Once Ford’s Mustang hit the roads, European fans began clamoring for a right-sized version in their own market. Ford responded by crafting a sleek, long-hood/short-deck four-seater based on the well-loved Cortina. To name the car, Ford leaned on another of its popular brands – the Ford Consul Capri from the early ’60s. With its good looks and name recognition, the Capri sold well from the moment of its introduction in 1969. Ford, seeing an opportunity, began importing the car to the US in 1970. Originally badged only with its model name, the new Capri was sold through Lincoln-Mercury. Though the white-shoe set didn’t know how to regard the “Sexy European”, and though the promise of its looks did not translate to sparkling performance, the car sold well. Here on eBay is an early Capri, bid to $5400, reserve not met. This barn find is located in Augusta, New Jersey.
Ford Europe equipped its home-market Capri with a variety of engines ranging from a Kent 57 hp 1.3-liter four-cylinder up to the impressive Cosworth-engineered 3.1-liter V6 found in the homologated RS3100. Over in the US, the first cars were sold with the Kent crossflow 1.6-liter four; after only a year, displacement was rapidly upgraded. At the Capri’s zenith, the Cologne V6 was offered, marking a significant increase in horsepower. The car finally offered performance to match its looks – just in time for the gas crisis to hit. Our subject car is equipped with the 1.6-liter four, good for about 70 hp. The gearbox is a four-speed manual (many were sold with automatics). This car runs and drives, though it probably needs a thorough check-up before a long road trip. The odometer reads just shy of 50,000 miles.
Before being parked in a New Jersey barn, the car spent time in California, with the sun toasting its interior. The vinyl seats have cracked and split, as has the dash. Still, for as aged as it is, this cabin isn’t intolerable. The rear seats are quite decent. Note the rust hole in the sill on this side; the passenger’s rear fender has rusted around the wheel arch, too.
The underside is reassuringly straight, slightly greasy, and devoid of serious rust. The nifty lines of the Capri are believed to have been penned by Phil Clark who also designed the Mustang logo. But this little pony sells for far less than a Mustang: Hagerty values a “good” car at $4900. Meanwhile, this V6 automatic sold for $11,500. The Capri is one car I would happily change from stock. Kent engines can be decked with performance parts – or there’s the engine-swap route. I think this Capri could make a fun vintage race car.
Finally a car that came down under .
Doesn’t matter it’s not a 3.3 V6 or 3.0 V6. It’s all original. And a manual.
Definitely worth buying and preserving.
No a 2000 or 2600 is worth buying. The 1600 is no faster than a Beetle.
Somebody always has to complain.
There as rare as rocking horse $h… over here.
And we got more than you yanks did.
We got the 1600, the 3000, and the 3300
Somebody always has to complain.
There as rare as rocking horse $h… over here.
And we got more than you yanks did.
We got the 1600, the 3000, and the 3300
Somebody please buy this before I do something foolish. I had a pair of these; one had the V6. The Capri with this 1.6 litre was very prone to rust; lived then in the Northeast where salted roads were the order of the day. The Capri 1.6 litre could take corners spiritedly if one knew the limits(!).
I also had a pair of these, a 71 with a 1.6 liter engine and then I bought a 73 with a 2.6 liter. The 71 was fun while I was tossing it around back roads in WV in the late 70s.
The 73 became a college project car. I located Dobi, who sold all manner of suspension parts for these cars, and I spent my beer money on springs, brakes, and engine mods. It ended up with a 390 cfm Holley, four barrel intake, a steel timing gear, Isky cam, and headers. I took it to Mason Dixon Dragway near my home and it ran high-14s in the quarter mile Slow by today’s standards, but it would smoke a contemporary Camaro or Mustang.
That car is on my list of cars I wish I still had.
these were popular when I was about 21 in Charleston WV. Two of my friends had these and knew of a 73 V6 4speed, which I bought. lots of good memories, I wish I had kept that car too, along with my 71 Celica, and my 78 Scirroco
Yep….had that little V-6 and it would run !
The scoop on the Bonnit was only on the six cylinder not the 1.6 four cylinder of UK. The car shown say 1.6 four cylinder with a scope on the hood, now I am confused or is this truth for USA or Canada
I wouldn’t be surprised to see it head back to Europe
Steve R
No sale with a high bid of $6,600.
Steve R
The “Sexy European”, I still remember those commercials when I was barely a teenager. Popular little cars at the time. Things changed a little when the Capri became the Fox bodied cousin to the Mustang, basically the same car, except the Capri had a different nose, and the hatchback had a “bubble” back window of sorts, I always thought they were sharper looking than a Mustang during that period
The Fox-body Capri didn’t get the bubble-back hatch until a mid-cycle refresh for ’83; it also differed from the Mustang in having louvered tail lights, and handsome box-flared fenders rather than the lipped wheel arches of the Mustang — which I will always wonder why Ford didn’t transfer to the Mustang for its major facelift in ’87 since they were retiring the Capri variant as of that year anyway.
Ford’s first use of the Capri name was on the 1950 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Capri. It was a specially trimmed coupe, with a vinyl roof designed to hide the fact that Ford had no pillarless hardtops. Capri was a series name for Lincoln from 1952-1959.
The 1973 gas crisis didn’t do in the Capri. If anything, as a small car, Capri should have had stronger sales due to the gas crisis. It was the Deutsche mark-to-US dollar exchange rate that made the Capri both expensive and unprofitable, especially compared to the Mustang II. Pity. The Capri was the better car.
My wife had a ’72 version of this car when I met her. Fun to drive, but it was a little worn out. I think my ’67 Mustang that I was driving at the time handled better.
I had a 72 Capri too. It was a fun car to drive. It was my 1st car. It had the 2.0 4 cylinder 4 speed transmission. I bought it in 1974 with 28.000 miles in San Mateo, CA. for $2000. The salesman at the dealership was Johnny Strykalski, an original S.F. 49er in 1946.
Grammar and spelling, let’s not make America look any worse than it already does lol
There has been a dramatic increase in grammatical errors and misspellings the last couple of days. Maybe it’s just another side effect of moving the clocks one hour ahead again.
Rick
More likely fat fingers moving quickly and stupid AI spell check trying to correct I often hit submit before I remember to proof read and then say dang it too late!! Always loved these little capris a buddy had two first a 4 cyl then a v6 both were lots of fun
Mebbe itz the skool sisstemz tooday
Around 1970-72 Ford in South Africa refitted 500 Capri’s with 302 Windsors bolted to either a 4 speed Toploader or C4 and called them the Ford Capri Perana. The conversion was the brainchild of Basil Green. They are road register-able but have also won a lot of touring car races. A few Perana’s have made their way to Australia and a good one will fetch at least $100k USD
The “Sexy European”, I remember those commercials when I was barely a teenager. Popular little cars at the time. Things changed when the Capri became the Fox bodied cousin to the Mustang, same basic car with a different nose, and a “bubble” rear window. I thought the Capri was a bit sharper looking than the Mustang at the time
Only 83-86 had the bubble hatch. 79-82 did not.
Nice wee car.
Build the 1600 to FFord spec and it’ll move the car along fairly briskly.
I had two Consul Capris,referred as “A sheep in wolf’s clothing”
in a road test in R&T in 1962.
The 1600 in these is underpowered (in stock form).These were
heavy (for the class),but well-built cars.
I had a ’73 with the 2000 4 cylinder,& it had adequate power.
I never drove a 1.6 Capri, but I did drive the Pinto with that engine. A wheezy little thing. The 2 liter engines woke up both cars.
As ZZ Top song goes ” I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole”.
I wouldn’t touch ZZ Top with a 10 ft pole, probably catch fleas or something lol
Just sold two of these. 500.00 for the pair. Guess I missed the market on these.
Just wanted to add.
I had a Mk11 escort with the same engine. The head cracked, and I wanted to upgrade to the 2L engine (Pinto) but She who must be obeyed (the wife) or SWMBO said no.
I tracked down an expert in Mk11 eskies, he literally had 50 acres of eskies.
I purchased from him a Ford Motor Sport Head, over here we have have Ford Motorcraft, and Ford Motorsport).
I also purchased from him and inlet manifold and a Weber, both had Ford Motorsport and Weber cast in them. Needless to say a 2L Pinto was no match.
He also has some rare RS’s, including an RS3300, Capri, built in Germany (a real RS not a pommy or Aussie crap) . I said name your price, he wouldn’t sell, as it was his late father’s car.
Even SWMBO gave permission for unlimited funds.
That wheezy gutless pig “Kent” engine would have to go. The 2 litre or 2.3 OHC engine is way better.
Was the 2.0 a Kent engine also?
Lima
I remember seeing one at Milan Dragway years ago. Tubbed and running a Cleveland motor. Ran like gangbusters and made a real nice looking Drag car.
I thought the Capri name was mercury
That was for the later Mercury Capri convertible that was imported from Australia.
Also the ’79-86 Mercury Capri variant of the Fox-body Mustang. Before that, Euro Ford Capris exported to the US market from ’70-78 were sold at Lincoln-Mercury dealers but only badged as Capri alone, no Mercury or other marque/model badging, so they were effectively a distinct sub-marque of Mercury.
At first, Ford Capri, ultimately became Mercury Capri, sold through Mercury dealers
Had a ’72 exactly like this one in Germany (Army), only 2.0 Ltr. and 5 sp. Picked it up with 10 miles on it and proceeded to run it like I stole it. Engine took it well, would squeak the tires in 2nd, and lived on the Autobahn around 90 mph all day long. Toured on leave, went to France often and Spain twice. Brought it back and then got stupid. To my knowledge I was the first to shoehorn a 289 w/C-6 tranny in it. Welder/associate and I had to cut out and make all the mounts and machine shop screwed up the driveshaft (tried to weld u joint to the drive shaft, cooked the grease out). Couldn’t afford a ‘vette crossover radiator so cut hole in front and bottom to put a radiator in. Looked like hell, but did do a respectful 11;56 in the 1/4. Should have tried to find a 2.3 or 2.6 and bolt it in. Would have been more fun and better use of my money. Too many toys now or would be in the hunt.
Ford South Africa, had the Penrite Capri, factory fitted with a V8.
Ford South Africa, had the Penrite Capri, factory fitted with a V8.
I built and autocrossed a 73 that started life as a 2.6/4-speed, then I swapped it for an 86 SVO turbocharged and intercooled 2.3/5-speed. The car was a perennial class winner for a bunch of years, and is still in existence!
A neighbor owned the V-6 version. Great in dry and warm weather; but terrible traction for the rear wheels in snow and rain as the car was front-heavy.
Same with every Mustang, Challanger, Camaro, etc etc, heavy in the front, light in the rear, nothing unusual
Lovely looking car. A car from my childhood. Here in the USA, it was called the Mercury Capri. For some reason, this version was only on the US market for only a few years, from 1971-1977 before the Faux platformed (Mustang based) version was intro’d.
No one mentioned all proceeds from the sale go to a Navy Vet and Mother who was injured last year. Can’t think of a better reason to get into classic cars. There is a lot of support for the Capri, especially Mk I cars. The engine bay will take a variety of engines of you could tune the Kent it comes with. The future is yours for the taking…..
This Capri got scarred by both coasts. Toasted interior from the West Coast and rusted panels from the East Coast. Talk about out of the frying pan into the fire…
My intro to this model took place while strolling the streets of Ostia in the mid 70’s with my Grandpa. He told me that he will buy one…never did as he was very attached to his 1967 Dodge Dart coupe. However, every time I see a Capri it reminds me of him and our stroll.
Back in the ’70s when I lived in NW CT, I used to spend time at Lime Rock just a few miles up the valley. Watched a number “2” car, a Capri with “P.L.Newman” painted above the door, do battle in SCCA events. Once winning became a regular thing, the “P.L.” was replaced with “Paul.”
Paddock scuttlebutt was the Paul was a regular guy among the racers and would pitch right in with a broom and SpeedyDry when someone ralfed an ending and dumped oil all over the track.
The same could not be said about the other Hollywood guy whose name started with “Steve” and ended with “McQueen.” He was a “star” and such menial chores were below him. Generally, he was pretty well shunned by other drivers.
Oops… I meant “engine” dumping oil… even though the engine WAS ending!
(Proofread, Schulzie, proofread!)
Now we have celebrity critics here, guess now we have to fit that into the classic car scene
Could someone explain why there is a big rectangular box attached to the side of the round air filter ?
I have never seen that sort of ” contraption”
It definitely looks to be something that was added on after the car left the assembly line. Got to wonder if it was to help them get through deep water ha-ha.
Lovely car. Although I was way too young to drive a car at the time, I remember this version of the Ford (Mercury) Capri. Here in the USA it was sold as the “Mercury” Capri. Why this version wasn’t on the market for very long before being replaced by the Fox bodied (Mustang) version is beyond me.
I had a 72 Capri too. It was a fun car to drive. It was my 1st car. It had the 2.0 4 cylinder 4 speed transmission. I bought it in 1974 with 28.000 miles in San Mateo, CA. for $2000. The salesman at the dealership was Johnny Strykalski, an original S.F. 49er in 1946.