The initial Capri was a sport compact built in Europe and sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealers in the U.S. It was offered from 1970 to 1978 before the name switched over to Mercury’s version of the new Foxbody Ford Mustang. This 1974 edition has a V6 engine with a 4-speed manual, perhaps the best combo, but we’re told it needs engine work. Located in Dixon, California (no relation), it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000. Thanks for the tip, MisterLou!
During its captive import days, the Capri never carried any Mercury badging. And there was no variant of it on the Ford USA side, either. The name gives a nod to the Island of Capri (Italian), and it had first been used by Ford in 1952 on a Lincoln personal luxury car. The success of the Ford Mustang in the States led Ford of Europe to cook up the Capri, which gave Mercury a perfect import in the early 1970s, as the Cougar had gotten bigger and bigger.
Most of the changes to the 1973-74 Capri were to enlarge the front and rear bumpers to meet new Federal safety standards. So, the car was a little bulkier in appearance. A refresh of the styling came in 1976, and the car was then dubbed Capri II (why?). Early Capri models had an inline-4 as standard equipment, but a V6 soon became available as an option, and a 2.8-liter version was offered in ’74.
The seller is short on words to describe this ’74 Capri, which is a project. We’re told the engine needs work, but its problems aren’t mentioned. Also, the overall car needs TLC, which at minimum would mean a new coat of paint and maybe some interior work. The little car has a sunroof, so that’s a plus unless it happens to leak (we don’t know that). Mercury sold a fair number of these cars back in the day, but when was the last time you saw one, even at a show?
These were cool, attractive, sporty cars. I thought that even the big bumper years still looked good. The V-6 4-speed made for a fun drivetrain.
This one certainly needs plenty of work. Other than the trunk lid, maybe not rusty? Can any of you California folks tell the last time it was registered?
Perhaps it can be brought back.
They actually looked better with the composite bumpers.
Capri 2; why?
Different – bigger – body shape. Stayed roughly the same until the end; Capri 2 became 3 around about the same time as Cortina 4 became 5.
Oooh, it has an ashtray, now that’s a rare option that went the way of the dodo. I could see this as a fun one to hit the curves in, after it’s fixed up.
Had a new ’74’ 2.8. Great little GT-ate up the miles and handed great on P36’s. I know they’re getting rare but 5k for a non runner seems a bit much.
Dixon, I think J.O and maybe Howard too ? had one of these V6, 4sp Mercs.
Ton of work here, but a good staring point. V6 with a 4 speed is a plus. Needs a lot more pictures to make a good decision on condition. $5k is definitely strong, I would offer $3500 cash.
I had one. Fun little car. It could chirp the tires when you hit second gear.
Back in the 1980s, I had a 73 Capri with a V6 (2.6 liter, if i recall correctly) and a four speed. It was a blast to drive, and after a friend gave me a Dobi catalogue, it got even better. By the time I sold it, it had a set of headers, a hotter cam, and a four barrel intake and 390 Holley carb plus suspension mods.
Nostalgia aside, this is a bit much for this car in this condition. Hmmm, I wonder if Dobi is still in business….
Also had a 74 in Red. Fun little car. Problem is getting parts. Had to get some of mine overseas. Sold it and the new owner blew the motor and junked the car.
This was the Mustang in Europe and had some success here in the US. Good looking and sporty and even offering some nice options. One guy even worked with Ford putting their small block V8 under the hood. If Ford had done it it could have been an amazing small car.
Our whole family LOVED the Capris and we had about six of them! I started with a green/black ’73 4 cylinder 4 speed. Quickly realized it did not compare to the V6. Sold it two years later for what I paid new and bought an early ’76 Capri II Ghia V6 4 spd. What a fun car! By then, most of my family and high school friend had purchased the ’74 Capri V6, all with the four speed. We all drove and loved them for about 10 years with minimal issues. Wish I still had mine today. You never see them anywhere… This is close to me but pretty rough for $5K.
I always liked these when they first came out.
With a lot of time & $$$,it could look like this.
I saw this at a car show in Ferrum ,VA last October.
Probably the nicest one around – V6 4 speed.
Looks really nice but probably couldn’t touch the one I saw come up for sale recently, on I think Cars&Bids. The guy had over $60k into the restoration. Probably the most perfect one I had ever seen. Unfortunately the value wasn’t even going to put a dent in the resto costs.
Yeah, I was surprised to end up being the high bidder at only $10,800. When adding nearly 40% to that offer ($15K) he still had no interest, saying he’d been talking with a potential buyer in Denmark for $22K –
All things said and done, there’s no way I could’ve driven it the way it was, with all the silly gold nonsense, and would’ve ended up respraying everything but the jambs. Matching personal tastes with custom mods is tough.
I had one just like this, same color and the 2.6 V6 4speed. Lots and lots of memories in that car, I was maybe 22 years old
A long lost buddy of mine had a ’73 V-6, 4 speed in medium green. What a fun little car. Sold it when his GM executive dad bought him a brand new, first off the line, Chevy Citation X-11. The Capri was ten times the car that POS was.
I had a 73 I bought new, red, v6, 4 speed, sunroof. Great fun to drive, good power, it would run with 240z’s about even. It was my first new car.
Good memories.
Wanted one of these in the worst way back in the early 80’s when I was first getting my license. Thought they were the coolest looking thing. Unfortunately being in the NE the few I ever saw were rot boxes.