Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three separate automobile models:
- The Ford Consul Capri coupe, produced by Ford of Great Britain between 1961 and 1964
- The Ford Capri coupe, produced by Ford Europe from 1969 to 1986
- The Ford Capri convertible, produced by the Ford Motor Company of Australia from 1989 to 1994. Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Ford Europe is the European division of the Ford Motor Company that is based in America. 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
The Capri name was also used by Ford's Lincoln-Mercury Division on a number of models which did not bear the Ford name:
- The Lincoln Cosmopolitan Capri, 1950 to 1951
- The Lincoln Capri, 1952 to 1959
- The Mercury Comet Capri, 1966
- The Mercury Capri, 1967
- The Capri, 1970 to 1977
- The Mercury Capri, 1979 to 1986
- The Mercury Capri, 1991 to 1994
Contents |
Ford Consul Capri (335) (1961–64)
| Ford Consul Capri | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Production | 1961-1964 |
| Body style(s) | 2-door coupé |
| Engine(s) | 1340 cc Straight-4 ohv 1961 - 1962 1498 cc Straight-4 ohv 1962 - 1964 |
| Wheelbase | 99 in (2515 mm)[1] |
| Length | 170. The Lincoln Cosmopolitan was a full-size sedan sold by Lincoln from 1949 to the early 1950s The Lincoln Capri was a fullsize automobile sold by Ford's Lincoln luxury division The Mercury Comet was an Automobile produced by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company between 1960 and 1977 with the exception of the 1970 model The Mercury Comet was an Automobile produced by the Mercury division of the Ford Motor Company between 1960 and 1977 with the exception of the 1970 model The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different Cars over the years The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different Cars over the years The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different Cars over the years Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders An overhead valve (OHV engine, also called pushrod engine or I-head engine is a type of Piston engine that places the Camshaft In both road and rail Vehicles the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels 75 in (4337 mm) |
| Width | 65. 3 in (1659 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2100 lb (953 kg) approx |
| Related | Ford Consul Classic |
The first use of the name Capri by Ford of Great Britain was for a 2 door coupé version of the Ford Classic saloon. Curb weight is the total Weight of a Vehicle with standard equipment all necessary operating Consumables (e The Ford Consul Classic or 'Consul 315' (as the export version was known was a mid-sized car built by Ford in the UK from 1961 to 1963 The Ford Consul Classic or 'Consul 315' (as the export version was known was a mid-sized car built by Ford in the UK from 1961 to 1963 The Ford Consul Capri was introduced in 1961 but only officially went on sale in Britain in January 1962: it was discontinued in July 1964. Along with the Ford Classic it offered many then unusual features, such as four headlights, variable speed wipers, disc brakes, dimming dashboard lights, and a cigar lighter. The Ford Consul Classic or 'Consul 315' (as the export version was known was a mid-sized car built by Ford in the UK from 1961 to 1963 It was proclaimed as "The First Personal car from Ford of Great Britain" (Ford of Great Britain, sales literature, December 1961) It was designed by Roy Brown who also designed the Edsel. Its pre-production name was "Sunbird", it really was designed to be a cross between the Ford Thunderbird and the Sunliner. The Thunderbird is an automobile manufactured by Ford in the United States from 1955 through 2005 &mdash through thirteen generations and various It had sweeping lines, a large boot space and a pillarless coupé roof. Initially fitted with a 1340cc 3 main bearing engine (model 109E), these earlier cars were considered underpowered and suffered from premature crankshaft failure. Engine capacity was increased in August 1962 to 1498 cc (model 116E), this engine was a vast improvement. The first 200 Capris were hand-made left-hand-drive cars for continental Europe. In Germany at the 1961 Frankfurt Auto Show, Ford sold 88 Capris. From 1961 to 1964 only 500 Capris were sold. The oldest of these handmade Capris from 1961 are in Germany. The Consul Capri 335 is one of the rarest cars from Ford.
In 1963 a GT version (also 116E, the same engine as in the Cortina GT) was introduced. Overall 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. The Ford Cortina is a mid sized family car built by Ford of Britain in various guises from 1962 to 1982
Ford Capri Mk1 (1969–1974)
| Ford Capri Mk1 | |
|---|---|
 1974 Ford Capri 3. 0 GXL | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Production | 1969-1974 |
| Assembly |  : Dagenham, Halewood.svg/22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png){kind=small} : Genk : Saarlouis, Cologne : Homebush |
| Class | Mid-size sports car |
| Body style(s) | fastback coupé |
| Layout | front engine, rear wheel drive |
| Engine(s) | petrol: V4 1. The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Dagenham is a suburban town in east London, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, situated east of Charing Cross. Halewood is a Civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, in Merseyside, England. Genk is a City and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. Saarlouis (zaːrˈlʊɪ in German; French: Sarrelouis) is a city in the Saarland, Germany, capital of the district of Saarlouis Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories or do not fit well into any A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A fastback is a Car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back In Automotive design layout specifies where on the car the Engine and Drive wheels are found A front-mounted engine describes the placement of an Automobile engine in front of the vehicle passenger compartment A V4 engine is a V form engine with four cylinders Lancia produced several narrow-angle V4 engines from 3L, 1. 5L, 1. 7L, I-4 1. The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 3L, 1. 6L, 2. 0L, V6 2. A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0L, 2. 6L, 3. 0L, 3. 1L, 3. 4L |
| Transmission(s) | Manual transmission |
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. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in The intention was to reproduce in Europe the success Ford had had with the North American Ford Mustang; to produce a European pony car. The Ford Mustang sports coupe, manufactured by the Ford Motor Company, was initially based on the Ford Falcon The pony car is a class of Automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964 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 Ford Cortina is a mid sized family car built by Ford of Britain in various guises from 1962 to 1982 Dagenham is a suburban town in east London, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, situated east of Charing Cross. Halewood is a Civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, in Merseyside, England. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Genk is a City and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Saarlouis (zaːrˈlʊɪ in German; French: Sarrelouis) is a city in the Saarland, Germany, capital of the district of Saarlouis Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The car was named Colt during development stage, but Ford were unable to use the name, as it was trademarked by Mitsubishi. is the sixth largest Automaker in Japan and the seventeenth largest in the world by global unit sales
Although a fastback coupé, Ford wanted the Capri Mark 1 to be affordable for a broad spectrum of potential buyers. A fastback is a Car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back 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. The Taunus V4 was a V4 Piston engine with one Balance shaft, introduced by Ford Motor Company in Germany 3, 1. 5 and 1. 7 L displacement, while the British versions were powered by the Ford Kent straight-4 in 1. The Ford Kent is an Internal combustion engine from Ford of Europe. 3 and 1. 6 L form. The Cologne V6 2. The original Ford Cologne V6, also known as the Ford Taunus V6, 640L was a 60° Cast iron block V6 engine built by the Ford Motor Company 0 L served as initial range-topper. Until the end of the year, new sports versions were added: the 2300 GT in Germany, using a double-barrel carburettor with 125 PS (92 kW), and the 3000 GT in the UK, with the Essex V6, capable of 138 hp (103 kW). A carburetor (North American spelling or carburettor ( Commonwealth spelling) is a device that blends air and Fuel for an Internal
In April 1970, Ford began selling the Capri outside Europe, in the North-American, South African and Australian markets. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. These versions were powered solely by the underpowered Kent 1. 6 engine, but a Pinto straight-4 2. The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4 cylinder Internal combustion engine built by the Ford Europe. 0 L replaced it in 1971. The North American version featured new headlights and bumpers (to comply with U. S. DOT regulations), and carried no brand badge.
A new 2637 cc version of the Cologne V6 engine assembled by Weslake appeared in September 1971, powering the Capri RS2600. Weslake Research and Development was founded by Harry Weslake, a cylinder head specialist who had been instrumental in modifying the side valve Standard engine used in the first This model used Kugelfischer fuel injection to raise power to 150 PS (110 kW), and was the basis for the Group 2 RS2600 used in the European Touring Car Championship. Fuel injection is a system for mixing fuel with air in an Internal combustion engine. The European Touring Car Championship was an international Touring car racing series organized by the FIA. Fitted with the Weslake engine featuring their special all alloy cylinder heads. Weslake Research and Development was founded by Harry Weslake, a cylinder head specialist who had been instrumental in modifying the side valve Standard engine used in the first The RS2600 also received modified suspensions, a close ratio gearbox, lightened bodywork panels, ventilated disc brakes and aluminium wheels. The 2. 6 L engine was detuned in September for the deluxe version 2600 GT, with 2550 cc and a double-barrel Solex carburettor. Solex was a French manufacturer of Carburetors and the powered bicycle VéloSoleX. 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.
Mk1 facelift
The Capri proved highly successful, with 400,000 cars sold until 1970, and Ford revised it in 1972, to become what is known by enthusiasts as the Capri "Bis" or, in the UK, the "Mark 1 facelift" Capri. The car received a new and more comfortable suspension, rectangular headlights, enlarged taillights and new seats. The Kent engines were replaced by the Ford Pinto engine, and the previously UK-only 3000 GT joined the German lineup. The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4 cylinder Internal combustion engine built by the Ford Europe. In the UK the 2. 0 L V4 remained in use. The following year, 1973, saw the highest sales total the Capri ever attained, at 233,000 vehicles, and the 1,000,000th Capri sold in August.
In December, Ford replaced the RS2600 with the RS3100, with the Essex V6's displacement increased to 3098 cc. Unlike its predecessor, it used a double-barrel Weber carburettor, and reached the same 150 PS (110 kW). Magneti Marelli Holding SpA is an Italian company which deals with development and manufacturing of systems modules and high-technology components for the Automotive 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. Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct Auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars 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 (324 kW) in racing trim. Cosworth is an Automotive engineering company founded in London in 1958 specialising in engines for automobile racing (motorsport Overhead camshaft, commonly abbreviated to OHC, Valvetrain configurations place the engine Camshaft within the Cylinder heads above the The car also featured improved aerodynamics. Besides the racing RS3100, the GAA was also used in Formula 5000. Formula 5000 (or F5000) was an auto-racing formula that ran different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982
Ford Capri Mk2 (1974–1977)
| Ford Capri Mk2 | |
|---|---|
 Ford Capri 1974 | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Production | 1974-1977 |
| Assembly | : Dagenham, Halewood: Genk: Saarlouis, Cologne |
| Class | Mid-size sports car |
| Body style(s) | fastback coupé |
| Layout | front engine, rear wheel drive |
| Engine(s) | petrol: I-4 1. The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Dagenham is a suburban town in east London, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, situated east of Charing Cross. Halewood is a Civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, in Merseyside, England. Genk is a City and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. Saarlouis (zaːrˈlʊɪ in German; French: Sarrelouis) is a city in the Saarland, Germany, capital of the district of Saarlouis Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories or do not fit well into any A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A fastback is a Car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back In Automotive design layout specifies where on the car the Engine and Drive wheels are found A front-mounted engine describes the placement of an Automobile engine in front of the vehicle passenger compartment The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 6L, 2. 0L, V6 3. A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 0L |
| Transmission(s) | Manual transmission |
In February 1974, the Capri Mk2 was introduced. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in After 1. 2 million cars sold, and with the 1973 oil crisis, 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. The 1973 oil crisis began on October 17 1973 when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC consisting of the Arab members of Hatchback is a term designating an Automobile design containing a passenger cabin with an integrated Cargo space accessed from behind the vehicle by a single By the standards of the day the mk2 was a very well evolved vehicle with very few reliability issues.
Although it was mechanically similar to the Mk1, the Capri 2 had a revised larger body and a more modern dashboard including a smaller steering wheel. The 2. 0 L version of the Pinto was introduced in the European model, and was placed below the 3. 0L V6, although it was more powerful. The Capri still maintained the large square headlights, which became the easiest way to distinguish between a Mk2 and a Mk3. Larger disc brakes and a standard alternator finished the list of modifications. alternator is an electromechanical device that converts mechanical energy to Alternating current electrical energy
In order to keep the sporty appeal of the car, Ford introduced the John Player Special limited edition in March 1975, but in May 1976, and with sales decreasing, the intermediate 3. John Player & Sons, known simply as Player's, was a Tobacco and Cigarette manufacturer based in Nottingham, England. 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 Mk3 (1977–1986)
| Ford Capri Mk3 | |
|---|---|
 1985 Ford Capri 2. 8 Injection Special in France | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Production | 1977-1986 |
| Assembly | : Dagenham, Halewood: Genk: Saarlouis, Cologne |
| Class | Mid-size sports car |
| Body style(s) | fastback coupé |
| Layout | front engine, rear wheel drive |
| Engine(s) | petrol: I-4 1. The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Dagenham is a suburban town in east London, in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, situated east of Charing Cross. Halewood is a Civil parish of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, in Merseyside, England. Genk is a City and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. Saarlouis (zaːrˈlʊɪ in German; French: Sarrelouis) is a city in the Saarland, Germany, capital of the district of Saarlouis Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories or do not fit well into any A mid-size car (occasionally referred to as an intermediate) is the North American and Australian term for an Automobile with a size between A sports car is a term used to describe a class of Automobile. Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. Some are still in production while others are of historical interest only A fastback is a Car body style whose roofline slopes continuously down at the back In Automotive design layout specifies where on the car the Engine and Drive wheels are found A front-mounted engine describes the placement of an Automobile engine in front of the vehicle passenger compartment The straight-4 or inline-4 engine (often abbreviated I4 or L4) is a four cylinder Internal combustion engine with all four cylinders 6L, 2. 0L, V6 2. A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the Crankcase in two banks of three cylinders 8L, 3. 0L |
| Transmission(s) | Manual transmission, Automatic transmission |
The Capri Mk3 was referred to internally as "Project Carla", and although little more than a substantial update of the Mk2, it was often referred to as the Mk3. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift or just 'stick' 'straight drive' or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in An automatic transmission (commonly "AT" or "Auto" is an Automobile Gearbox that can change Gear ratios automatically as the vehicle The first cars were available in March 1978, but failed to halt a terminal decline in sales. The concept of a heavily facelifted Capri 2 was shown at the 1976 Geneva show: a Capri 2 with a front very similar to the Escort RS2000 (with four headlamps and black slatted grille), and with a rear spoiler, essentially previewed the model some time before launch. 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 The Mk3 featured improved aerodynamics, leading to improved performance and economy over the Mk2 and the trademark quad headlamps were introduced.
At launch the existing engine and transmission combinations of the Capri 2 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.
The 3. 0 S was used extensively in the TV series The Professionals, with characters Bodie driving a silver 3. The Professionals was a British crime-action Television drama series that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983 filmed between 1977 0 S and Doyle a gold 3. 0 S, which was credited with maintaining interest in the car in the UK.
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 rather than fleet buyers who would demand less discounts, allowing higher margins with the coupé. The Ford Cortina is a mid sized family car built by Ford of Britain in various guises from 1962 to 1982 Ford tried to maintain interest in 1979 with "X Pack" options from the performance oriented "Rallye Sport", or "RS" parts range. Although expensive and slow selling these proved that the press would enthusiastically cover more developed Capris with higher performance.
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. The International Geneva Motor Show (Salon International de l'Auto is an annual Auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva. 8 Injection. The new model was the first regular model since the RS2600 to use fuel injection. Power rose to 160 PS (118 kW) giving a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph), 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 differential. A limited slip differential ( LSD) is a modified or derived type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in rotational Velocity 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.
Although the Capri no longer had a racing career, Ford of Germany developed a limited edition, left hand drive only, turbocharged model with 190 PS (140 kW), which could propel the car to 220 km/h (137 mph) in April 1982. This wild looking derivative featured widened bodywork and "RS" badging of the engine and wheels. Although rare and collectible it was not regarded as a car of equal stature to the later Tickford - the other Ford "official" turbo Capri.
The Tickford Capri used the 2. Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning, famous for such products as the 140mph Tickford Turbo Capri 8 Injection (rather than the RS model which strangely used the Granada carburettor engine) and developed 205 hp (153 kW) this version also featured a luxury interior with optional full leather retrim and Wilton carpeting and headlining, large rear spoiler, color coded front grille, deeper bumpers and 'one off' bodykit designed by Simon Saunders, later of KAT Designs and now designer of the Ariel Atom. Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, (of which it was once the County town) England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. The Ariel Atom is a high performance sports car made by the Ariel Motor Company based in Somerset, England.
The independent tuner Turbo Technics also released a 200 hp (149 kW) version, and a new 230 hp (172 kW) evolution which came supplied with a specially built gearbox. The Tickford Capri pricing issues (covered later) 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.
Rear disc brakes were standard on the Tickford which featured numerous other suspension modifications. The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a Wheel. This model was essentially rebuilt by hand by Tickford at approximately 200 hours per car, several of those dedicated to reshaping the leading edge of the bonnet to mate with the redesigned grille and body kit. It's still regarded as one of the most collectible Capri models today although at the time it struggled to sell even 100 units, despite extensive research and development costs. One problem was the relative price difference to the standard Capri Injection. To put this in perspective, the cost of the basic car doubled which would translate to a €30,000 coupé, such as a BMW 3 Series, being sold at €60,000 — or BMW M3 money. The BMW 3 Series is a Entry-level luxury car / Compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975 The BMW M3 is a high performance BMW M GmbH version of the popular BMW 3-Series compact Automobile.
From November 1984 onwards, the Capri was sold only in Britain, with only right hand drive cars were made from this date. The 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 and an electric aerial along with colour-coded grille and mirrors. A gear stick (also gearstick, gear lever, selection lever, shift stick and gear shifter) is the lever used to change Gear The last run limited edition "Brooklands" Green, 280 model, featuring a limited slip differential, full leather Recaro interior and 15 inch versions of the seven spoke 13 inch wheels fitted to the superseded Capri Injection Special. A limited slip differential ( LSD) is a modified or derived type of differential gear arrangement that allows for some difference in rotational Velocity 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 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 ran down the production line. A total of 1,038 Capri 280s were built. Contrary to some reports these cars were not called "Capri 280 Brooklands", the latter name of the famous Surrey race track only being applied to the paint colour rather than the car itself.
When the last Capri was made on December 19, 1986, 1,886,647 cars had rolled off the production line. Events 324 - Licinius abdicates his position as Roman Emperor. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) 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 1, mostly because the Mk 1 sold well in North America and Australia, while the Mk 2 and Mk 3 were only exported outside Europe (to Asia and New Zealand) in limited numbers. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island
The Capri is remembered for the classic advertising slogan "The car you always promised yourself". A North American advertising campaign featured a shorter line: "Capri: The Sexy European".
Ford Capri outside Europe
North America
From 1970 to 1977, the Capri was sold in North America through Ford's Lincoln/Mercury Division. Lincoln is an American Luxury car manufacturer operated under the Ford Motor Company. Mercury is an Automobile Marque of the Ford Motor Company founded in 1939 by Edsel Ford, son of Henry Ford, to market entry-level-luxury These cars carried no brand identification, only the "Capri" name. They were known however as the "Mercury Capri".
Originally, the Cologne-built Capri 1600 was fitted with a British 1. 6 L Kent engine. The Ford Kent is an Internal combustion engine from Ford of Europe. Initial output was just 64 hp (48 kW). The 1971 Capri 2000 featured the Cologne-built 2. 0 L OHC engine for much-improved performance from 101 hp (75 kW). The Ford Pinto engine is the unofficial but generic nickname for a 4 cylinder Internal combustion engine built by the Ford Europe. A Capri 2600 GT was offered in 1972 with a 2. 6 L Cologne V6 which produced a substantial 120 hp (89 kW).
In 1979, no longer importing the Ford Capri, Ford began selling a new Mercury Capri which was essentially a re-badged Ford Mustang. It was initially available with a 88 hp (66 kW) 2. 3 L 4-cylinder. Later, an optional 302 (5. 0 L) V8 became available. In 1984, the Capri was available with a 175 hp (130 kW) turbocharged 2. 3 L 4-cylinder engine as well as a 165 hp (123 kW) 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 180 hp (134 kW) and the turbo model was dropped. This generation of Mercury Capri should not be confused with the Europe based Capri and it never became nearly as popular as the Ford Mustang, although it was essentially identical, save for cosmetic details. After 1986, the 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 (75 kW) 4 cylinder 1. 6 L engine. It was also available with a 132 hp (98 kW) 1. 6 turbo engine. Both versions were dropped after 1994.
South Africa
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. The Windsor engine is a 90-degree Small-block V8 from Ford Motor Company. 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 Mark 2 and Mark 3 Capris were exported to, or built in South Africa. Most of the Capris that survive in South Africa are 1. 6 or 3. 0 models. Fewer 1. 3 and 2. 0 models survive.
Australia
The Ford Motor Company of Australia manufactured the European designed Mark 1 Capri at its plant in the Sydney suburb of Homebush from 1969 until 1972. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 The Capri was offered to the Australian market from April / May of 1969 as the 1600 and the 1600 GT, using the 1. 600 L Ford Kent OHV engine. The Ford Kent is an Internal combustion engine from Ford of Europe. In March 1970, the 3000 GT was launched, equipped with the 3. 0 L Ford Essex V6. See also Ford Essex V6 engine (Canadian The Ford Essex V6 engine was a 60° V6 engine built between 1967 and 1988 by the Ford At the same time the 1600 became the 1600 Deluxe and the 1600 GT became the 1600 XL.
Sales of the car began very well but began to dwindle as a result of local and imported competitor vehicles in the small to mid sized sports sedan segments. In November of 1972, production of the Capri ended in Australia, with a total of about 15,000 vehicles having been made. Neither the Mark 1 facelift Capri nor subsequent Mark 2 and Mark 3 models were ever produced in Australia.
In 1973, Ford Australia imported fifty Capri RS3100. Many of the surviving cars are well preserved or are used in competitive motorsport, mainly sprint car and drag racing.
The Ford Capri name was revived in Australia in 1989. The Australian Capri, codenamed the SA30, was a convertible designed to rival the Mazda MX-5. Generations and overview Now in its third generation the MX5's first generation the NA, sold over 400000 units from 1989 to 1997 &mdash with a Straight-4 Ironically, it used Mazda 323 engines and mechanicals which Ford Australia had adopted as the basis of the Laser. The Mazda Familia is a long-running nameplate used by Mazda for their Small family cars manufactured between 1964 and 2003 with 10589052 sold worldwide The Ford Laser was a compact car sold by Ford in Asia, Oceania, and parts of South America, and Africa. It had a bodyshell designed by Ghia and an interior by ItalDesign. Carrozzeria Ghia SpA (established 1915 in Turin) is one of the most famous Italian Automobile design and coachbuilding firms established Italdesign-Giugiaro SpA (commonly called Italdesign) is an Automobile design and engineering company in Turin, Italy. However, by comparison with the MX-5, it was dated by the time of its release – some two years after its originally scheduled date.
Two models were originally offered: a standard 1. 6 L model, and a turbocharged variant, with 136 PS (100 kW).
The Australian-built Capri was intended primarily for export to the US. Exports began in 1991, as the Mercury Capri, and sales briefly exceeded those of the MX-5, but then dropped rapidly, so production ceased in 1994. The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different Cars over the years The car was plagued by quality problems and recalls, although it eventually had success in the early 1990s with models modified by Tickford.
An interesting point was that 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.
Possible future Capris
The British magazine Auto Express and German magazine Stern have shown computer drawings of a proposed Focus-based Capri, with Auto Express advancing a 2005 release date in their July 2002 issue. Auto Express is a weekly motoring Magazine sold in the United Kingdom, with features including news road tests first drives readers' letters product Stern ( English "Star" is a weekly News magazine published in Germany. This is the article about the European and worldwide Ford Focus Events in July The traditional period known as "fence month" (the closed season for deer in England ended July 9 (date varied In September 2003, Ford presented the Visos concept-car, a hatchback coupé, in the Frankfurt Auto Show. However, none of these examples have made it into production. In May 2008 Auto Express once again started speculation of a possible new Capri using computer generated images based on the Visos concept, the car is said to share its platform with the Focus ST using engines from the current Focus range, meaning it will have a front engine front wheel drive layout, a top of the range RS may feature a 3. International holidays May 1 - Labour Day ( Pakistan) May 1 - Labour Day ( Singapore) FOCUS is a software product of Information Builders Inc Originally developed for data handling and analysis on the IBM mainframe, as newer systems were developed 2 litre 6 cylinder engine and four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4x4 ("four by four" is a four-wheeled Vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four Wheels to The car will continue the Kinetic design theme seen on the current Mondeo, S-Max and Galaxy. The Ford Mondeo is a Large family car sold by the Ford Motor Company in various markets throughout the world A galaxy is a massive gravitationally bound system consisting of Stars an Interstellar medium of gas and dust, and Dark matter It is set to be officially revealed as a concept in 2009.
See also
Sources
- ^ Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). The Ford Probe was a Coupe produced by Ford, introduced in 1989 to replace the Ford EXP as the company's Sport compact car The Ford Cougar was a mid-sized Coupé car sold in the European market between 1998 and 2002 The name Mercury Capri has been used for several different Cars over the years Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
External links
- Mercury Capri at the Open Directory Project
- Ford Capri Laser Page
- Consul Capri GT
- The Australian Ford Capri Convertible
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