When it comes to evaluating listings that come across our desk, we try to give sellers the benefit of the doubt. After all, we don’t know everything – far from it – and sellers are likely piecing information together from their own institutional knowledge and online research. That’s why this 1986 Mercury Capri RS is a bit of a puzzle for us as the seller seems to think his car is a special edition that has a significant horsepower bump over the standard model, and it’s rare enough that there’s a dedicated registry for it, of which this car is entered in as number 36. Check out the Capri’s listing here on craigslist where the seller is asking $3,500.
Now, the dollar figure on this car is a relief, because he also mentions in the ad that it could be worth in the $20,000 range. The Capri was offered in a few different flavors, and even within the RS trim there were two significant deviations: a turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine and the venerable 5.0L 302 CI V8 as this car is equipped with. Beyond that, most of the special editions we associate with the Capri are the ASC McLaren cars, which include both a gussied-up coupe that featured a number of suspension and cosmetic upgrades, along with the dramatic chop top car and its iconic raked windshield. Other than that, it’s down to the exceedingly rare pace car tribute known simply as the “Motorsport” Capri.
Now, we suspect the seller has conflated the significance of the RS package with some sort of exceedingly limited production model that also made more power from the factory. There’s always the chance that I’m wrong, but I don’t believe Ford snuck out a few extra high-performance models when building the standard RS Capri. There likely is an owner’s registry somewhere, because these Capris don’t turn up every day and there’s likely fewer each year still registered and on the road. The Capri was not a big seller when new, as most muscle car buyers kept going to their local Ford store to buy a Mustang. The familiar Fox body sport buckets seats are still in good shape.
It looks like there’s some mold on the steering wheel, but that can be cleaned off with a good detailing that this Capri is desperate for. The car is also equipped with the preferred 5-speed manual transmission, which will make putting that 210 b.h.p. and 285 lb. ft. of torque to work all the more entertaining. The Capri will need a paint job despite the seller’s claims that its cosmetic issues are limited to some peeling clearcoat; frankly, I’d just live with it or budget for a respray down the road. We don’t see the Capri come up in any form all that often, but an RS with the 5.0L and a stick is worth a look if you’re a Fox body fan. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Curvette for the find.
Interesting…but when the seller adds “…I know what it’s worth…” it’s usually an issue of what it is worth to THEM…but 350 HP? Seriously off the rocker.
But at least the ask isn’t prohibitive.
225 HP Max as long as it’s stock. He says factory, dreaming!
It didn’t “come 350 horsepower from factory”. It came with a 200 horse EFI 5.0 V-8, the first year of the tuned port 5.0s. They had 25 fewer horses in 1986 form due to the “swirl port” heads, which were somewhat more restrictive than the later heads on the 225 horse 1987-93 engines.
Still, these were fairly quick. I think the manuals were high 14-second cars which, for the time, was blistering. Undoubtedly, this would be a little slower with the automatic.
Exactly, the E6 cylinder heads that Ford used on the 86 5.0 HO engines were basically the truck cylinder heads, in 87 were much improved with the E7 heads, Also the 86 engines didn’t have pistons with valve reliefs so an aftermarket camshaft was out of the question for that model year, Mustangs and Capris. The better E7 cylinder heads were the main reason why the bump in HP to 225 on 87 and up 5.0 HO engines.
Thank you great info! Yeah, the 1986 was kind of an oddball. It actually had 10 less horsepower than the ’85 5 speed’s 5.0 H.O. 4-bbl, but 15 more than the ’85 automatic’s primitive EFI 5.0 H.O.
Interestingly , that was also the case over at Chevrolet where the 190 horsepower “peanut cam” 5.0 LB9 TPI, was down 25 horses from the 1985 version.
Both of them set it right for the 1987 model year. GM and Ford must have had some kind of meeting in the summer of 1985 and came to an agreement of some kind, LOL
I don’t know of any “special’ Capris beyond what Jeff has listed, but the seller is oddly specific. In any case, this example needs paint and I’m sure plenty of sorting out. But it doesn’t look rusty, and is a 5.0 manual transmission. Like Fahrvergnugen says, it’s not expensive.
What’s that White stuff on the steering wheel?
Mold!
Definitely prefer the look of these over the hatchback Mustangs of the time. $3500 seems reasonable, it’s got the small block and a man-well transmission, so plenty of fun to be wrung from it yet, if the unit body is solid.
There is one low miles in my area, looks incredible.
Dare to be different from a Mustang, really nice looking car.
This one needs a paint for sure and a good cleaning.
Same location as the Coronet 500 convertible featured yesterday. You can see this car in some of those images.
Yes, I caught that too.
I like the Mercury Cougar steering wheel!
It’s the moss growing in the hood louvres that adds the extra ‘green energy’ horsepower over stock.
One things for sure, they weren’t extremely plentiful when new, and even less so today. Mustang production outnumbered them 10 to 1 and 86 was the last year for the Capri like this. Also first year for fuel injection on the 5.0. Be a really nice car to fix up since not many are left. Good looking design with a unique rear glass hatch too!
Arguably the better looking car than the Mustang. Unique but no McLaren or Saleen.
Boy has she been sitting for a looong time…grass is growing between the passenger door and the door sill!! (I know it probably is from the door being open and closed LOL)
These were very entertaining cars to drive back in the day, when Detroit was really learning how to make power in these engines. Also, damn near bulletproof!!!
I’ve had 2 Fox body Capris. Although none were the 5.0. I always preferred the back end of these cars to the Mustang. On my Capri in the snow. I could see the wind pattern just easily follow the rear glass. Where the Mustang showed nothing but turbulence. And the cars at speed were very different feeling. I want one of these with the 5.0 and an ’87 Mustang nose.
Ha..two things I can guarantee on this one
1. Will not start or run or drive upon inspection.
2. No title.
check craigslist ,350. hp that funny!!!
There was a perfect black beauty one of these on ebay last week . And it was perfect – everything new. Really sharp ! No work needed for I believe around $20.000. Pay and cruise. This one take alot of work and money. And years. Be hard to find the specific Mercury parts. Wanna get laughed at ? Go to Ford dealer and ask for parts for something this old.