1-of-25: 1964 Ford Consul Capri

Ford of Britain produced some interesting small cars, including the Escort and Cortina. One of the more unusual was the Consul Capri, featuring styling cues from the Thunderbird and the Starliner. It is believed that only around twenty-five examples reached North America, and this 1964 model is only the second we’ve seen at Barn Finds. It has hibernated for decades, but the car’s location has preserved it remarkably well. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Rob for spotting this rare beauty listed here on Craigslist near Brooktrails, California, with an asking price of $8,600.

Launched in 1961 as the more luxurious version of the new Consul Classic, the Capri featured a two-door Coupe body penned by Charles Thompson. The Capri drew on styling cues from Lincoln, as well as the Thunderbird and the Galaxie Starliner. It included extremely fine pillars and an enormous glass area for a vehicle of this size. The Pressed Steel Company manufactured the bodies at its Cowley plant, then shipped them to Ford’s Dagenham factory for final assembly. Later cars left the line in Halewood, with sales ending in 1964 as the Capri struggled in the market. The seller believes that only around twenty-five examples reached North America in 1964, and considering the low production numbers, the figure sounds plausible. Finished in Raven Black, this Capri has spent forty years in storage. The environment must have been ideal, because while the floors feature a dusting of dry surface corrosion, there is no evidence of penetrating rust. The trunk pan is perfect, and there are no panel issues. The biggest obstacle for the buyer is the windshield, which is cracked in one corner. The rarity of these classics may make finding one locally challenging, so importing a replacement from the UK may be the only option. The remaining glass is clear and crack-free, and the trim looks complete and acceptable for a survivor of this vintage.

Initially released with a 1,340cc four under the hood, Ford introduced a vastly improved 1,498cc powerplant in August 1962. The upgrade didn’t just boost power and torque from 56hp and 76 ft/lbs to 64hp and 86 ft/lbs; it also addressed a significant mechanical weakness. The smaller motor featured a three-bearing crankshaft that was prone to failure. The larger engine’s five-bearing configuration eliminated that problem. No automatic transmission was available, and all Capris sent power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual. The seller says that this classic doesn’t run, and I suspect it hasn’t in four decades. The engine bay looks remarkably clean, with no significant corrosion on any components. Therefore, if the motor turns freely, revival might not be difficult.

The Californian climate that has admirably preserved this Capri’s steel has been pretty harsh on its interior. The dashpad has more cracks than the San Andreas Fault, while some Red vinyl upholstered surfaces are split and warped. However, the seats don’t look too bad, and the buyer might be able to save items like the passenger-side door trim by transferring the vinyl onto a replacement card. The wheel is cracked, and the speedometer is missing, and sourcing replacements for any parts beyond repair would likely involve contacting a UK supplier.

The Ford Consul Capri shared some characteristics with the Edsel. It didn’t suffer the quality control issues that helped sink the Edsel, but its complex body construction meant the sticker price was far higher than originally envisaged, pushing the cars beyond the reach of the company’s intended target demographic. Early cars suffered engine reliability issues, and the later cars faced stiff internal competition from the Cortina. The jig was up, with the last cars leaving the Halewood line in 1964. With a production total of 1,007 vehicles that year, they are extremely rare, and this final-year example is a promising project candidate. So if you have Blue-Oval leanings and are seeking a rare, affordable project, this ’64 Consul Capri could be a strong option.