Ford Capri Documentary - The Car is the Star Part 1

The Car's the Star presented by Quentin Wilson. This documentary is in two parts and is all about the Ford Capri. I've had eight Capris, so this is just up my street, I hope it is yours - enjoy!
This is part 1

[@s3hooligan]

Back in 1982 as a kid growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I received my first car, a '71 Mercury/Ford Capri. Awesome car. 2.3 liter balanced & blueprinted motor, glass pack exhaust, lowered on BBS replica wheels wrapped in BF Goodrich T/A's, black louvers in the rear window. It was fast and easy to work on. Perfect California car!

[@CapriciousCapricrn]

Look at those beautiful '73s! Had the V6. How can anyone be appalled by this beautiful car!

[@basilbcf]

Here in the States the Ford Capri was the very first "new" car I ever bought - right out of Air Force Basic Training. Loved that little car,

[@branon6565]

bcfbasil ....you meant to type the Mercury Capri, correct?

[@gazmini81]

THE FORD CAPRI one of the best looking cars ever i just love them to bits

[@peterwolfe1554]

My mum had on of the first 3.0S's to roll off the production line........she went on to own a Stag, a pair of merc SL's ( 450 and a 350 ) and a baby Porsche 924....she still remembers the 3.0S as the most exciting to drive of the lot !! I owned a very old 1600 facelift in the early '80's and loved it !!

[@philipl1109]

My first car was a used Capri II with the 2.3 Lt. In the states they advertised it as "The sexy European" and it was sold by Mercury. It was a fun first car, I learned to drive a stick on the Capri.

[@kwaichangcaine8234]

I was an apprentice mechanic in Ireland back in the late 70's I worked on a lot of them . The three litre was great fun to drive

[@1068andy]

Had a 3 Liter myself , fantastic.

[@vinfiddler5469]

I've owned two 1974 v6 Mercury Capris. Loved loved loved them. 4 speed- sunroof crankin stereo! . cruising at 125 mph no prob.!!

[@jmfasi]

I owned 3 Capris and I loved them. Would love to have another

[@ctiproductions2017]

Joseph Fasi I own one currently 85 mercury Capri 2.3 with T-tops love that thing

[@williameudy6615]

I had a 1st generation 1971 (German made) Capri with a 1600 cc in line four cyl. It was a beautiful car well built and fun to drive.

[@felixarmendariz7964]

Joseph Fasi my buddy is selling his 71 2000. , white. It’s a project car. Body in good condition

[@rizkyananta5461]

you sale one of them? i wanna buy if you sale them

[@FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904]

I've owned 2 of them in the past and still have a 3 Litre Ghia Mk2 , best Ford ever made after the Mustang

[@robwormgoor5456]

My Dad bought a Capri in 1973 straight off the Mercury dealership lot, it had a 4 speed manual transmission. It was the family road trip car. A lot of happy memories with that car.

[@marksmith5237]

i had a 1600 GT between 81 and 84 loved it, wish I had it today

[@marksmith5237]

first love, worst love.

[@costantinomanchisi8981]

My father bought it in 1971, we loved this car!…❤️✌🏻

[@branon6565]

*Mercury Capri....and the more I look at that body style, the more I like it, it's a damn good lookin car...

[@bearnunnemaker5453]

Most awesome car I ever owned!!!

[@eddiespagetti8395]

Same here. I miss mine. Bucket list

[@stephencriddleproperparano9159]

My First ever legal car when I was 18 . A Red 1600GT with black vinyl roof £275 Insurance Car cost £180 . Am 57 now . Always miss it

[@BashedCars]

Has 71 Capri.. 4cyl. all in all ...a good car.

[@BrianBrownbvtele]

I had one. I loved it

[@steinwaygrande3971]

I had the ESSEX V6 and what a car.Sadly when the kids came along the Capri was sadly sold for a five seater. Wish I could get my hands on another V6 Capri and do a total restoration. Brilliant car if ever there was one

[@girl-pl3wx]

FORD CAPRI , THE MUSTANG OF EUROPE !!!

[@branon6565]

Daphnoula Pentoula ...*Mercury Capri

[@roccohardy9619]

I had possibly the 1st Capri's off the boat. I went to the N Y Auto Show in April 1970 & saw the 240z & Capri. I was 17 & these 2 cars were in my price range. The 240 Z had a 6 mos wait, the Mercury dealer in my town(Rahway, NJ), said he had a couple that were coming over on the boat and should be in soon. When they arrived a green one & a white one with a vinyl roof, Even though it was April 1970 they were introduced as a 1971, I took the white on AM radio, 1600 cc engine, 4 speed, no A/C, not many accessories were avaiable in June 1970. It ran good then I was having a problem with the fuel pump & couldn't get one because the design had changed after 1 year, I never ran right after that, then after about 3 years the engine went, couldn't find one anywhere, the 1600 cc Pinto engine didn't fit, Tat was the end I sold it for $100. It was my first car & I loved it but it didn't love me. At least I had the first 1971 car, people couldn't believe it.

[@Navidain]

The Car is the Star was a great show. Thanks for putting this up.

[@georgewilkinson1068]

Those '73-'74 Mercury Capris were one helluva fun car to drive.

[@1924ab]

I had a 72 and loved it! Always trying to find another one but they’re rarer than hens teeth. 😢

[@1SaG]

I grew up in Cologne and my dad owned two MKIs when he worked at Ford back in the 70s. He got his first one when the Capri was still rare on the roads. During a trip to Italy, when my mum and him came back to the car, there was a crowd of people gathered around the car, admiring it like it was a Ferrari..lol. I always loved the Capri and wish my dad had kept his orange one to pass it on to me.. :)

[@TheStunathan]

my first car at 16yrs old was a '76 2.8 ghia. a dude in the airforce bought it new in germany and had it shipped back to the states. i loved that car and have been missing it for 20 years.

[@bulldogbarks55]

I had a '72 Capri in British Racing Green. It had a 2.0 in-line 4 w/5-speed. It was very well-built and a lot of fun to drive. It had leather interior and cost around $2400

[@BatiaAhava]

My First car..... It was AMAZING!!! Yellow body and black vinyl top. So Incredibly sexy! and FAST!!!!!!

[@ianarmstrong4703]

My first car too, MK1 1600 GT

[@uvhciM]

For all purposes, it was a Ford Capri (2.8 Capri II), though it was sold through Lincoln Mercury dealers. Mine - like others - had no Mercury branding.

[@georgederekferguson8763]

had one, loved it.

[@deborahhill1624]

Love my capri!!

[@thevisorsusa]

My first car was a 1973 Capri V6 auto. It was in horrible shape, but I still loved it. Out of the showroom, it must've been a great car.

[@acmarston]

"A quarter of a decade later..." I think he means quarter of a century later.

[@hebneh]

I now remember that my friend bought a used Capri in the early '80s, one of a string of cars which got wrecked in succession. At one point, as she turned a corner, one of the rear windows just fell off the car and shattered on the street. Her boyfriend drove it into the concrete railing of a small bridge while intoxicated, and that was the end of it.

[@lauribricker9439]

5:42-5:44 that scene looks like the Morris Marina commercial. "Beauty with brains behind it".

[@jiggermast]

Owned and always loved the 3 litre GXL.

[@eleveneleven572]

I had one, rebuilt after an accident, and sprayed lime green and gold 😂. Great car! Chopped it in for a Citroen Dyane...a remarkably good and practical car...but a few weeks later the cleaner came into my office and told me it didn't suit my image so I bought a Fiat X19. Then the internal auditors came in as my boss thought I'd been robbing the firm. I wasn't btw! 😁

[@garydunn3037]

Its no wonder the Capri became so popular back when it was introduced. We had so many dreadful looking cars at the time. Especially those aweful looking Austin and Morris cars, which looked like the kind of car an old man would drive. The Yanks had so many great looking cars at the time, Mustang, Cougar, Corvette, Charger Firebird, etc etc. The Capri was Ford Europe's only "Cool" looking car at that time. It had no competition back then, this side of the pond.

[@simonwolfe529]

spot on Gary, Marina = shit, Allegro = embarrassing, Capri = Sexy !

[@dutchvanhelsing6671]

The Escort was a decent motor too,,,

[@ElijahsAba]

What about the VW Scirocco which came out in about 1974?

[@bolldamwad6086]

2:35 - 'A quarter of a decade later' - I think he means a quarter of a century :)

[@vegavairbob]

I had a 73 2600 4-speed (USA) What a nice car . Fun.

[@CapriciousCapricrn]

I had a '73 2600 automatic with sunroof; got it brand new. Dark green with tan interior. It was a beauty.

[@Countdown70s]

I watched one yesterday on a show called Motor Mate, it had 10 mins of amazing period Capri Mk 1-2-3 footage..including Jacky Stewart doing promos for it, as well as the Escort and TC Escort.

[@eddiespagetti8395]

Gorgeous bodystyle. The curves and design. I had 1974. 2.8. Fast little car. Bucket list is to V8 and do up a Capri

[@JPacheco91]

05:23 The first commercial for the capri has in my country? SWEET!

[@CapriciousCapricrn]

OMG! Capri cologne! 9:53

[@chanctonbury63]

I saw on of these the other day. Dont think Id seen one for 20 years before that! The original chav sportscar.

[@vitorskoda]

Ah, the advert at 5:20 is filmed in Portugal, Is clearly visible Tower of Belem in the back :D

[@JoeMischiefGXC]

Thanks. You know the location. I know the actor...

[@uvhciM]

We had both vehicles in our market. Though mine was sold through Lincoln-Mercury, it had no Mercury branding, and was for all purposes, a 1976 Ford Capri II 2.8L V6

[@mqbitsko25]

My first car: 1974 Capri V6. The Deathmobile. We made fun of it. Imagine my surprise to find out that they're HUGE in England. It's like finding out the French like Jerry Lewis for some inexplicable reason.

[@bigsquatchsasfoot1964]

Is that presenter related to Count Dracula , I can see him in a cape 🤔 the Capri was a fantastic car I had 4 good times .

[@TheDadVideos22]

At the age of 16, my first car was a yellow/black 1974 Ford/Mercury Capri with a full custom 911 Porsche body kit on it(and a car phone!). The license plate read "Mens Toy" and it truly was. One of my biggest regrets was letting go of that thing. So much so, that I'm considering on getting another some time in the future. Then again, certain engine parts were obsolete on that car like the thermostat housing which would make it quite difficult to restore. Nontheless, a head turner.

[@benzyblenaru9602]

I had a Ford Capri 70 model automatic Be happy when the creature is renewed Of it again

[@bluefalcon6464]

I can remember the first time I saw a Capri. It was parked outside the Lincoln-Mercury dealership on Main St. Wakefield, Ma. in the spring of 1970. It was a metallic lime green beauty and I fell instantly in love. There was nothing else like it.The new SEXY EUROPEAN read the banner across the showroom window. Instantly I was a teenage in love.

[@GFSLombardo]

American car buyers saw the MERCURY CAPRI as a nice sporty little car, good value for money, stylish, etc. etc.then went next door to the Ford dealer and bought their MUSTANG. And the rest, as they say, was automotive history. In the USA the CAPRI was a niche car that never really found its niche.

[@61detlef]

In Germany it's a Ford Capri but when Ford imported them to the US they were sold under the Mercury nameplate ... I had a 1976 Capri II .. it was black & gold with the Steel Sunroof .. I wish it had the V6 but mine was a 2.3l 4cyl .. still ran very well and handled like a dream but getting parts was an issue, that's why I ended up selling it ...

[@nw8000]

BOV 747K still on the road as of 2020

[@MisterHampshire]

If it's the song that comes in when Quentin is on the seafront, after Disco Inferno, is Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music's 'Over You'.

[@nw8000]

RGU 158R Still on the road!!

[@garydunn3037]

This was, I suppose, Ford UK's only attempt at a sporty coupe. The Yanks had the better looking, but gas guzzling Mustangs, Torino's, Cougar's etc. The Capri was I suppose, a sensible alternative for the UK market.

[@jeffreyrichardson]

My brother Greg gifted one of tese vehicles to his father in law. Needless to say the steering wheel fell off. It was therefore junked. It was a shitbox.

[@laurataylor824]

The Ford capri actually came out in 1961_as the consul capri

[@agm6095]

My wife had a 74 and I had a 76. Both nice cars, too bad it was sold by the Lincoln/Mercury dealers which didn't know how to sell a sporty car. I also remember seeing the Pantera at the L/M dealers, all they knew how to sell were large cars. Later Ford re-badged a Mustang and sold it as a Mercury Capri and then sales dropped even more.

[@nw8000]

Anybody know what they shot the scene at the beginning in the old village shop bates and hunt?

[@ThePjcull]

i had three of these.The 73 was my first one and i bought it from a mechanic who altered the engine a bit,It was fast.Cant find one to buy here in Canada these days.

[@alanerrington]

love capris, i had 2 a 3000e and a 3000 gxl. the 3000e was stolen in 1980, UNK720J in evergreen never seen again.

[@01322521959]

Very interesting. Out here in the far east, a lot of Gasohol is used, 10-20% alcohol, the rest petrol, do you think there would be any advantage adding some oil to the mixture on my 2 stroke 110cc Honda motorbike? She runs rough on this stuff.It's autolube so I don't think it wlill make any difference.

[@katana258]

brand new 1970 1300 blue with black v- roof , blue inside ... outstanding ride for 4 years .. sorry sold it ..but kids came along ..out grew the back seat

[@BuddyRHS1965]

Want another one ? I just found one.

[@johnpetermalcolm]

If you want to be noticed, you need to get some "Castrol R". If you don't want to add it to your fuel, squirt some into the silencer.

[@edwardmcfederal6882]

I had 74 v-6 german capri 4 speed--it revved out like a two stroke--fast little car--I wrapped it around a telephone pole -I was 17

[@Haffschlappe]

another very nice early Pony Ford was the ultra rae P7a 20 M RS Coupe 2,3 V6!

[@vitesse_arnhem]

"Over You" by Roxy Music

[@radioguy1620]

anybody remember the Roxy music song played near the end of this part. thanks if you know

[@AJ-Bruno]

Roxy Music - Over You - Flesh and Blood 1980

[@sarjim4381]

If it hadn't been for Philip Clark there wouldn't have been a Capri as we know it now. His job with the Capri was to do the same thing he did with the Mustang - put a sexy dress on grandmotherly bones.Just as the Mustang was a Falcon under the sheet metal, the Capri was a new body on a Cortina chassis, with all the Cortina mechanicals and engines. Since his competition among saloons was a group of frumpy, old, and weird looking cars with no particular style except they represented what was hot in 1959. Look at the 1970 Vauxhall Victor for example. It looked like a miniature 1958 Chevy but with all the curves and bumps in the wrong places.The UK was a wide open market for something that at least looked modern, and something that didn't look like what your father drove.

[@uvhciM]

No. The Capri you are thinking of (a re-badged Fox-chassis Mustang), didn't come about till 1979. Mine was a 1976 Capri II with a 2.8L V6. Mine was sold through Lincoln-Mercury dealerships, but had no Mercury branding on it. My Capri just looked like the one seen here at 9:28, but in black, without the vinyl top, and with round headlights vs. square-ish.

[@Wil-70-NL]

@selfselfself The song is: "disco inferno"- The Trammps

[@fordlandau]

Ford leads the way slogan carried over in Australia too

[@TheStunathan]

here in the states the capri was a mercury, the mk1 and mk2 capris werent offered for sale here in the u.s. mercury, like other offshoot brands are u.s only....for example, dodge vipers are chrysler vipers everywhere else on the planet.

[@bestamerica]

TheGarandGuy, ' yes i like capri car is the best design,,, i did used a capri taillights to put on the ford mercury car taillights

[@user-br9zy4mx7t]

Where would find a capri by ford in the states i have other desire for the 2.8 engine what are the problems in maintenance for such an hot little brit engine they have got to make a four speed in such a combo

[@SITRUUNASOSE]

i wishd id had some day 3 capris

[@Haffschlappe]

First European "Pony car" Ford was the Great GHIA OSI 23 MTS Coupe from 1967! Sadly the Great Ford OSI Coupe was never sold in Britain!

[@PAARYNASOSE-om7is]

I WISHD ID HAD 5 CAPRIS 1 RED AND 4 YELLOW ONES

[@JoeMischiefGXC]

@selfselfself Is there any chance I could get a copy of the original digital copy of this video (pre KZbin compression)? 😉

[@selfselfself]

I'm sorry, but after checking, I don't have it anymore.

[@JoeMischiefGXC]

@@selfselfself Hi. Really appreciate you looking in the first place. That was really kind. There's a family member in the video so it means a lot that you tried.

[@alexpaumen3937]

Is the 2000 a good engine for the Capri?

[@selfselfself]

Stong, reliable and very suitable for modifications.

[@neilphelan145]

I bought a brand new '72 Capri 2000. I was 17 years old and drove the crap out of it! Never had any problems with it.

[@ReadyFreddie5523]

2000 cc or 122 cu. in iron block and cross flow head 2barrel Weber carb alum flat top pistons SOHC cam with belt German made electric parts all stock, throw out cast iron mani, new headers and after market intake help, solid and reliable,good mpg and runs forever! What more could a teenager want? Muscle car No! Fun and easy Yes!

[@450hp202turbo]

It had competition in Australia , the GTR torana GMH modified from vauxholl to squeeze in a inline 6 killed the Capri GT v6 car sales in AU, the torana was a far Superior car , with its duel wish bone front end and the mighty holden 6 .

[@lullabygav]

Wilson, what are you thinking? Near the start he says, "...a quarter of a DECADE later..." when it's obvious he means quarter of a century. How come nobody in the production picked this up?

[@JPacheco91]

I have a 1974 Mk2 1600 GT

[@boringopr4369]

Funny stuff all this years I thought it was a mercury and I owned two a 1973 & 1974 Mercury Capri

[@PUNKF001]

00:55 quentin looks like kermit the frog hahahaha

[@stevenbaker673]

You don't see to meny capris anymore wus a kool car

[@Haffschlappe]

Never forget the two stroke oil in your fuel. The old Ford V6 need 1% two stroke oil added to the modern much too dry ethanolized eco fuels. Two stroke oil is best additive against corrosion and top cylinder wear

[@FirstOnRaceDayCapri2904]

I use BP Ultimate 98 ( no Ethanol ) in my 3.0 Capri and have never used 2 stroke oil, runs fine and the engine has 200.000Km

[@fanghicheck]

PINTO too a CAPRI was a BIG STEP up ?

[@OMENA-nq8ou]

i wishd my gffs uncle has capri. my friends cousin as 2 capris and me as 67-72 capris

[@Haffschlappe]

I would prefer an early 3000 GXL capri over an Aston Martin DB5

[@mohammedsayfulahmed8651]

Glory days

[@peterbustin2683]

Two words. West and Midlands

[@icemanroyal]

you bought a ford capri in detorit?.... you mean a Mercury Capri? which wasen t a British spec Capri, but was a mustang in drag. European style Capri's were not sold or built in North America so i find this bought in Detroit Capri a bit confusing....

[@Stevie242]

What's the song starting at 6:20

[@selfselfself]

The song is called "Blockbuster" by "The Sweet"

[@Stevie242]

Thank you. I've been trying to find for years

[@Wil-70-NL]

@selfselfself I know what it is......:-) It is a piano played version from???? David bowie: Heroes The capri is a hero.. What you think about that? :-)

[@Haffschlappe]

Yeah here in Germany many motorbikers and classic car drivers add 0.5% untill 1% two API TC stroke OIL to the ethanol blended dry eco fuel, never run a vintage carbed or injected engine withou the protection of two stroke oil. Two stroke oil contains special anti corrosion additives against ethanol corrosion! Dont use engine oil in the fuel it smokes, only modern API TC two stroke oil is smoke free and ashless!

[@ctiproductions2017]

I have a 85 mercury Capri T-tops 2.3 engine may be small but it still scoots the boot hah currently tho I need to find a steering bearing (the one right their at the steering wheel) buuut apperently the part doesn't exist XD according to the multiple shops I've went to and even the ford dealership they were baffled when I showed them the dam part even has a part number but nooo nothing it's as tho it shouldn't be alive hah