During most of the 1970s, the Capri was a subcompact import from Ford of Europe that looked like a pony car and was sold by Mercury. But it was never badged as such. In 1979, when the Ford Mustang was redesigned using the new Foxbody platform, the Capri also went that route, giving Mercury its first pony since the 1970 Cougar. The seller, a dealer, has a gently used survivor from 1982, an RS edition (Rallye Sport). It may be as nice as they came and has a 302-cubic-inch V8. Located in a showroom in Plainfield, Indiana, this nice survivor is available here on eBay for $20,900 OBO.
Now officially a Mercury, the Foxbody Capri ran between 1979 and 1986, while the Mustang version soldiered on through 1993 before the next rework. The Capri was only sold as a hatchback and had some styling cues that were different than the Mustang, but you had to park them next to one another to find out. The RS was one of many trim/performance options, with the 302 engine being the top powerplant. This Capri has a 4-speed manual transmission, as the 5-speed wasn’t that common yet. The Capri sold at a fraction of the number of Mustangs, 36,000 copies in 1982 vs. 130,000 of its Ford cousins.
Because a dealer is involved with the sale of this Capri, we don’t know a lot about its history other than someone (or someone’s) only drove 34,000 miles in 44 years. But documentation will be provided for your perusal. This copy of “Mercury’s Hidden Muscle Car” presents quite well, although you’ll find a few little scratches and scrapes which are typical with original paint (red). It’s a well-equipped hot rod with power steering and front disc brakes, factory air conditioning, and Recaro seats for maximum support and comfort.
The tough-guy appearance of the car is enhanced by factory TRX wheels that we assume wear tires with lots of life left. We’re told it’s always been in a garage when not in use and its oil changes have been with strictly full synthetic fluids. A plus with the purchase of this machine is that it comes with a service contract for the next three months (but only 500 miles). The car comes with a spare transmission in the event you ever need one. Foxbody Mustangs are not uncommon, but when was the last time you saw a 1980s Capri?
Synthetic oil its whole life? What was he, an Amzoil dealer? Man were they annoying. Fox Capris were very beautiful during certain years. TRX tires do not come cheap. A truly dumb idea on Fords part to go metric, though the whole of America was supposed to. Remember speed signs in MPH and Kilometers? Americans were dumb to not adopt the more logical system. I feel in the 80s it was used as a political wedge issue to please small minded voters. If you had TRX wheels and tires on your 308, no big deal, you got deep pockets, obviously, but Ford was feeling elistist I guess.
My sister’s first new car was a Mercury LN7, with the TRX package. The most evil handling car I ever drove. We replaced the stupid wheels after the Michelins wore out every 15,000 miles. Matter of fact, I just took 2 of those wheels down to the scrapper, after unearthing them in the barn. If you ran over a pencil, you’d feel it, with the TRX’s.
So Ford was dumb to go metric, but Americans were dumb not to? Whatever, LOL! I don’t think America will ever go to the metric system entirely. All our homes are built in feet and inches, so you can call an 8 foot board 2.4384 meters when you need to make repairs or additions, but it’s still has to be 8 foot.
As far as the car, I think it’s beautiful.
Ford should have thought about American public ignorance when it comes to such things. Jimmy Carter pushed hard for it as it made so much sense. The “man” who came next used it against him.
Sort of like the much “beloved” stop/start feature that Uncle Sam had the automakers install on our cars. All in the name of progress, eh?
Late model restoration sells a 16″ repro of the TRX wheel. Paying for Michelin TRX’s is borderline insanity.
I owned an 82 RS for many years, it belonged to my older brother who had it for a couple years before he passed in 1990. When the 87-up Mustang came, nobody wanted Capri’s, or any “4-eyed Mustangs” for that matter. I own a supercharged 88 Mustang GT now, making 523hp. I would trade it for my 82 Capri RS without hesitation. Just a great memory.
LOVE it!
I bet the last time I saw a Capri, I never gave it a thought, believing it to be a Mustang.
That is a beautiful car. I owned a 1983 Capri RS, blue and blue, 5.0 with a 4-speed. One of the best cars I ever owned, until it got T-boned in a parking lot in the passenger door. This 1982 does not have the bubble rear glass which is a huge plus. The $20k price tag is just about right IMHO. I wish I had room for one more car.
Absolutely correct; they ruined a fine design when they applied that abominable ‘bubble-hatch’.
I always found the Capri’s front-end treatment vastly more attractive than the Mustang’s ‘generic for the time period’ slope-nose. Many models from GM (and Chrysler too) around that time had some variation of that ‘slope-nose’. It was surely just a low-effort way to disguise the mandated 5-mph bumpers.
Had Capri sales been stronger, I wonder what a ’93 refresh might have looked-like?
This is a nice one always like these cars without that over the top body kit. The price seems reasonable they are hard to find as nice as this one and with a 4 speed would love to own it.
It’s a nice looking car, except for the awful tacked on side skirts. It looks to be a tough sell, this is at least the 3rd time the dealer has run it through eBay, so far either way no takers. A couple of years newer, when these came with 5spd’s and fuel injection along with the other upgrades Ford had incorporated by then would have made it more desirable.
Steve R
I remember them as the same dealer a couple years back that had a really nice ’85 Dodge Daytona turbo z for sale on Ebay but was asking like $21k for it. Didn’t sell it as far as I know. Even as much as I love Daytona’s, his ask wasn’t within what I feel was a realistic range for the condition of the car and for what it was.
If you do a little research and look at the website for this car you find the car listed for $17,900.00. Not what the EBay listing is at $20,900.00 it would save you already 3 grand. Don’t get me wrong it is a nice car and it is not a bad price, however it is not the big collector car that will bring big money down the road. I actually prefer the Capri over the Mustang since I believe the styling is better, however that is my opinion, yours might be different. Since mechanical they are basically the same car, and if you really wanted a 5 speed it wouldn’t take that.much to convert.
Gorgeous car! Don’t see these everyday let a lone in this condition. Missing 2 things for me, T-Tops and dual exhaust, other then that would put this Capri in my garage.
What a gorgeous example of a Capri RS!
I currently own a 85 Capri RS although heavily modified with a 5.0 stroked and added Nitrous with a 5 speed, compared to this example. You just don’t see them often and mine gets a lot of attention.
Great car for sure
My first car was a $200 1980 Capri RS that I bought when I was 15. I rebuilt the 200 c.i. straight-six in it, and nursed it along through high school, the first two years of college, and a year after I left until I hopped on a ship. Gave the car away, intended to be on the ship for a year. Got off 7 months later with a fiancé to no house, no jobs, no car. Yes, I have regretted getting rid of it ever since.
One detail I HATED on this car was the horn. You pressed in on the end of the turn signal stalk. I did that one day on the highway, and the white metal barrel of the turn signal switch disintegrated, and the stalk came off in my hand. That was a trip to the parts car.
My Dad sold cars in the ’80’s when I was just starting out on my career. He brought home a Capri similar to this and asked if I wanted to buy it. I really wanted to, but couldn’t afford it. It killed me to say no. This listing brought all that time back to me. Fortunately, I did OK after that. Beautiful car, really cool for its time.
We all have a car we regretted passing on.
Mine was a 69 Firebird Convertible.
Light blue, no rust, 326 v8, auto. Needed tires and a muffler.
Price was 400 bucks
top of my budget with no money for tires or muffler.
50 plus years later, and I am still kicking myself.
I bought an 86 Capri off the showroom floor. It was a damned fine car. I think the styling is a lot better than the Mustang’s, especially the front end and the rear end. Paid $13,000.00 and change. Put 82,000 miles on it in less than 2 years.
Nice looking Capri!! Better styling than the Mustang had!!
I always preferred the front end of these Capris to their Mustang counterparts. The bubble-glass hatch was a mistake in my opinion – ruined the look.
I have had many Fox body Mustangs and Capris. I prefer the “bubble glass” hatch back cars. (Of coarse I’m an old Baracuda freak) I like the body style AND it is more aerodynamic. Living in an area that gets snow. You can watch (in the rear view mirror) the snow just tumble and swirling of the roof on a Mustang. But on the “bubble glass ” Capri it is just smooth and gently moves to the middle of the glass while then just exiting at the bottom. Plus I like all the McLaren air dams and spoiler stuff. I’m down to 2 Mustangs and would gladly trade one for a “bubble back” Capri.
Like you, some 36000 others liked the bubble-backs enough to buy one.
I hadn’t thought of the similarity to the original ‘cuda.
Thank you!
Just an FYI, the 5-speed wasn’t available until the Christmas 82 shutdown for the 83 models. I ordered my 83 GT 5.0 in December 82 with the stipulation that it had the 5-speed.
Those TRX tires were awful! I ordered them, because those wheels looked better than the square-slot stock wheels. The tread compound was so hard that I could never leave stripes after a hard burnout!
That’s somewhat typical of Michelin tires. In the tire business we referred to them as “cast iron tires” wear like cast iron and have traction like cast iron. And typically the sidewalls give out before the tread does. I only occasionally recommend Michelin tires to someone who drove 30,000 miles per year. Otherwise you would pay for more than you got in return. ( not cost effective) And it’s still pretty much the same story today.
I’ve always preferred the Capri to the Mustang these years. Beautiful car and I wonder if $15k would buy it. With such low stated miles on it, why all the spare parts, including another trans? Makes me wonder as they don’t explain why they have and include the spare parts. Otherwise I’d love to own this. Put dual exhaust, some touch ups and you’re done.
The 4 speeds on these were weak. Nice to have a spare. Although, I would replace thec4 speed with a T5 5 speed.
I preferred the Euro Capris that came before this. Even with the 302 V8 a stock Capri would have a tough time outrunning a fat man pushing a wheelbarrow.
On behalf of all my fat friends with wheel barrows, I object to your generalization.
I prefer the original Capri also. I have never had one in non-rusty condition at the right price present itself to me. And yes, this year Fox body Capri is slow. But it is all bolt on changes that can make this a fire breathing monster! Even the 5 speed gearbox is a bolt in.
This was a solid mid 15 second car. Which, in 1982, was pretty good. Right there in L82 Corvette territory.
I worked at a car dealer back then. We got a 2 years old trade in very similar to this. It was my first hands on experience with a Fox Body Mustang or Capri. By today’s standards the power was low but man was I impressed back then! Low horse power today but it would still be a blast to own and drive one of these!!!