The Mercury Capri is a rare beast these days, as this mildly disguised Mustang wasn’t a big seller when new. Finding one with the 5.0L V8 and a 5-speed isn’t exactly easy, so spotting one like this clean 1985 Mercury Capri here on eBay is a treat. However, this is far more than your typical Fox body with a few basic mods like an intake and exhaust; oh no, someone went much farther than that and built a car that includes a wide variety of expensive upgrades. While I normally prefer to find my sports and muscle cars in stock condition, there’s no denying this one was built the right way.
First of all, when’s the last time you saw HRE wheels on a Fox body? For those not in the know, HREs are ridiculously expensive, and not exactly something you order at your local tire store. They’re usually found on six-figure exotics, but the owner of this Capri decided they fit the quality of the build. And while it wouldn’t be how I’d spend my modification budget, it’s hard to deny that they don’t look awesome with a bang-on fitment. The paint and bodywork are said to be completely original, as it should be for a car with 26,920 miles on the clock, so hopefully any VIN tags and stickers on the body panels are all accounted for.
Truthfully, that takes some guts to take a low-mileage car like this and dump a bunch of cash into modifications of both the performance and aesthetic variety. The seller spared no money under the hood, either, opting to install an 8 stack intake on this 5.0L V8. In addition to the drop-dead gorgeous looks of the individual throttle bodies, this upgrade tends to improve power both down low and at the upper end of the rev range. If you incorporate a few other modifications that complement this investment, you’ve built yourself a very responsive 5.0L V8. Other upgrades listed include Koni shocks, Wilwood brakes, aluminum heads, and an MSD ignition.
The interior looks sharp in a biscuit / tan configuration, with the best sport seats Ford ever put into a Fox body. These also feature red piping which looks absolutely killer. The dash and gauges are beautiful with zero signs of fading or scratches, and the same goes for the steering wheel that looks like an aftermarket Momo but it also appears similar to the one that came stock in the Mustang SVO. The 5-speed is a must-have in a high-performance build like this, and based on the spec sheet and visible mods, this is a car I’d love to drive. Do you think the $29,997 asking price is a fair number considering the low miles and upgrades? Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the tip.
Right on 🎯 Lavery.
Good write-up Jeff. I’m a “stock first” kind of guy, but I agree, this is a first-class modification job. High-quality parts, and lots of them, with a good-looking installation. The Capri largely retains its stock look, but is just enough different to catch one’s eye. The black and tan look is great. I don’t think it was done by a teenager using money from his grocery-bagging job. Great photography.
Overall an outstanding car, something not commonly seen in the world of Foxes.
It’s asking price means they put about $28,000 worth of upgrades to a car worth maybe $1500. Not saying it’s a pig, because it does have a V8 and a five-speed, but with their plain looks and budget underpinnings, these Mustangs/Capris were never worth much to begin with.