The Capri - Mercury’s Imported, import fighter

The first generation Mercury Capri, a captive import sold by Lincoln Mercury. Ford of Europe developed the car as their version of the Mustang in 1968. In today’s video we look at the car’s history and its impact in the U.S. market.
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[@Wooley689]

The Capri really was a good looking car.

[@michaelmartin2276]

Very sexy looking little car. A friend had a yellow one and it drove nice. Love the long hood .

[@Aquaboy11]

In Australia, mum had a stock standard 1969 Capri, 4 cylinder , 4 on the floor!!!!…. I learnt to drive in it… I just loved that car!!!

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for sharing!

[@sombra6153]

I was streaming a movie made in Spain. Opening scene featured a red Capri with a manual trans and some spirited driving. Looked great.

[@EffequalsMA]

Ah me ol' days, I had a 1972 Crapi 1600 GT and slid a 2.8 V6 from a Crapi II with LT headers and Holley 2 bbl performance manifold. that thing scooted decently for what it was.

[@douglemay7989]

I had a 71 2.0. One of my buddies found a 4 barrel carb and manifold, but we could never get the timing right. It was a 2002 killer stock. It must have had the higher drive ratio, I bought it used. We timed it at 10.2 or 10.4 0-60.

[@johnjones928]

I had a 79 Ghia, put on a full exhaust, Holley 350 cfm 2bbl a got cheap while i saved up for a 390 4bbl and an intake. Added KYB shocks and struts with 14x6 mags and 216/60-14 rubber . it was fun.

[@arthurdardalis]

As a Capri MK3 (1979) owner, a useful titbit of information re the 2.8 Cologne engine is that in European tune and as fitted to the European Granada it produced 135 DIN PS This 135 PS version was never fitted to the Capri, as the 3.0 Essex engine was fitted which produced 138PS DIN, the Capri MK3 2.8 injection had 160 DIN PS from the Cologne engine with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection The Cologne 2.3 was a popular Capri engine in Europe, this produced 114PS DIN,

[@Bydesign777]

Just found a 73 Capri....I'm 26 years old and it's an amazing car both to drive and also to work on. Mine actually has aftermarket Mark IV A/C that was installed about 2 months after the car was purchased...even with the compressor in place no job has been tricky yet (the A/C works!). The 2.0 liter is a pleasure, valve lash adjustment is easy, timing is easy, servicing is easy, and if an EMP hits it'll fire up when the KIA's won't!

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Very nice to see someone your age take an interest in the older iron. Yes they are rather simple and mechanical when compared to the computer controlled cars of today. Thanks for watching and for your comment.

[@kpri101]

My older brother had a green one. I thought it was one of the best looking cars around at the time (1972/73)

[@jeffreyoliver5991]

My Dad had a 1974 model with the larger displacement engine and I used to race it around town and that little bugger would hit it. When I was stationed in Germany they had V8 models that happened to be Wicked fast.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Europe had the better version of the Capri no doubt.

[@henkormel5610]

In Europe the 2.8 pushrod 60° V6 was the biggest stock engine availible. Just for giggles and laughs there were build a few homologation specials for group 5. This was an almost unlimited class for road racing in the late 70's.

[@nothanksguy]

@@henkormel5610 i think there was also a south african capri available with a v8. That might be the later model though

[@maus3454]

0:55 is the Ford R&D facility of Merkenich (Cologne)

[@braddietzmusic2429]

I’d still love to have a Capri II. Such a beautiful car, still.

[@dennyporter2447]

I had a 1974 Capri with a 2.8 V-6 , I bought it around the Tampa Florida area. I drove it to Missouri and I totally enjoyed that car . Also bought a 1977 Capri with the 2.3 , this had the 4 speed instead of the automatic.. I called it the puddle jumper.. lol.. cheap and cheerful car..

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for sharing!

[@PaulioBee]

We couldn't get enough of these in the UK, back before I was even born! Very much one of the most desirable of our Ford offering of the time.

[@jozimoto]

The Capri was a great car. Always wanted one. Had a friend who had one. I think possibly the Mercury Bobcat may have affected Capri sales.

[@tomcat630]

The Capri II had large price increases to the exchange rate with Germany at the time. Too expensive to compete with Japanese coupes. This also led to GM to stop importing German built Opels for Buick dealers. Replaced by "Opel by Isuzu" in 1976.

[@Robert-dx4fq]

Had a 1978 bought it new and drove the tires off of it great car

[@bartletteagle]

I had a 73. Good looking car but many quality issues. Rear windows fell out, bucket seats lost their support, shifter knob broke, transmission issues, etc.. . It didn't have AC so it was miserable to drive in deep south summers. Had the V6, good performance during the malaise era.

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-FINDER2525]

Actually I always like the Capri. At least before it became a mustang clone. A pretty good price if you can find one pair it with a half a million of them being made I would have thought they would not be so scared even thirty years ago.

[@egeckolizard1149]

You can try to resist, but Capri has captured you.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

That had to be the most 70's Disco spot I have run across in quite some time.

[@superturbocharged]

I miss my 76 Black and Gold S. I put a cam, offy intake and 4 bbl carb. The extra ponies made it a blast

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Sounds like an awesome ride! Thanks for watching!

[@marcopolo-xj4yw]

My dad and his cousin both had these cars. They referred to them as the Crapi.

[@jimdunlap7255]

Bought the only Capri on Honolulu at the time (1989) it was a 74 V6, nice car

[@michaelwitas9482]

I had a 1974 US Capri during the summer in the early 1980's. My dad bought it for me to get to my summer job while I was home from college. He bought it from the original owner, an attorney for the federal government in Milwaukee. It was a 2000cc with automatic, silver with the black vinyl base interior. The seats on my car reclined but I do not believe it was a decor group car. It was the one summer "clunker" that I enjoyed driving and wished I could have kept. At the end of the summer, my dad happened to run into the woman who sold us the car while taking a lunchtime walk downtown, where she also worked. He jokingly asked her if she wanted to buy her old Capri back. She said "yes" because her boyfriend's college age daughter needed a car. So, he sold it back to her. My sister attended the same university as the daughter and saw our old Capri driving around campus that fall.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

That's a great story/ Thanks for sharing!

[@eddiejones.redvees]

My friend bought him self a mark two 1976 John player special 1.6 he had a fabric sun roof installed it use to get some admiring looks back then are other trend bought a 2.0L Ghia capri with a vanilla roof but it didn’t have as many extra fitted has the JP special me I had a new 750 triumph bonneville which would live both behind in a drag race

[@ricoolivier]

In South Africa a Ford dealer by the name of Basil van Rooyen created a line of fast Fords called Perana. Capri, Granada and later a Cortina also. All had 5 litre V8 engines supplied directly from Ford SA and built with their blessings... Wonderful video!

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thank you for the kind words and for watching!

[@martineransom6019]

Basil Green

[@ricoolivier]

@@martineransom6019 You are correct! What a rookie mistake on my part...

[@thomasconnolly7452]

I became aware of the Capri as a kid with the AFX slot car. I would take a 1:1 version today.

[@chrish2666]

I had an '85 Capri bought new in 1985 equivalent to the Mustang GT of the time with a 5.0 and 4 speed manual. It was a beast. Looking forward to you reviewing that Capri.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

I'll get that one out before the end of year. Thanks for watching!

[@vMaxHeadroom]

Loved the Capri as I had one of the last 2.8 Injection specials in the UK. Not sure if the US ever got the 2.8i but it was such a beautiful car that was more than quick in a straight line, though in the turns the rear end was always a bit loose!

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Those of you in Europe got better Capri's and Escorts for that matter than we did here in the U.S.. Thanks for watching!

[@bigmacmach1185]

Love these history videos, especially with these lesser known or forgotten cars.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Glad you like them! Thanks for watching!

[@johnnyjrotten59]

The South Aftricans had the Ford Capri Perana. 302 Windsor 4bbl holley with alloy bellhousing 4 speed top loader. high 13sec 1/4 mile. The year that it raced it destroyed everything in every race except once when the radiator had a stick go through it. - It was banned the next year.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for sharing! I will have to look into that one.

[@fredfuchs3573]

Thank you I put my turbo rs into the shop and just look at it so far this video might give me inspiration 😂

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Glad I could help! The next gen will be covered before the end of the year. Thanks for watching!

[@derrickford5492]

awesome..1st car i purchased with my own money was a 1976 capri II in 1982....for a grand....awesome memories

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@AndrewLoukidis-jr2bp]

I had a 73, it was beat up but damn it handled good in the snow. With the 4 cylinder it wasn't very quick

[@douglemay7989]

Emissions.

[@johnfitzpatrick9994]

Great video thanks for making it 👍

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Glad you enjoyed it, Thanks for watching!

[@kennedysingh3916]

My cousin had one of those 2.8 German Capri in Jamaica 🇯🇲. For the most part it was a great car. It had issues we did not like, it's gearbox was not as good as the British one, it would peal off it's left hand rear tires often, around town it's fuel consumption was poor but on the highway 🛣 it was very good. However I still love the car.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's appreciated.

[@TheJoefussGarage]

This was a fun video, I'm 58, and got my 1st Capri in like 1983, it was 74 with 4 speed and 2000 4 cyl, I had a 71 2.6, two 76's w/2.8's and 4 spd, and finally a 76 w/2.8 /auto. So yeah, I did enjoy the Capri quite a bit. No coincidence, I'm a early Mustang guy, w/2 65's, a coupe and a fastback.. All hale the "Pony" cars !!!!!!

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Very nice! Thanks for watching!

[@05gtdriver]

Yeah, I'll be 58 later this year. My 1st car was a red '73 2600 V6 4 speed. Got it in late 1981. I've owned 10 in all from '81 up until 2005. 8 were V6s, 2 were 2000 4 cylinders. I'm very well versed in all their strong and weak points. Everything that's known to go wrong on a Capri, I've been there! Owning a Capri certainly built character 😆

[@user-vj9tx6mk8g]

Thanks so much for sharing the history of the Capri! Very much appreciated! The foxbody Capri was my first car back in '89. I can't wait to see your update on thar one.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Glad you enjoyed it! The second gen Capri video will drop prior to the end of the year. Thanks for watching!

[@area51isreal71]

The Capri was assembled here by Ford Australia n the late sixties and early seventies. Both four and V6 models, both were dropped however because Ford could not compete with the cheaper Holden Torana on price. The name of course returned as a small convertible based on Mazda running gear. It was also made left hand drive and sent to the US as a Mercury.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thank you for the info!

[@area51isreal71]

My pleasure@@TonysFordsandMustangs

[@larrysutton925]

Mercury actually brought back the Capri in the early nineties as a 2 seater...only made them for a couple of years-I worked at a Lincoln Mercury dealership body shop back then. Every so often we would get one in for repairs-pretty sharp looking car I thought.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

I need to cover those at some point. Thanks for watching!

[@MrLurchsThings]

That’d be the Australian made one, with Mazda underpinnings. The convertible’s liked to turn into a banana.

[@harveyclark1042]

Unbelievable I bought my 76 Capri at Bluegrass Lincoln mercury that was a picture that you just shared

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

That is pretty awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@65sohc]

My dad bought me a new 71 Capri 2000 for high school graduation. I owned it for 10 years throughout my post high school education, driving it from California to college in South Dakota several times and later to medical school in Guadalajara, Mexico. During this time it went through a series of modifications. I started with an Offy Dual Port 360 2 barrel intake manifold and headers, added a cam, then an Offy Dual Port with Holley 390 cfm 4 barrel, and ultimately to an Ak Miller Rayjay turbo. A college friend converted my windshield washer to a makeshift water injection system that actually worked quite well. With the water injection I could run 16 psi of boost so it was probably putting out around 200 hp which made for a very exciting 2380 lb. car. It looked as good after 10 years as the day I got it and I sold it for $2500.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

That's a great story! Thanks for sharing!

[@65sohc]

I also addressed the handling with Mulholland front springs and rear lowering blocks. I widened the stock wheel to 7 inches, had them chromed and painted them black between the spokes like stock. A friend had a Boss 351. He cracked his front spoiler so gave it to me. Another friend fiberglassed and painted it so I ended up with the only Capri in the world with a Boss 351 front spoiler. As long as this site is about Mustangs I'll finish this message by running down my list of subsequent cars: 79 Mustang pace car, 87 Mustang GT, import phase consisting of 91 300ZX Turbo, 94 Supra twin turbo, 94 Supra high horse single turbo, '03 Z4, then back to Mustangs with '06 GT, '09 GT500, '13 Boss 302, '16 GT350, 2020 Supra and now, at the tender age of 70, a '23 Corvette Z51. It's been a long journey.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

@@65sohc That is quite a list of horsepower!

[@jcuprisi]

As a Lincoln-Mercury technician I worked on these rolling turds daily. My biggest surprise was the love customers had for these cheaply built pieces of crap. Turned me off of so-called German engineering to this day. We performed many aftermarket repairs to take care of the clunky gas pedal and clutch linkage. Also, upgraded the driveshafts because cheap u-joints generally lasted only 20,000 miles. They never rusted though because of the standard chassis oiling system, AKA engine oil leaks that were nearly impossible to fix that also caused a lot of rubber suspension bushing damage. At least five recalls for wipers and shift linkage among others. Cardboard interiors and plastic seats that disintegrated within five years. Loved the job security provided by these cars.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

I have two close friends that just love those cars. I have friends that love MGB's as well so...

[@jcuprisi]

It was not uncommon for the owners to love these cars even while the car was falling apart around them.

[@Vampirebear13]

A 1st series Capri is still 1 of my dream cars. But try finding ANY Capri nowadays Tony, it's impossible unless you buy it from Europe or UK & they're REALLY expensive. About a year ago, a pawn shop in NE Ohio had an all original 75 or 76 & sold it for $16,000. It was gray & solid but needed trailered home. Pawn shop said the car would start & run but had no brakes & couldn't be driven.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for watching and yes I completely agree. These are becoming endangered cars for sure in the U.S. It was just difficult to find brochures or pictures for this video. I believe Hagerty has less than 50 with insurance on them in this country. While they are not the only company that writes polices they are the largest classic insurance company.

[@eightbll1017]

There's been 4 here within a 150 miles radius in the last 3 months. One was running and driving. All for sale. Not really "impossible"

[@Vampirebear13]

@@eightbll1017 I have no idea where you live but I search rather often & there's NO original Capri's anywhere for sale, except in the UK & Europe. If they're here in the states, they're usually the little front wheel drive cars, which were OK but nothing to write home about, or the Fox body cars with the terrible 260 or 292 V8, which I drove new in 1979. A teal green one actually. Doesn't much matter though because it's just dream shopping.

[@eightbll1017]

@@Vampirebear13 Tx here. There's two on FB marketplace now. But .. those two don't have a title.

[@Vampirebear13]

@@eightbll1017 All apologies, I kept forgetting to reply. I bought both my current Toyota's off FB Marketplace & will NEVER make that mistake again. As for cars without a title, that sends up huge red flags, IMHO. Although I do understand there's states that don't title cars, once they're a certain age. Thankfully it's not like that here in Ohio. I'm not sure what someone would need to do to get a new title, but here, the buyer must file a "lost title" request & in my experience, most of the time, the buyers then find out the vehicle is stolen. But anyway, I hope you'll have a Blessed weekend & a better 2024.

[@alexandermathar7780]

Mercury had the Cologne 2.6 ? We' re all Cologne boys...!

[@05gtdriver]

You're getting your Capri generations mixed up. The European Capri II never offered a "Crimson Cat." That was the Fox-bodied Capri, which offered the Crimson Cat in 1983-84. Also, all European Capris had reclining front bucket seats. On the non-decor MKI Capris, the reclining mechanism was a turn knob instead of the decor option ratchet style handle. Some MKI Capris had fixed rear quarter windows.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

This video is about the Capri's released in the U.S. not in Europe. I do mention the European Capri's a couple of times in the video. I'm sure there are few mistakes here and there as there is a lot of conflicting information on the internet. I am a one man show and I do my best to put together an accurate, entertaining, and concise video. I will say this was one of the more difficult video's I have put together for any car. Just like the car itself it's rough to find information on these cars anymore.

[@05gtdriver]

@TonysFordsandMustangs Plenty of dedicated North America European Capri forums, FB pages, etc. Plenty of us Capri folks are always willing to lend an ear and hand 😉. I was just pointing out a few minor things. You actually did extremely well on the subject. 👏

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

@@05gtdriver Thank you very much! I do the best I can. I make these videos because the cars interest me and the research I do helps me learn about them from a design, marketing. and options stand point. The sad thing is I have limited time to put into any one video. I typically take two to three days researching and cross checking a script prior to recording anything. That said sooner or later I have to trust someone's information. That can be a mistake at times.

[@05gtdriver]

I recently found your channel. I really enjoy your content. Happily subscribed ✅️

[@krackerman3628]

Wait... the Capri made it to America? Wow....

[@billsmith1770]

2 seat capri was available in the 1990s in usa .

[@dougscustomcargarage3434]

I have had many ford capri mki

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Thanks for watching!

[@austinmatthews347]

I am amazed the americans bought a european ford in such high numbers when they were renowned for driving huge yank tanks. In 2018 i visited seattle i noticed the cars didnt seem so huge i can only think the reason for that is the fact european cars have got bigger over the years

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Not everyone here wants a big car or an SUV. Right now it’s near impossible to even find an American car let alone find one that isn’t big and heavy.

[@runoflife87]

Can You imagine some people from the US calling that car "sophisticated"? Beecause well, it was just a cheap car (almost beater) in Europe, yet US buying public somehow thought about it as some kind of engineering wonder.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

It was a cheap car here in the states as well and one that got better gas mileage than most. I think the use of the term "sophisticated" was Ford's marketing team using what they had and turning it into a positive attribute for the American consumer market.

[@runoflife87]

​​@@TonysFordsandMustangswell, I think it wasn't marketing only. US car manufacturers in early 70's just couldn't build properly engineered subcompact pony car. Even 1st gen Mustang was pretty big compared to the Capri (and kinda ineffective). And well, then it was Ford Pinto, which turned to be one of the worst 1970's cars.

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

@@runoflife87 I would beg to differ. The "Pony Car" is a U.S. invention. It all started with the 1965 Mustang. Where as a subcompact is just that a subcompact. If you wanted to say that the US lagged behind in the production of a somewhat sporty subcompact in the mid 70's I would give you that.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

@@TonysFordsandMustangs 100% this. Foreign sports compacts were the rest of the world's response to the pony car, but using a market appropriate chassis. Capris are a Cortina dressed up in sporty coupe bodywork, Celicas are a Corona given the same treatment. The North American market didn't have a direct answer to them because they didn't make small enough cars to have something to base them on.

[@eddiewitt7699]

Do a ford escort from beginning 2 end. Include Australia

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

The escort video will be coming adding the Europe version and the Australia versions will be difficult so we shall see. Ford's first real "world car" was anything but :)

[@jimlafreeda695]

Imagine that little car with your Mustang SVO motor in it..... that would be sporty

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

They kind of had that in Europe in 1986 and it was sporty.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

I see your SVO motor and raise you the Cosworth version from the Sierra. YB swap everything.

[@piixieplayz4303]

The 3.0 & rs 3.1 was the best here in the uk the later replaced with the 2.8i

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

The European version was better than the one we got in the States.

[@ronnymjs758]

2.8 ghia

[@alain99v6]

A Capri II with a more powerfull V6 would have been the perfect Mustang replacement instead of the Mustang II

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

Like I stated in the video I think Ford was looking to boost sales at Lincoln/Mercury Dealers and that's why they got the Capri. I don't think they looked at it as a Mustang rival. It was quicker in 74 when the Mustang II came out. Same driveline lighter car.

[@ronnymjs758]

77 mod

[@deanplant1500]

Did you guys in America and Canada get mk1 mk2 Ford escorts ???

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

No sir we did not. That's another video. You wouldn't want the version of escort we got over here.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

Out first Escort was a version of the Mk.3. Ford decided to make another car called the Pinto for the North American market. Here's a what-if: If North America got the Escort instead of the Pinto, what would the Mustang II be based on? The three real options seem like: keep it on the Falcon/Maverick, make it an Escort derivative or make it a Capri derivative. None of them seem particularly viable.

[@briankay3380]

Still got a fully restored 1972 V6 GT auto’ Capri in Australia, compliments my 2020 Coyote Mustang 10 speed auto’.🇦🇺🦘🦘🦘

[@TonysFordsandMustangs]

That's awesome! There are very few examples left in the States.

[@65sohc]

You may appreciate this bit of trivia. Some time in the mid 70's I attended the Capri Car Club of America annual get together. One of the attendees arrived in a Capri formerly owned by Australian racer Horst Kwech.