The Capri (no corporate badging) was a small, sporty compact imported by Mercury between 1970 and 1978. It was built in Germany by Ford of Europe and had no direct counterpart at the Ford division. This 1973 edition is a project that its owner of 20 years was working on, but didn’t get too far. It has a V6 engine rather than an inline-4, a first for FOMOCO in the U.S. Located in San Rafael, California, this builder is available here on craigslist for $1,300. Thanks for the tip, Barn Finder “Rob”.
It wouldn’t be fair to compare the Capri to the Ford Maverick, which arrived in 1969. And Mercury would get one of those anyway in the form of the 1971 Comet. During the entire captive import days of the 1970s Capri, it never carried any Mercury identification, sold simply as the “Capri” at Merc dealers. In Europe, the car was the Ford Capri, a vehicle introduced in 1968 with components lifted from the Cortina MkII and Escort.
To meet U.S. specs, the stateside Capri had twin round headlights rather than single rectangular ones. Buyers of the 1973 Capri could choose between a 2.0-liter I-4 or a 2.6-liter V6 built in Cologne, Germany. And like all other cars sold in the U.S. in 1973, the front bumpers got bigger (the rear bumpers would get a boost the next year). As the story goes, the last owner of this automobile had it dating back to the early 21st Century, and started to refurbish it, which may explain why grey primer is covering most of the car’s red paint.
Everything about the Merc likely needs restoring. The body, the interior, and the drivetrain, which includes a 4-speed manual transmission, all will need attention. Parts like the radiator are in the trunk, but otherwise, what you see is what you get (we assume). You could drop in a 302 V8 and make a screamer out of it, or start with an example that’s weathered the last 53 years a little better.
These Capris do have a following in the US, but I’ve heard they have an even larger following in Europe. Memories….. one of those long-ago cars which for me is in the “it got away” list is a 73 Capri, dark green, V6, 4-speed. Alas, at the time, it didn’t work out for cash-poor me.
Obviously this example is a big project.
Thanks Russ.
I think this is at least a ‘74. The ‘73 capri still had chrome bumpers.
You’re right – it’s a ’74.
My neighbor back in the day had a brand new yellow ’74 2800 (V-6). Brown interior. 4-speed manual. I was obsessed with it as a kid. Great looking car. In retrospect the bumpers look awful but back then, they just blended in because every new car had them obviously. One memory is of him disabling his seatbelt interlock with a friend who knew about cars. I seem to recall they cut some wires under the seat.
I had the exact same car, year and color. It was easy to disable that seatbelt interlock. One thick wire, stretched, like a bass string. Cut and gone in an instant. Great car, I should have hung on to it longer.
Thanks. It’s hilarious that I still remember that all these years later. For those who don’t know what we’re talking about, 1974 cars had an interlock system where you had to be buckled up in order to start the car. Everybody hated it and most people disabled them immediately and the feature was gone for 1975 due to public uproar. So unless you were around back then you probably have no experience with it.
It’s a 74. I had one and I loved it. Mine had the 2.8 V6 and had the deluxe interior in black and it was the centerfold in the 74 brochure. Sorry I sold it.
Mercury’s European 🇪🇺 number
“No rush to sell”, got news for ya’, not going to be an issue. This won’t be my usual 4am sweetness ( cough), probably the 2nd worst car I ever owned. Not sure why I bought it, something with a heater for when the MGB was stored in winter. It was a ’73 in ’75, low miles, but a POS right from the get go. 4 speed had odd ratios, big hole between 1st & 2nd, just like a Pinto. The motor was a gutless thing, got poor mileage and began leaking coolant. Seats were awful( compared to the MG) That gas filler on the C pillar, in the 70s, some stations still didn’t have auto shut off, and trails of gas down the side happened a lot. Handled poorly, terrible in the snow, and the heat wasn’t much better than the MG. No leg room for back passengers, and sorely needed a rear hatchback. Mercury dealers didn’t want much to do with the Capri, much like Buick dealers with Opel, and I took a bath on that car.
Now, the Capri ll was an entirely different car, addressed all those issues, but by then, Asian cars were taking over, and for good reason, they were just cheaper, better and had the dealers. Capris faded away and nobody noticed.
Howard,
You must have gotten a lemon,because I had a ’73 –
2000cc engine,4 speed,sunroof,all the gauges,& it was a
great car! Didn’t do too well as an autocrosser or hillclimb-
car,but was a great highway cruiser.
I was pleasantly surprised when I spotted this Capri at
a car show.Turned out that the owner was the son of a friend
of mine who I got to finally meet.His ’74 was darned near perfect.
This is a ’73. ’74’s had the big bumpers. ’71 and ’72’s had the thin narrow taillights and small chrome bumpers. ’73’s got the bigger taillights and the bigger chrome impact bumpers. Had a ’73 2000 4spd and a ’76 Ghia V6 4 spd
Check the 1986 movie Shaker Run on Tubi,there is a very cool 350 Chevy powered Capri in a chase seen.
Eh, a california kept project for 1300.00. Seems reasonable. I think I might keep things light and go with a built 4 cyl. Ecoboost 2.3 turbo? One can dream.
I don’t think there’s any motivation to restore it but, if not rusted,it could be a fun build that might get you a chunk of your change back if you decide to move on.
I agree with a hipo 4 cylinder. Old school 2.3 or a modern EcoTech would be the question. Neither is a bad choice.
When I was quite young, one of the schools I attended showed a film about (I think) brain chemistry, it may have been a drinking & driving thing (it’s a bit vague). The young man, who had consumed alcohol, was ripping around the countryside in one of these Capris, and ultimately crashed.
My only takeaway from that film, was that V6 Capris sounded pretty good at full chat.
That 2.8L V6 was also installed in the Fox-Body Mustangs and Capris as a step up from the base 2.3L four that did duty in the Pinto, but below the 302/5.0L V8 in the Mustang GT/Capri RS. The only issue with these was the plastic ring gears on the timing gears, which had a nasty habit of breaking teeth as the plastic aged and got brittle. Fortunately, the 2.8L V6 was a non-interference engine, so the fix was simple and straightforward. Replace the plastic timing gears with all-metal replacement parts, available on the aftermarket. There was no timing chain, the two (2) timing gears meshed directly together! The replacement process was shown on an episode of the “Wheeler Dealers” TV show, when Mike Brewer and Edd China flipped a Capri II on the show (see link below).
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3279192/?ref_=ttep_ep_11
I liked the crisper styling of the second-generation Capri, sold as a Capri II here in the states, the first generation cars weren’t ugly, mind you, just appeared slightly bulbous and portly, like someone with good looks who could stand to drop about twenty (20) pounds, LOL! The Capri II (1975-78) was what the car looked like after it went on a diet and had been to the gym and lost the “winter weight”, LOL! The 1979 Capri became a Fox-Body Mustang clone and had lost all connection to its European cousin, except for the mid-level 2.8L V6 as an engine choice.
Yes, the earliest 2.6 and 2.8 Cologne V6s had the plastic cam gear issues. (Just like mid ’60s and early ’70s Pontiacs and other cars. Although, I don’t remember the Fox body cars, nor the Rangers having that issue. So I thinking the “plastic/nylon gear issue as non-existant since 1979.
I had a lemon yellow, with black vinyl top ’71 “Crap-i” as my friends called it, with a 1.8 engine and a 4-speed. I drove the heck out of it and sold it to another friend who also drove the thing to death. I liked that car, it’s one of the many cars I’d like to have back. The car here is one I’d also like to have except it’s just too far gone. By the time you made it presentable, you’d be in financially way over your head.
Funny, I had a brown ’73 “Crap-i” with the 2.6 and 4-speed, riveted on flares, and primer all over!! A friend of mine had gutted most of it, and started setting up an autocross suspension, before I bought it and took it way further, including an ’86 SVO drivetrain and power steering. Absolute slalom car like no other!!
This is so obviously a ’74. It was the one year they were like this. There was no ’75 imported and they went straight to importing the Capri II hatchback as a ’76. I know because I was in Europe summer of ’75 for my graduation gift and we saw the Capri II. Loved it and bought a new ’76 V6 Ghia in the fall of ’75. Great car! Wish I still had it!!
Sttioned in Germany ’70-73 and had just totaled my Datsun 510 wagon and got hooked up w/a retired GI who happened to be a “friendly” insurance agent. Got me some $$ out of the wreck and also dealt in Fords. Got me a damaged in shipment ’72 w/2000CC and 5 speed. Dealer fixed it, and Ford reduced the price by damage. Loved the car! It cruised the Autobahn at 90 mph all day long. Above is right, not much for back seat area, I didn’t buy it for that. Brought it back and used to love getting 2nd gear rubber racing pouch Vegas. But all things come to an end. Regretted not getting the 2600 (only available in EU), got the hot rod urge and decided to put 289 in. Called every parts place knew, no motor mount conversion available. Parts dealer in Chicago told me if I built it, they would buy design. Spent 3 weeks nights at the Post Craft Shop hoisting and lowering a 289 block into it with a welder. We made it fit. Went with a C-6 auto as knew I would destroy a rear end with a stick. Had to open up the hood and put a reverse scoop on to clear a 2″ filter. Biggest mistake was not buying a Corvette crossflow radiator. Was running out of $$ so opened both the lower radiator shroud, made a scoop for more air, and had to cut hole in body for top of radiator. Always planned to change it, but got orders to go back to Germany so me and the EXTREMLY fast and SQUIRLLEY Capri parted ways. Got a call from a guy who ended up with it years later wanting to know if I had a title for it. Sadly no. Always wanted another, but life, wife, and kids got in the way.
Anyone know why I cannot get notifications to my comments on a particular car any more? Sends me a link which states expired even when I respond right away.
I was getting them too, and not getting notice of comments on vehicles. Not getting the notices any more, but still not getting notified of added comments. Something about confirming my membership. While I have a connection, I am no longer a paying member after several years of doing so.
I didn’t like some of the censorship issues, so I stopped paying. Apparently only paying members can also upload images. Oh well. No big deal.
Nice write-up Russ and find Rob. I love these cars, would be on my way to check it out if it was close and I had the space. My high school sweetheart’s parents bought her a 74 4 cylinder 4 speed Capri in 75 for her 16th birthday. This car ran good and was a blast to drive.
I wouldn’t have a problem buying a first gen Capri and restoring as a driver.
My experience with my ’74 was a good one. Pirelli CN36’s made it handle great even in rain. The vinyl upholstery was unnecessarily fragile and the pre-cat emissions system was a Rube Goldberg affair (it ate decel valve diaphragms possibly because of different fuel formulations across the pond), and as Howard pointed out, the gap between 1 and 2 was ludicrous. But it shone as a poor man’s GT. This one will be a labor of love.
Had one of these in the early 80s with the 4 banger in it, lucky to hit 70 going down hill. Always fired up but the lack of power almost got me killed a few times.
This car is close enough to snag if: 1 The body is solid 2. If I had a place in the cue for it. It would be too far down the project. line. I like these alot. But current time commitments make this a no go for me. A turbo 2.3 makes the most sense. (Weight and ease of install) Also use a T5 for strength of use and strength of shifter!
Yeah, I always liked the look of these, and if the body isn’t rusted (SoCal and it shouldn’t be), it would be a fun cleanup and resto-mod deal.
And from what it appears it will probably be sitting another 20 years.
I had a 73 V6 4speed, previous owner had put headers on it.
I might have been 19 or 20, drove it to my part time jobs while going to EET school. Lots of fun and memories in that car