaks on the driver side floorboards and it took me a while to find the cause and others that leak on the drivers seat and all I do there is put a garbage bag on the seat so the drivers seat itself never gets wet. Later I would find out that when the distributor starts to go bad it will have problems starting when the motor is warm and I've recently seen that. But what I'm most disappointed about is the problem they have with the manual transmissions. OUCH.
@@RogerWittekind Yeah no 2 cars leaked in the same place lol, as for the distributor it should be standard a 1.6/1.8 litre Mazda 323/Ford Laser item from the same era, shouldn't too difficult to get your hand on parts for them (even in the US). The only parts you might struggle to find would be the solid state ignition module or the reluctor if those have gone bad, caps and rotor button should be easy off the shelf parts.
@@chris425amp7 Australian ones in the early 90s were front wheel drive. Aussies ignored them because they were presented with gorgeous concepts then given something that was front-wheel drive and looked nothing like any Capri they had ever wanted. They fell into a strange hole, not as cool as any rwd sports car, not as useful as a hot hatch and not as affordable as a last resort.
Great video, I'm building one right now... Got a 3 litre and 5 speed box out of a cortina pickup, and a body from a kid who had stuffed a Nissan 1400 Ute under the bonnet 😂😂😂 I'm hoping to build something special!
You might want to check the final drive ratio will go with the gearbox, as I imagine the gear ratios for a pickup won't necessarily be the same as for a Capri
My first car was a yellow '74 with the rubber bumpers and a 4-speed manual. Great fun to drive, but it must have started rusting in the showroom. Learned a lot about Bondo and primer, though...
In 1986 my father-in-law had a 1.6 which he let me drive - I felt a million dollars behind that wheel even though it was not the 2.8i! Love the intro too!
I bought a 1974 2800cc V6, new in the US for $4200. Was a great little car for the time. I put Koni shocks, a Supersprint exhaust, a radio, (since it didn't have one) Chome wheel trim rings, and a pin stripe down the side. It came with Pirelli CN36 tires, and 4 speed transmission. Washed and waxed religiously, and kept it for 9 years. It started to rust in front of the doors, otherwise was pretty solid car. The same color as this video pic.
Wow memory lane here! I had 2 capris one 1973 with 2.6 v6 and the 74 2.8 V6! I built my 74 with 10.5 compression jahns piston and offenhauser 4 barrel manifold with Holley carb 390 cfm! And I got the engine balance too! can't believe I still remember this! Then I used to break transmission right and left so I decided to put super T 10 transmission on it and took care of that problem
Had a midnight blue black vinyl roofed 2L GL... Paid 270 in 93 for it... people took the piss but I adored it... Wish I had it tooked away some place...
@@Tiffany.1970 pal had a 1600 looked v.similar to the car in your avatar regarding the roof colour type and styling.. it was in great condition and he sold it for a song ... at the time I wanted to get it and store it but was stopped... i now wish i had done it regardless...😜
My 3.0 S returned 30 mpg with fast driving, kept blowing core plugs, the rear side windows kept getting unstuck from the hinges and needed taping up, and it required a weight in the boot to prevent it slewing round in the wet, but otherwise a great car!
Its interesting that one. I found many of my Capris actually under steered although there was one time on the Woolwich Ferry roundabout when I was doing wheel spins in the rain and spun right round to face the traffic...
My first car was a 72 yellow Capri here in the U.S. I absolutely loved that car. But then the rust began to eat it alive, and both of those iconic rear windows fell out at different times while driving... made an interesting sound as the glass shattered on the pavement.
I had a girlfriend who bought one of the first imports of Capri in the U.S. She let me drive it and I loved it! It didn't look like any American car. I had to ask her what it was when I first saw it. BTW, she traded her '67 Camaro for it. LOL!
The Capri was fairly popular in America. It was market was the same people who might buy a Toyota Celica back then. It's too bad, because I often saw them as a kid in the 1970's, but I can't remember the last time I saw a mk I type here in the USA. Rust seems to have sent them to a permanent grave. There aren't any junkers or even any shells around to restore or otherwise fix up. They would have made beautiful resto-mods!
Hi Brian from Atlanta. My Dad bought my older brother a 4 speed 1974 Mercury Capri with a 2.8 V6. I also got a 1976 4 speed 2.8 V6 . They were both that orange red color. They both had sun roofs. Mine was the hatch back. I wish I still had that car. Loved it. Traded it for a 1982 Trans Am.
I bought a Capri years ago with a blown engine. Out with the 4 cylinder and in with a 350 Chevy engine and Turbo 350 transmission. Lot of fun to drive.
Just bought me a 91 Mercury Capri about a month ago and this pops up on my homepage. Really cool to know about the history about it, I usually read everything on Wikipedia about every car I buy but the Wikipedia page didn't mention anything about this!
I remember being a teenage trainee in about 1980/81 going to deliver about £30k of wages to one of our company's building sites in central London. We went in a colleague's beige/yellow 1.6 Capri. Great car, but not the best colour. We got a hard stop from the Sweeney (yeah, the real thing) in Granadas and Rovers between Vauxhall and Lambeth Bridge. "Hands on the dashboard" , they shouted They then just checked out that we were who we were mean't to be from the company. The wages used to be delivered in security vans, so it's a bit of a mystery to me why I was sitting with such a huge sum of money in a pack on my lap aged about 17 or 18. I guess the driver's Capri looked inconspicuous in its unpopular colour. There were some villains about in South London back then. Maybe we were decoys, or there was wind of a security van heist at the site. It was all very exciting to me, but kind of cool. I reckon that the Securicor van went empty and maybe any attempted heist got busted while we had the real cash - (about fifteen times my annual wages back then), with us. The Flying Squad must have been tailing us from Wandsworth, I guess - and they were also letting us know we were safe.
I was constantly stopped by police, especially at night (11pm). Routine checks they said. Never happened before I had the Capri and never since. Police seemed to associate the car with criminals and boy racers....
@@MyKharli I actually knew a guy who had spent the whole of Sunday T-cutting the paintwork to bring it up to a high sheen, and then mangled it completely zooming off at a bend in the wet on the Monday morning.
@@herseem tbh all cars were pretty shit on the corners until the golf mk 1 when you could at least point in the right direction. .front wheel drive was a life saver for crap drivers.
I just now found this. I'm in the U.S. and in 1971 bought a Mercury Capri with 2.0 L engine and four-speed. It was sporty, handled well, had enough performance, and was priced right. It served me well for nine years.
I'm sure our American friends can relate to what I'm about to say, but as an Aussie, hearing the Capri referred to as a muscle car makes me laugh lol Obviously all very different, but still humorous. They have a dedicated following here in Australia. Plenty of drag racers will drop a V8 into them too.
Of course you don't! Cheap russian steel that went to the industrial Italian and German governments in the early seventies. Hence rustbucket Alfa's, Fiat's, Maserati and Ford. A rabbit hole to jump in if you have a spare 20 mins on the internet... Coz I can't remember the exact trade deal with the Soviets. I think it might have been steel for coal, but memory fades. These motors which were once ten a penny, are now beautiful and exotic in their rarity. I get true pleasure seeing a Capri on the road.
Memory lane! I got my first driving lessons in a Ford Capri! Must been in 1971. A yellow one, with a black vinyl top. Before that I got some lessons from my older brother in his Fiat 600, and I remember the long nose of the Capri, compared with the tiny Fiat. Thanks for this piece of history.
All I really remember about these Capris was that you could find one of the German fourbangers and use it for converting the older Volkswagen busses to water cooled engines.
Erratum: The Ford Mustang came to European shores in 2014, not 2018.
Actually, the Mustang had its world premiere in Finland April 12th 1964.
The Mustang arrived in UK in late 2015.
Have you heard the NEWS that Ford might introduce a new electric Capri? 🎉
@@verttikoo2052 The electric version looks like a Polestar 3.
I was manager of a Lincoln Mercury parts department at a dealership in the 70's. The Capri was lightly built which meant it handled well but didn't hold up well. I must have sold a hundred exterior rear view mirrors that couldn't take any hit without shattering. I also sold scores of windshield wiper switches, which plugged into the dash. One stocking problem with the car was that they kept switching parts. For things like wiper motors, the build date was critical in order to get the right one. If you ended with one in stock, the odds of getting a Capri in that needed the same motor was almost non-existent. Owners of the car were unique. When one came in the shop, you knew they were a Capri owner before they opened their mouth. Fingerless driving gloves, half tinted sunglasses, and sporty leather jackets was typical gear.
Never wore fingerless gloves, and my only leather jacket was my motorbike one!
I had to get rid of my 73 1.6GT in 1981, when the drivers door finally rusted off, as did the suspension turrets - oh, and the leaf spring. Always loved it, however, and I still have a framed advertisement!
Still better than any American Ford though
The mid 80's Mustang/Capri were rubbish. Did they handle well? It's an American car, so no and I could never find out as it was upshift and mash the pedal to the floor......................... where's the power. 5.0 v8 California emissions. It was heavy and rattled everywhere.
And T tops that leaked. The car would literally twist on rough roads at slow and fast speeds. Hitting a speed bump off square was rather unsettling. Horrendous noises as it flopped over the bump.
I was a total Capri fan except on rainy days when it could fish tail a lot. My favorite in the US was the 1973 with a 2600 v6. The engine had no timing chain but a nylon timing gear. Unfortunately, I hit a patch of ice and as the engine over revved and blew it out. The replacement was aluminum. This car was so easy to work on and the v6 had only a water pump and generator on the fan belt. No power steering or pollution controls with dual exhaust standard equipment. It was a little screamer. I could burn rubber in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears. I think it averaged around 26 MG on the highway. In 1974 they added 200 cc to the engine, big heavy bumpers and an air pollution pump that turned this stripped-down pony into a dog. You could pick one up in the mid 70's for $150 used. It also had a one piece welded body except for doors and hood. I saw an accident once where 3 of the cars were totaled but the Capri, although damaged, drove away. What a great fun car. Wish I had held on to mine. Hard one to find these days.
That’s what my dad said about his Capri. He loved it. Wished he woulda held onto it
I saw one earlier this year. Wanted to stop and stare, but I wasn't alone, so a quick, wistful look was all I had.
I had a Ford Capri for six years. She was named "Debbie", and I loved that car! I feel quite tearful about watching this. The Capri was fun, sexy, practical, affordable, easy to repair, and parts could be obtained almost anywhere. What modern car can we say that about now? Modern hot hatchbacks all look the same. The Capri had CHARACTER!
I had 5 Capris in my life. Still have one. This is unique and none of modern can compare. I will keep it for my son who has now 5 yo and love Capri more than my Porsche
I had a 73' w the V6 it was FAST and I was in high school, enough said
I was fortunate to have a 1970.5 Mercury Capri. So much fun! 1600 cc four. Perfect car for driving the winding curves of US 101 on the Oregon Coast. I set the "unofficial" speed record between Neskowin and Cloverdale Oregon, covering to ten miles in a little over seven minutes. Cornered like it was on rails. I miss my little Capri.
This is the best video on the Capri that I've seen, well done. I had a rootbeer brown on for awhile in the mid 80's. It was my first "sportscar", having grown up with muscle cars. I remember it fondly, but I can't really say why for sure. Maybe the handling, or that it was just different from the cars I'd grown up with. Occasionally, I wonder if I found one today in good shape if I could recreate that fondness, but alas, I think it was just that period in my life that right for that sort of car.
My favorite oddball car was the Opel Manta! Even harder to find than the 70's Capri. I always liked the side sculpting and styling of the Capri. My buddy in H.S. had a brown/gold colored one...from Wyoming USA 🇺🇸 🤠
dude you're so good at making these (auto) biographies. i have enjoyed every one. you succeed in driving me on a loving nostalgia trip for every car. so well researched and the footage and photos are quality. i'd love to see a Volvo Estate video in this style!
Great video ! My first car was a Capri hatchback that I bought used in 1980. Loved that car, drove it up and down the east coast for a couple of years. The rear chamber with its fold down rear seat and hatchback served as my sleeping quarters when I didn't have enough money for a motel.
Very interesting video! I really enjoyed learning the Capri history. I bought a 1976 Capri when I lived in Germany. I remember it being called the Sexy European and it turned out to be a very good car. I shipped it back to the states and drove it for many years until our growing family needed a larger car. I always look for Capri's at the car shows I attend but have yet to find one.
Where in the U.S.? Here in Canada with the winters , the Capri rusted out with in 48 months.
My uncle had one like this. The look of this car literally got embedded into my memory forever.
Great work on this great car. I am writing from Canada as My very first car was a 1973 Ford Capri. Bronze in colour. I was a 2.0 liter 4 speed manual transmission. Loved it and enjoyed this car immensely. I did also owned the North American Mercury Capri 1986 with a 5 liter v8 5 speed manual transmission, white in colour with a T Top and red interior. This was a wonderful very quick car. Great memories of a great car
I also owned the bronze 1973 Capri!
Nice to have found this site! I had three different Capris in the late 70s/early 80s, but the best car I've ever had was a 1976 Capri II "S", 2.8 V-6, 4spd, white exterior/gold with black interior. I wish I would have kept it. So easy to work on.
You lucky sob!That’s the one I wanted but could not afford 😢...
I had a Capri II S as well. Never loved a car as much as that one....cars were just for getting me from A to B after that...
The best European Ford ever in my opinion.
Proud owner of a 1975 Mk2 3000 Ghia, special order 4 speed Manual, it's got 306.000 miles now and is on it's second engine, it's been in the family from new and no amount of money would make me sell it :)
Never got that model in the US. I had a 72 with the Kent 2 liter and a 76 with a 2.8 Cologne V6.
where i live never saw a car with automatic gearbox,just a mini (from the 60´s)the ones with a slide door window like the renault 4 L
My yellow '73 2600 was awesome for its day, but was rusting away. The rear axle was a nightmare on anything less than good roads, but it was the BEST interior layout ever. I'd love to drive it again, but I'd probably hate the lack of sophistication vs what I drive today.
Absolutely classic lines!! I like it much more than the mustang. I also love the Australian Falcon.
@@bgrzesiak5996 ....that was thé biggest problems of cars in general, rusting away in them seventies and before. Today most carchassis are already galvanized in the factory.
They hardly rust anymore. Too bad it wasn't used in the 1970s!
These videos are so good. Brilliantly presented!
A lot of cool British Fords were made in South Africa. I'm working on a Prefect 100E. Your channel is amazing, thanks for all the great content
My brother in law, who is English, had one of these in the mid eighties here in Australia. I remember saying to him "what's THAT" like I did'nt approve, but this did'nt dent his glee one bit. He proudly announced that this was "A Capri, a great product of Ford England". He then showed off the engine, I think there was something special about it (3.0L twin cam? can't remember now).
Ford Capri was my childhood dream car and i still love it so much!
I had one of these, a '74 model, back in the early 80's. It was a fun little car and loved it.
Had one too, I remember "my hood coming up on me" on high way. 😆
WOW! That first sketch was what motivated me to get into car design. I was a teenager then and that was the last time I saw that drawing. Nice work! I remember all the secrecy surrounding the Capri just before its launch. It was a really big deal.
Living in the US I've owned 4 different European Capris racing 3 of them loved them and miss them all now.
Once again a first class video. I had a 1980 mk 3 Capri 2.0GL and although I preferred VW Sciroccos and Toyota Celicas it was a good practical and reliable car with decent performance. My ultimate Capri though is a Mk 2 Capri 3.0 JPS ( John Players Special). Thanks again.
Brilliant! I fondly recall being smitten by the root beer brown Capri one of my middle school (back then called Jr High) teachers drove in 1978. I'd drive one now if I could find one in good enough shape. Love the style!
Again, a very good one!
Very well put together.
I would say nothing was left out. Even the Perana was there...
Really nice to find this videos.
BRILLIANT !!! My dad had the 1978 3.0S. Wonderful beast!!!
Finally a decent recent Capri video. First car I ever started the engine to was the 1986 2.8 Capri I still have. Literally the car I always promised myself as I've wanted one since before I started school!
you should swap the 4.0L into it
@@ralphsmith2683 Then it won't be the first engine I started! Could get another one and do it to that.
Thank u for posting this video, well done and please keep it up. Back in the mid 70s, I was in California, had a German built Capri under Lincoln Mercury dealership, V6 2.8 (NOT ENGLAND version 3.0). Had much motoring pleasure with this beauty real cool 🤙🏻🤙🏻 I worked 2 part time jobs so I could have extra dough to add stuffs on bit by bit. Dual Webber carburetors, Anna qual tips dual exhaust systems, front spoiler, real leather shift knob, Bilstein shocks and thicker anti-sway bars, also a set of Michelin XZX. I kid u not, after all these were done, I enjoyed occasionally burning rubbers shifting from 1st to 2nd 😎 I had more than a few encounters with Datsun Z, Camaro, TransAm, 911 ... ... all on Pacific Coast Highway One. Good old days, I luv Capri period.
I love your videos, thanks for making my Sunday morning great!
Great fun, thank you!!
I remember working on these cars. I also worked on the V8 Capri Perana that came out of Bazil Green's workshops in Edenvale Johannesburg.
Dave Hamlyn I believe the perana wàs powered by a 302 Windsor and build in Africa?
Nice to see the Australian Capri mentioned. I worked at Ford Australia (Broadmeadows Assembly plant) 1989-1994. Started there just before the first car's came done the line. I remember there were difficulties in the soft-tops from sealing properly in the first early pre-production cars. The media here in Australia gave the Capri a bad wrap at the time and sales suffered as a result.(And the Mazda MX-5 was a big hit) The Capri underpinnings were based on the Ford Lazer/Mazda 323. Also available as an option was the removable Hard-top. 4 colour options were available : Indigo Blue ,Stark White, Le Man's Red, Platinum Silver. The initial power plant was the 1.6 lt 16 valve with 5 sp manual or 3 sp auto . Can't remember when the turbo option was released exactly but from memory it was based on the Lazer TX3 4x4. The American Mecury Capri was built on the same line as the Australian Capri. An updated model was released in 92 with a few changes. (New redesigned front and rear bars and new tail lights. Some new paint colour options. Everglade Green, Capricorn Blue , Black Pearl. Also released was a small run of Club- Sport Capris ( Available only in Black Pearl and 5 sp with a cover over the rear seat to give the impression of a 2 seater. Different bumpers and 4 circular tail-lights.) The Capri soldiered on till 94 when very low sales here and America finally killed off the Capri.
It makes me happy to see some many positive comments on this video!
Well done Andy!
Thanks Jeff. It's good to see the new channel doing so well, with over 3k subs now. I really appreciate the support from you during the bad times.
Big Car
My pleasure! It’s great to see you rebound. :)
My dad passed away, he left me his Ford Capri. It’s a really cool convertible 30 years old, he did it up and made it looks beautiful.
Thanks for all the info, I’m really happy I’m able to learn about his car.
I just love the Capri shape, it's so iconic, not to mention cool. It's the only car I ever remember thinking "one day, I'll have one of these" as I raced around with my little white Capri toy car. Still haven't got one, but if I had the money, I'd have a whole bunch of them...and a new Mustang for good measure. Great video, exactly what I was looking for.
This channel needs more subscribers. A fantastic job as always - one of my all time fav channel!
Thanks - tell all of your friends!
Well done Andy, loved your introduction , I recall a friend of my mother's who had a gold one, quite exotic for Australia at the time, shame Ford Australia stuffed up the Aussie built Mazda based one, but there you go, they did, and now there's no Aussie motor Industry at all.
Keep up the great work young man, I look forward to the next one.
Young man? I'm feeling old and creaky...
Thanks!
@@BigCar2 well, I'll be 60 in September lol, where have the years gone???
I owned a Mercury Capri back in the 80's it had a posi rear end 4speed manual light weight and so much fun!!!!!!!!!
I had a 72 Mercury Capri in 1981 and it took a crap on me. Wasn't worth fixing.
the drivers car of choice in the 1980's I had three - one a 3.0l GXL and two 2.8i the best being the 1982 4 speed 2.8i, a real hooligan car, great video thanks for sharing this.
I had the 3.0s (ex-police car from Wrexham!) and although I loved it at the time, the back end was easy to slide out during sharp cornering even in dry weather. I guess the leaf springs didn't help! I heard stories of owners putting bags of sand in the boot. Also, mine was constantly overheating and only after I'd sold it to a mate did he tell me that it had a smaller Ford Transit radiator fitted by a previous (not the police) owner!! Sobering thought - that was 34 years ago!!
Great history, I never knew the story behind my wife's and my car. My wife had a 1974 "Mercury" Capri 4 cylinder 4 speed manual and I bought a 1976 "Mercury" Capri with the 6 cylinder, 4 speed manual. I miss those cars. Thank you for the video.
Yet another incredible video! Thanks ever so much indeed, Andy, you covered all the essential moments of the Capri story and certainly did not forget about The Professionals.
I love you and I love your channel. Thanks for all the various car stories you put out. Pete 🇬🇧
Glad you like them Pete!
I'm glad to see you kept the name "Big Car", with a new channel. I remember the Ford Capri. Here in the USA, it was called the *"Mercury"* Capri. It looked just like the European version.
Wasnt the Mercury Capri a Fox body mustang with a european engine?
@@rimmersbryggeri The 1st gen Mercury Capri was based on the European Ford Capri. After it was discontinued, the 2nd generation, from about 1980 on, the Mercury Capri was a re-badged Ford (Fox body) Mustang.
@@jasoncarpp7742 They did one of those on wheeler dealers. I think it was the fox one becasue it looked the same as Clareice Starling's 5.0 mustang from Hannibal but had a german v6 in it.
@@rimmersbryggeri I remember that *"Wheeler Dealers"* episode. I love Ant. 1st generation Mercury Capris were based on the European Ford Capri, but later models, from 1980 onward, were based on the Fox bodied Ford Mustang.
@@rimmersbryggeri Which Hannibal movie was this? Who played Hannibal? I remember *"Silence of the Lambs",* starring Jodi Foster as Clarice Starling and (Sir) Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter.
I had one of these in college. 2.8 and 4 speed 1974. Very quick and well made little car. Wish I still had it.
My dad was an Opel Manta owner in the 70’s and I always remember him calling these Ford crappies lol great vid!
That's pretty funny, the Manta looked great but was badly hindered in the U.S. market by it's anemic 1.9L engine which I think was the only option. I've owned a '69 Opel GT and a '70 kadett rally 1.9 and loved them both, but also was not too impressed with the steering shake both had and the rattliness of the kadett. later on a German friend laughed and explained that the German term for Opel was "earliest to rattle". We had a '72 Capri 2.6 (the V6 we got, increased to 2.8 later) which I loved and wish we had kept.
He clearly never drove one!
I always loved the Opel Manta. I still have the brochure booklet from the 1972 auto show. Great looking cars even today. They were frequent winners of SCCA races. I believe Mantas were one of the first mass produced cars to switch from carburetors to fuel injection.
Compared to the 1st gen Capri (before the hatchback models) , Opel Manta's trunk space was humongous. That alone made me prefer it over the Ford.
That it was a better-looking car than the Capri didn't hurt, either.
Opels were sold by Buick dealer's in America. I had an Opel Kadett and I can tell you The Mercury Capri was a ten times better car no doubt.
I was dreaming of the Capri when I was a young boy in the early 80's. I finally bought a 1974 one in 1998 and kept it for four years. The engine was replaced by a 2.0 OHC from a Sierra but with the original 1.6 carburetor, and it was pretty fast...
Thank you for bringing back those good memories ;)
My first car - 1971 _Capri_ . Very nice ! 👌 Great video - thanks .
I also had a 71 3.00 capri. I loved it. Sunflower with a black roof. Sold it to a mate in 78 and he wrapped it around a lampost. He was ok but the old girl was well bent. Broke my heart!
Was my first car To. Wish i still have it in my garage
The Capri along with Citroen DS is my top two favourite car designs of all time. A part of my childhood. Felt nostalgic viewing this video. Thanks
We had the mercury capri with a v6. Loved it. Wish I had kept it.
My dad got one of the first imported ones delivered in Northern California. It was a looker, black over metallic brown and had some good power and handling but it was an utter POS as far as reliability was concerned. It used to break down seemingly weekly, by far the worst car he ever owned.
Mark Moses what the fuck are you talking about
@Mark Moses You obviously had a Friday car but please dont say it is shit. The capri was a beaut.Here in South Africa we got the 1600,2000 v4,3000 v6 and the V8 conversion by Basil Green. Fantastic cars. Wish Ford will re launch a new capri. It will outsell the Mustang
Mark Moses You lent it to your brother. Loan is a noun...
same here
I am new to your channel. I am an American in my 60's and I am an avid history buff. I usually gravitate toward military and related history, but I also love cars, and your videos provide me with answers to questions I didn't know I had. It's just a shame the automotive world has taken such a weird turn. The British car industry is a shell of its former self and the 21st Century saw a lot of American car brands fold that I thought would be here forever. Your videos give me context as to why this happened, as well as providing me with nostalgic musings of a different era. Thank you.
Glad you like them. As you can tell, I’m a history fan as well (more than a car guy). So there’s a lot of sociopolitical business history in there.
Excellent job! Great history of the Caprí, as I owned 2 of them and 4 Cortinas when I lived in Puerto Rico back in those days.👍
Love the Cortina 80's still got one to this day.. Won't part with her even though she's 41 years old..
A Great comprehensive history of the Capri!! i remembered my dad had a cream-coloured Capri when I was still little and always like to squeeze myself into the backseat from the door edge without pushing the front seat...🤣🤣🤣 Loads of memories on that car!! Thank you so much for the video and hope to see some videos on an Opel Gemini Coupe soon, which was also another car owned by my dad.
Well done mate. I can’t believe there were so many versions I’d never heard of. 👍
I worked out once when I wanted to collect them, that there are over 40 different versions in the UK alone!
My dad bought a 72 2.0 in 1979 to help save on gas. I learned how to work on cars helping my dad get it through Maryland state inspection. I really loved the old girl. We had it until the late 80's , until the steel cancer came back. I drove it through my senior year in HS, and for my first 2 jobs. It never let us down until the trunk rusted out and the rear shocks blew into the trunk. That car was fun to drive, and I had some "amazing" dates in it! Would love to find another one here in the states to fix up!
Great to see new videos, glad you're back after all the issues!
hi may i ask what issues please?
@@googledude7459 His whole channel got deleted or taken down by You Tube for some reason, full credit for starting all over again
Shut up
I purchased a new Capri in 1973. It had the V-6 and the stick shift. What a wonderful automobile. With a good set of radial tires the thing was great on winding roads. It was very durable as well. I think I only had to replace a headlamp during my ownership. Wish I still had it.
That was such a good video! Packed with fascinating info! Thank you!!
Yes, it was a good video but since I own one I would have liked to hear the specifics on the problems.
Your channel is amazing... Love the history of cars
Thank you!
I still remember watching The Professionals as a kid and loving their Capri’s. Bodi and Doyle baby!
Your videos are top shelf. Best in the business. Great job.
Im 47 an my mum assures me that i was conceived in a capri. My dad had good taste in cars
Pretty cramped in the back seat, but the recliners were quite something for that era - similar to the two-door Cortina MK III
Could have been done in an hatchback version those back seats folded foreward, I carried 2 full size keggs of beer and the attendant tub in ne with the hatch closed.
Pretty small car to be conceived in..are you sure it was not on a Capri? Maybe on the hood?
Not something too many moms would share, bet she’s fun after a couple of glasses of Chardonnay at the family BBQ
Plenty of room in the back with the seats folded forward. Just take my word for it
Loved the Capri, my old man had a purple mkI and a cousin of mine a yellow V6 mk III with a black hood and a firebird on it, LOL! Great cars! (love the dutch advertising about the capri btw) We've had so many Fords..Taunus 12M, Cortina mkII, Capri mkI, Taunus mkI, Ford Consul coupe, Escort mkI, too much to name. And a Sierra 2.0 GL 5-door ofcourse.
Yes yes. The Capri was a hit in the US, and I always thought it was German. My first "reliable" car was a 71 Pinto with the Cologne 2.6l Capri motor in it. The Pinto was smaller and a little lighter than the Capri and that car was fun. The motor would stop at 7 grand clutched (all the air it could flow) and could skip across an intersection. It would surprise near anything with an automatic transmission if it wasn't built.
Had 6 of these cars. Mk1, Mk1 facelift, Mk2s and Mk3s. The one I had for the longest was a 1973 1600Gt facelift but my favourite was a manual MK3 3 litre Ghia fitted with a laser interior to make it look more modern. Fantastic sound, felt really quick too but....years later in 1990 I made the mistake of going back - never go back.
I was ultimately bitterly disappointed with my 1985 MK3 2.8 injection Special special. By 1990 cars had moved on and a 1960s car felt every bit the crap it was. I loved them though and I have many happy memories and somehow the MK 3 still looks relevant.
Brilliant videos as usual ! You are A diamond my friend !
We had a 1971 tawny metallic 1600XL as our family car when I was young. My dad loved his Capri. We towed a caravan all over Europe with it (with leaf spring stiffeners) although it was underpowered and cramped in the back with 2 kids. Memories. We sold it when it got rusty in the sills- in 1975.
Another great video.
Keep them coming.
My all time favourite car. Started off with a 1.6s then two 2.0s before going onto a 2.8. Then later I saw a 2.8 Brooklands and emptied my savings to get one. Shame the brook lands was not shown or mentioned here. But still a great video.
Aussie here, the issue with the Mazda based 89-94 Capri was never reliability, it was the fact it was front wheel drive, slow as a snail with only a naturally aspirated 1.6 litre engine and finally the convertible soft top leaked like a sieve full of bullet holes. Everyone who's had anything to do with them will tell you the only good ones they made were the 93-94 Clubsprint and Barchetta variants, both of those were factory equipped with the newer 1.8 litre engine and 5 speed manual gearbox and a removable fibreglass hardtop to fix the water leak issue. Ford Australia did consider using the all wheel drive turbo drivetrain from the Ford Laser TX3 3 door hatchback in the Capri but due to the added weight of strengthening the chassis to deal with the extra power and torque dismissed the idea. Not many people were sad to see the back of what was by then considered a slow hairdressers car at best and a total white elephant and a lemon at worst.
While the 91-93 turbocharged Capri was not a muscle car they still run pretty good.
As for the leaks. The worst part about them is not all of them leaked in the same place. I have one that only leaks on the driver side floorboards and it took me a while to find the cause and others that leak on the drivers seat and all I do there is put a garbage bag on the seat so the drivers seat itself never gets wet.
Later I would find out that when the distributor starts to go bad it will have problems starting when the motor is warm and I've recently seen that.
But what I'm most disappointed about is the problem they have with the manual transmissions. OUCH.
@@RogerWittekind Yeah no 2 cars leaked in the same place lol, as for the distributor it should be standard a 1.6/1.8 litre Mazda 323/Ford Laser item from the same era, shouldn't too difficult to get your hand on parts for them (even in the US). The only parts you might struggle to find would be the solid state ignition module or the reluctor if those have gone bad, caps and rotor button should be easy off the shelf parts.
That's not a Ford Capri it's a mazda 323 plus Capri's are rear wheel drive not front.
@R A Right.
@@chris425amp7 Australian ones in the early 90s were front wheel drive.
Aussies ignored them because they were presented with gorgeous concepts then given something that was front-wheel drive and looked nothing like any Capri they had ever wanted.
They fell into a strange hole, not as cool as any rwd sports car, not as useful as a hot hatch and not as affordable as a last resort.
Remember seeing it for the first time beginning of 1968, blew me away it was like nothing else on the road.
Great video, I'm building one right now... Got a 3 litre and 5 speed box out of a cortina pickup, and a body from a kid who had stuffed a Nissan 1400 Ute under the bonnet 😂😂😂 I'm hoping to build something special!
You might want to check the final drive ratio will go with the gearbox, as I imagine the gear ratios for a pickup won't necessarily be the same as for a Capri
My 1st car was a 76 Capri II . 2.8 v 6. LOVED THE CAR . I used to road race it In the San Gabriel mountains in Ca . I would love to get another one .
As a fellow content creator, I can say without reservation... These are great videos.
My first car was a yellow '74 with the rubber bumpers and a 4-speed manual. Great fun to drive, but it must have started rusting in the showroom. Learned a lot about Bondo and primer, though...
73’ Capri v6 2600 brown great car when I was in high school. I miss that car.
In 1986 my father-in-law had a 1.6 which he let me drive - I felt a million dollars behind that wheel even though it was not the 2.8i! Love the intro too!
I had a '73 V6. One of the best cars I've ever owned.
I always wanted one! Never happened. I'm to old to care now.
Had a '74 V-6. Dandy little car.
My first car was a 1972 Mercury Capri; that was in 1977. Loved it.
I owned a 1972 Mercury Capri, still the favorite car I have ever owned!! Mine was brown with a leather interior. I still miss it!!
I had the same car!. What memories!
@@alandehn8541 It was a piece of shit Ford Pinto that fell apart in a few years like all small Fords of the day...money pits
I bought a 1974 2800cc V6, new in the US for $4200. Was a great little car for the time. I put Koni shocks, a Supersprint exhaust, a radio, (since it didn't have one) Chome wheel trim rings, and a pin stripe down the side.
It came with Pirelli CN36 tires, and 4 speed transmission. Washed and waxed religiously, and kept it for 9 years.
It started to rust in front of the doors, otherwise was pretty solid car. The same color as this video pic.
I have owned two Mk 3 Capris, one 1600 and one 2000. I'd love to have them now.
Wow memory lane here! I had 2 capris one 1973 with 2.6 v6 and the 74 2.8 V6! I built my 74 with 10.5 compression jahns piston and offenhauser 4 barrel manifold with Holley carb 390 cfm! And I got the engine balance too! can't believe I still remember this! Then I used to break transmission right and left so I decided to put super T 10 transmission on it and took care of that problem
Had a midnight blue black vinyl roofed 2L GL...
Paid 270 in 93 for it... people took the piss but I adored it...
Wish I had it tooked away some place...
the people that took the piss obviously no nothing about the lovely capri my sweety had a mk 2 1600.gt n a mk 3.... 2.0..... G.L
@@Tiffany.1970 pal had a 1600 looked v.similar to the car in your avatar regarding the roof colour type and styling.. it was in great condition and he sold it for a song ... at the time I wanted to get it and store it but was stopped... i now wish i had done it regardless...😜
Excellent episode. I loved the V6 Capri here in the States. Rarely see them anymore.
My 3.0 S returned 30 mpg with fast driving, kept blowing core plugs, the rear side windows kept getting unstuck from the hinges and needed taping up, and it required a weight in the boot to prevent it slewing round in the wet, but otherwise a great car!
Its interesting that one. I found many of my Capris actually under steered although there was one time on the Woolwich Ferry roundabout when I was doing wheel spins in the rain and spun right round to face the traffic...
My first car was a 72 yellow Capri here in the U.S. I absolutely loved that car. But then the rust began to eat it alive, and both of those iconic rear windows fell out at different times while driving... made an interesting sound as the glass shattered on the pavement.
I had a girlfriend who bought one of the first imports of Capri in the U.S. She let me drive it and I loved it! It didn't look like any American car. I had to ask her what it was when I first saw it. BTW, she traded her '67 Camaro for it. LOL!
The Capri was fairly popular in America. It was market was the same people who might buy a Toyota Celica back then. It's too bad, because I often saw them as a kid in the 1970's, but I can't remember the last time I saw a mk I type here in the USA. Rust seems to have sent them to a permanent grave. There aren't any junkers or even any shells around to restore or otherwise fix up. They would have made beautiful resto-mods!
Excellent video , well researched and very interesting.
Great video, I always loved the Capri
Hi Brian from Atlanta. My Dad bought my older brother a 4 speed 1974 Mercury Capri with a 2.8 V6. I also got a 1976 4 speed 2.8 V6 . They were both that orange red color. They both had sun roofs. Mine was the hatch back. I wish I still had that car. Loved it. Traded it for a 1982 Trans Am.
Welcome Brian. I enjoyed visiting your city in October!
Excellent documentary!
I bought a Capri years ago with a blown engine. Out with the 4 cylinder and in with a 350 Chevy engine and Turbo 350 transmission. Lot of fun to drive.
I love my (1973)MK1. It's my daily driver and people love it.
Just bought me a 91 Mercury Capri about a month ago and this pops up on my homepage. Really cool to know about the history about it, I usually read everything on Wikipedia about every car I buy but the Wikipedia page didn't mention anything about this!
I remember being a teenage trainee in about 1980/81 going to deliver about £30k of wages to one of our company's building sites in central London. We went in a colleague's beige/yellow 1.6 Capri. Great car, but not the best colour. We got a hard stop from the Sweeney (yeah, the real thing) in Granadas and Rovers between Vauxhall and Lambeth Bridge. "Hands on the dashboard" , they shouted They then just checked out that we were who we were mean't to be from the company. The wages used to be delivered in security vans, so it's a bit of a mystery to me why I was sitting with such a huge sum of money in a pack on my lap aged about 17 or 18. I guess the driver's Capri looked inconspicuous in its unpopular colour. There were some villains about in South London back then. Maybe we were decoys, or there was wind of a security van heist at the site. It was all very exciting to me, but kind of cool. I reckon that the Securicor van went empty and maybe any attempted heist got busted while we had the real cash - (about fifteen times my annual wages back then), with us. The Flying Squad must have been tailing us from Wandsworth, I guess - and they were also letting us know we were safe.
I was constantly stopped by police, especially at night (11pm). Routine checks they said. Never happened before I had the Capri and never since. Police seemed to associate the car with criminals and boy racers....
A 5l v8? Perana. My Lord!
Great videos, it's really nice to see the cars I grew up with. Loving your content.
My favourite of the lot remains the Capri 2.8injection. Looked great, sounded great and went like stink...!
...in a straight line, surely
@@herseem Hehehe! By today's standards perhaps but nearly 4 decades ago it was right up there with the best...
@@herseem y it killed a lot of people on the corners, I used to see them fishtail in straight lines in the wet too.
@@MyKharli I actually knew a guy who had spent the whole of Sunday T-cutting the paintwork to bring it up to a high sheen, and then mangled it completely zooming off at a bend in the wet on the Monday morning.
@@herseem tbh all cars were pretty shit on the corners until the golf mk 1 when you could at least point in the right direction. .front wheel drive was a life saver for crap drivers.
I just now found this. I'm in the U.S. and in 1971 bought a Mercury Capri with 2.0 L engine and four-speed. It was sporty, handled well, had enough performance, and was priced right. It served me well for nine years.
I'm sure our American friends can relate to what I'm about to say, but as an Aussie, hearing the Capri referred to as a muscle car makes me laugh lol Obviously all very different, but still humorous. They have a dedicated following here in Australia. Plenty of drag racers will drop a V8 into them too.
I hardly see Capri's these days. Great looking cars with tons of character.
Of course you don't! Cheap russian steel that went to the industrial Italian and German governments in the early seventies. Hence rustbucket Alfa's, Fiat's, Maserati and Ford.
A rabbit hole to jump in if you have a spare 20 mins on the internet... Coz I can't remember the exact trade deal with the Soviets. I think it might have been steel for coal, but memory fades.
These motors which were once ten a penny, are now beautiful and exotic in their rarity. I get true pleasure seeing a Capri on the road.
@@blacktoothfox677 I can't even remember the last time I saw one.
Memory lane! I got my first driving lessons in a Ford Capri! Must been in 1971. A yellow one, with a black vinyl top. Before that I got some lessons from my older brother in his Fiat 600, and I remember the long nose of the Capri, compared with the tiny Fiat. Thanks for this piece of history.
All I really remember about these Capris was that you could find one of the German fourbangers and use it for converting the older Volkswagen busses to water cooled engines.
Thanks big car I love these videos