Why Did The Capri Fall From Grace? - The Story Of The Ford Capri 3.0

[@newtechgs7471]

When cars had character and identity. Such a classic design

[@VauxhallViva1975]

Not a Ford fan, but this car was sex on steroids.

[@RockinRobbins13]

@@VauxhallViva1975 The manual steering 2.0 Capri I drove felt like a truck. It certainly didn't qualify as a sports car. I never considered buying one.

[@bobsmudger3979]

​@@VauxhallViva1975love that username; my neighbour had a VV Firenza and VVs were the staple in my family growing up.

[@swanvictor887]

@@RockinRobbins13 you missed the point Robin: Capri's were not build for performance, they were for Posing!!

[@RockinRobbins13]

@@swanvictor887 _"Capri's were not build for performance, they were for Posing!!"_ From the outside they looked like a kinda sports car. From the inside they drove like a manual shift U-Haul truck. If you bought one your next car to pose in would be a much better car.

[@chrispig7748]

Always had a soft spot for this car, especially because of Bodie and Doyle. Still looks good today

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Yep, me too. Although I also had a neighbour with a late Injection Special in black, which was lovely…….

[@tjshill82]

I think I’m with you Jack never been that fussed by the Capri but wow that particular example is superb.

[@tjm3900]

Yes, I bought one and a curly wig. I get lots of looks ;-)

[@cconcannon5145]

Also for the RS2000!

[@grandadneal8114]

Yes and they did all the driving themselves remember Cowley always arrived in a princess I seem to recall and the police drove rovers or triumphs. Great show great British cars

[@thetreadtrader7565]

I had a late 2.8i special. Recaro seats and much improved Bilstein designed suspension. Best car I ever owned. Why on Earth didn’t I keep it?

[@ldnwholesale8552]

Because like most it rusted away?

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

@@ldnwholesale8552 What? You mean like the Capri Injection I have on an 'A' plate- 1984, that retains all it's original panels and has never seen a welders torch? Yep, terrible rot boxes those Capris.........*YAWN!*

[@meandthefamily1485]

I had loads of 3 litre Capri's in the 80,s and 2.8,s proper cars loved them , I had a 3 .0 Ghia auto identical to the one featured same colour also auto , but a total different drive to the manual, the manual was a proper drivers car and would shift in its day ,but the auto box killed that performance off , it was an amazing cruising car with comfort ,The Ghia trims were fantastic and still look good ,thanks all you Capri fans 👍

[@JamesMartland65]

Marriage did for mine!😢 it didn't last as long as the car would've.😅

[@patagualianmostly7437]

@@JamesMartland65 Tell me about it......🤣😂😅

[@davidowen7793]

Had 3 Capris all 3000cc, 2, 3000S models and a 3000 Ghia with a manual box, absolutely loved them

[@peterdevreter]

Capri, manta, monza, audi coupe, every fiat coupe in that time I loved them all ☺️

[@Enzoblueblood]

Something in the interior of the Capri used to make me nauseous when I was a child but that never stopped the excitement of riding in one.

[@jjefferyworboys8138]

I owned seven 3.0 Capri Mk2 and MK3's in both Ghia and S forms and finally an early 2.8 Injection. I preferred the 3.0 more lazy engine characteristic and as I recall the auto box was as good as anything else at the time. I have lots of happy memories.

[@insertnamehere5146]

Jeff which one was the nippier in your experience of driving both?

[@insertnamehere5146]

@@jjs3287 Hi JJ thanks for the response. its something over the years i have often pondered about the 3 litre v the 2.8. I briefly drove my mates 3 litre (gently) in the mid 1980s and had a bit of a problem with the long bonnet. Saying that, they are iconic cars from a era when you could easily tell cars apart. Ford has since lost the magic imo

[@theblackstridersofficial2562]

I owned a lovely 2.0 ghia auto in 1990 - 1991 on R registration and although it was 13 years old at the time and had gone past 100000 miles it drove well and never let me down mainly due to regular minor service work every few months like plug gaps etc - during my time with this one it only needed a wing replacing due to rust and then needed a front wheel bearing and headlight alignment for its 10th MOT - this car was a lovely Arizona gold with unmarked sand interior - I drove all over UK as an alarm and cctv installer back then and my capri was a car I really would love to own once again - unlikely to be around these days alas but many trouble free miles in comfort and once you are aware of a capris flaws - wet roads etc and questionable brakes - plus being a half decent driver - only then could you begin to get the hang of a capri and enjoy driving one - they were a scream to drive as I recall especially the 2 litre ones and the 3 litre too - I've driven a friends 3 litre and briefly drove a quite new 2.8 in 80s on a C registration form a company I did some work for - all good memories of many miles together with capris - they were a unique car which had everything other similar cars had except were usually cheaper by a mile and were usually a better all round car !!

[@adrianbennett3761]

The British 3.0 Essex was also more reliable than the German 2.8 Cologne engine, which suffered from oil starvation issues.

[@iansteel5569]

I had a 30s back in 1983 and it felt like a rocket ship compared to what my mates were driving, so you should drive it back to back with an Morris Marina 1300 coupe, a Mini 1000 and a Hillman minx 1300, believe me, I felt like the king of the road!

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

This is the kind of car I dearly miss on today's market!

[@TassieLorenzo]

"This is the kind of car I dearly miss on today's market!" What was the model progression? Capri -> Sierra 3-door -> Probe -> Cougar? I guess the Cougar didn't sell, so the Ford coupe line was cancelled there. You can buy a "full-size" Mustang from your Ford dealer (with the 2.3 Ecoboost for better fuel economy) I suppose, therefore Ford don't want to have more than one offering.

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

@@TassieLorenzo And the Mustang is a caricature of its former self, and - in Europe - greatly overpriced.

[@T.E.S.S.]

@@TassieLorenzo bibble babble

[@warrenalexander5285]

It was a great looking car. My dad had the 1.6 engined series 2, with a very slick manual gearbox, which I drove a few times and for a car with a relatively small engine it was surprisingly quick and agile. It was a car ahead of its time in terms of styling and marketability which was why it was so popular.

[@robbchastain3036]

I remember the Capri as a Euro pony car and it made a lot of sense, a little sporty, a little stylish. And I've never expected street or production cars to perform like race cars. Race cars of any variety are wild beasts meant only for the track and I had no problem telling the two apart because I grew up while my Dad was involved in auto racing and those cars under construction in the shop were a spectacular sight. And street cars are cool, too, just in a different way and I was always a fan of body styles and paint.

[@johnrayner3940]

I remember getting driven to primary school, in a parents' carpool, in a Ford Capri. It was a gold 2.0 Ghia. Briefly before that, the same owner had a blue Mk2 3.0 with a manual box. Much sexier. To this day, I'm sure that car is the single biggest reason why I'm a car enthusiast today.

[@trespire]

Did the gold Ghia have the brown pinstripe down the side and boot door ?

[@johnrayner3940]

@@trespire I don't know now. Long time ago. I do remember it had the distinctive number plate beginning with DDD

[@hannchris2762]

For me that Capri is a really handsome car that colour suits the lines very well I love it

[@sprendergast351]

Nice car, always loved the Capri. Not hard to get a few extra ponies from an Essex V6. Match port the intake manifold with the heads, port the heads, change the cam profile, good exhaust, fit a small 4 barrel Holley if you had a mate in the seventies who could cut the inlet manifold and weld the aluminium plate on😅 We had a lot of fun with these engines. Fitted one to a Mark 3 Cortina and left the 1600 badges on as a sleeper and the tiny tail pipe still in place. Surprised alot of boy racers. Glad you can now have a little bit of appreciation for a Ford Jack. Thanks for the channel.

[@terryjacob8169]

The Essex V-6 was a boat anchor, and it wasn't difficult to replace it with a 4.7 or 5.0 litre American Ford V-8 which was slightly lighter.

[@swebb302]

​@@terryjacob8169no mate,that's the nickname of the pinto.Gods engine

[@heiner71]

I always liked the first generation the best. A friend of mine turbo charged one in the mid 80's and got about. 250PS out of it. This thing was a beast.

[@Hackett1066]

Tickford did a few turbo versions and a popular choice was to drop a YB cosworth lump in them I remember seeing one at a ford show it was pushing over 400bhp

[@TheSkip66]

Plenty of other turbo options. I owned a few Turbo Technics cars over the years. At the time they were produced, there was very little on the roads to touch them. A TT240 would hit 50 in first, 90 in second and 125 in third!! Top end well over 140. Seems tame now but at the time it was addicfive. Janspeed did a turbo as well as a few others, but ford germany also did a limiited run 2.8 Turbo, and just before that, they did a V8 beast called the Mako. Aah those halcyon days

[@Simon_W74]

I only ever like the Mk1 Capri when I was younger. As I have aged I now really like the look of all the marks of the Capri. If I had the money I would happily buy one. It is the same as some of the Music of time , it grows on you with Nostalgia.

[@stephengirling7859]

Back in the day many of us Capri owners kept a bag of sand or cement in the boot. Early form of traction control.

[@JOHNRGRAY]

I kept 2 paving stones

[@MrAvant123]

BMW would shudder to hear this !

[@capobilotti]

My dad did the same with Mk1 Sierra and heavy iron Peugeot 2,3D under hood. On the way to country house, he brought tools and shit. On way back, he brought two 40-50Kg sacks of potatoes, especially in winter. That was the roomiest 3-door car I've ever been into. And luckily, ours was assembled in Belgium so it did run for 560,00 km's with one tranny refurbish and one clutch replacement.

[@paulwaite2219]

In the1960s my Hillman Minx had a 1cwt bag of potatoes in the boot in the winter for snow and ice days.

[@chrisgomez3078]

And lost 20hp in the process😅

[@oggie1967]

Always lusted after a 3 litre S Capri but could never afford one! Had to make do with a MK2 escort 1300 sport. Oh my, wish I still had it today! £££££££££😬 Great vid as usual Jack!👍♥️

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

A meaningful review of a car that hasn't been messed around with. Well done. Please keep them this way Jack if possible.

[@guyandre4946]

Excellent description of an underrated classic. Thank you. I actually own exactly the same gold 3.0 Ghia in the late eighties. I was never a “Capri fan” and won’t have bought one. However, a friend owed me some money and a “few favours”. He offered his car as “compensation” : I accepted, as this was the only practical way to settle the debt ! He dropped it outside my house and it was a few days before I had to move it. It had no MOT and hardly any petrol. I drove it to the station and … I was pleasantly surprised! It was as you said extremely comfortable, easy, agreeable and reassuring to drive: the automatic gearbox reminded me, in sorts, of a Mustang I had before! Finally, instead of selling it, that was my initial idea, I kept it for years as a second car, (I am a Jaguar/Daimler addict) and I enjoyed every minute of it. The only problem was the leaking sun roof (on the passenger side!) and the creeping rust that finally terminated its usefulness. The engine and gearbox never gave me any problems, and, but for the rust, it stayed very clean and smart for years. It had to go, sadly, when the spare garage space was needed for a lovely racing green E Type 2+2 . Still, I regret selling it. And, of course, the hand brake turns Body and Doyle style, always a must, very dramatic and impressive, are sadly missed! 😂😂

[@arthurdardalis]

The correct name for the MK3 is Capri ‘78. It is widely known in Ford circles that the Ghia seats are the best Ford ever made. The Ghia version was about 40kg heavier than the S ( without taking into account the auto gearbox) due to extra sound insulation. The Capri was indeed well assembled, the early MK3’s were also more resistant to rust. The Essex is much torquier than the Cologne and has a better V6 sound although the Cologne is revvier. The C3 auto box is renowned for its smooth shifting and reliability, if it’s working correctly kickdown to 2nd is available until 50 mph. The manual 3.0 did 0-60 in 8.5 secs, it was properly fast. The only “sports” difference between the S and the Ghia is slightly stiffer suspension front and rear. At launch in 1978 all Ghia’s in video, magazines etc were in Oyster Gold. I’m a MK3 Capri Ghia owner, owned from new, with the iconic Ghia colour, Oyster Gold with chocolate interior.

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

The Ghia seats are superb- agreed! I had a friend who owned a Mk 1 3000E from new in 1972, until his demise in 2018- with 28,000 on the clock. All original panels and paint- immaculate. He modified it to look like an RS3100 (mistake I feel) and he fitted new Ghia seats- which were superb.

[@swebb302]

Well said,the Essex lump is probably my favourite V6 engine note,it's all about the exhausts but imho,they sound majestic in battle ❤

[@bert9569]

What a treat for the ears, that glorious V6 rumble! I had a white 3.0 litre Ghia in the mid '80's while I was in my mid 20's ... (worked for a local garage who bought and sold second hand cars, so got it for a reasonable deal). Was the first car I owned with more that 4 cylinders and still ranks in my top 2 or 3 of the cars that I have owned.

[@clockworkbike]

In 1978 in drove a 3.0 with the manual gearbox. It was a fantastically fun car! One of my favorites of all time.

[@motoboy6666]

That sweep of the side windows is so characteristic🙂

[@rotax636nut5]

Back in the day I tuned my 3 litre Essex a bit with self ported heads, mild cam and an overbore to 3.1 litres, also an aftermarket tubular exhaust and big bore system and got a very torquey 154 rear wheel hp or over 180 bhp at the crank, which was a 20% increase over standard. The car had impeccable road manners was pretty fast but I ended up getting a 1.6 Pinto engined Capri and tuned that engine to give nearly 160 rear wheel hp and due to the lighter engine the car was a lot faster and handled much better than the heavy 3 litre. I ended up with a highly tuned 2.1 litre Pinto road car with about 205 RWHP which a friend repeatedly put round Brands Hatch Indy circuit on road tyres in 53 seconds on a test day, happy days! Roland, HT Racing Ltd

[@brimzs]

Can't go wrong with a Pinto .

[@th3b0untyhunter]

I had a similar spec engine although in a 3.0S (built by Burton Power in Ilford several owners before me) plus triple carbs, janspeed exhaust, tubular manifolds, 2.8i 5 speed box, a frame axle location kit, big brakes - circa 230 - 240 bhp and it would easily pull on standard sapph and 3 door cossies, even rs500, which for a 19yr old to own circa 1990 was just amazing. The noise was spine tingling, especially once I added those triple carbs. Mpg not so good though 😅 Wish I still had that one

[@jhareng]

Did similar with the German built 2 S, Piper 285, lightened flywheel, lumenition, 4/2/1, made the exhaust, all RS Escort suspension even double width roll bar bushes. Cibie H4 conversion 90w/130 on all 4, bigger alernator, gas fronts and Koni adj rear etc. It out handled Lotus Elans, had to drop clutch in a corner to get back out. What i did find could play with the 3 S and wave tarrar, though the Cologne was a struggle. At 50mph had to hit the brake following an Escort RS and ease off with the 1600 MR2. Problem was i was on it every night repairing, clutch release bearings would last 3 days to 3 months and no warning.

[@abcdef-qk6jf]

Sounds like I remember it. However nobody really wanted the 3.0 L in Continental Europe - the insurance was and is to a large extent based on weight of the car and the volume of the engine rather than the actual performance of a given motor. You would be eaten alive by the insurance companies. Why the smaller engines were preferred - for the reasons you've mentioned getting the same power in a more nimble package. I've only known one person driving and owning a 3.0L Capri. It lasted a few months. The bank simply told him to downsize. He wanted to buy a house. Not a reality with the price of insurance and the car being hard on the juice. But somehow there were more 2.8 injection Capris than there ever were 3.0's and all in the blue metallic colour. They were left handed drivers. I don't know if it was a conversion - apparently it was made solely for the UK market. But I'm definitely no expert - just growing up in the haydays of the Capris as the go to second hand boy racers ...

[@michaelbenardo5695]

You got 160 out of a PINTO engine? And didn't blow it up? Wow.

[@Leo555ZZZ]

In Australia the early 70's V6 GT 3000 4 speed manual was a great car. Massive torque they would fly up any hill and they sounded great with a dual exhaust system. Now they are highly sought after , better looking than the series 2 in some ways. RS3100 was the ultimate , and they were all very successful in touring car racing back in the seventies and eighties.

[@mikldude9376]

Yes they where a cool little car , used to see quite a few of the early model around Melbourne in their time . Unfortunately time has made them as rare as rocking horse poo.

[@TassieLorenzo]

"Now they are highly sought after" You honestly hardly ever see them about in Australia compared to Falcons (be they XY or XA era) though. (People tend to take their classics out to cruise the beaches in the evenings in summer.) Mustangs seem much more common, and I honestly think I've seen more Alfa Romeo Alfettas out and about than Capris...?

[@Leo555ZZZ]

@@TassieLorenzo That's right , they are very rare ,many were crashed a long time ago ,which means the few survivors that are still around are in demand.

[@g0fvt]

Having messed about with these back in the day (and fitted many of these engines to smaller Fords) I found a huge variance between different individual cars. I know the cylinder heads were revised at some point but with no published power gain. My group of friends at the time used to regard the Capri as a Cortina in a dress with inferior handling. Some 3 litre Capris seemed to have brutal performance for the time, but most felt lazy. I suspect that many were not running properly, in practice the 2 litre Pinto powered ones were better handling and just as fast. I remember a few of them being converted to Rover V8 power, a much lighter engine with slightly more power. I must be getting old, I recently saw a beautiful 3 litre Ghia and it did make me smile. I would strongly suggest that you try a 2litre Pinto powered manual one.

[@marks2551]

You must have driven some pretty poor 3 litre versions, i can only say i drove a good few and there was no comparison in performance and obviously the 3 litre was a proper handful, i have a pal who builds race essex engines and he tells me there is a massive variation in head castings some are too thin to port...

[@noodlebike]

It even had a clock than ran backward (5:50). It could literally go back in time. You could leave for work at 9.30, & get in by 9.00. What a magic motor, its a shame they don't make them anymore!

[@blaze1148]

Sometimes a reverse panning shot does this to time - mind bending and physics warping isn't it 😃

[@davidhynd4435]

Wow, that was amazingly observant. For some reason clocks in cars are notoriously unreliable.

[@chrisaskin6144]

It was one of Ford's best kept secrets - the anticlockwise clock.

[@blaze1148]

@@davidhynd4435 It wasn't amazingly observant when it was obvious and an obvious reverse panning film shot - surely you are not that thicc...

[@jiggely_spears]

I believe Ford sold that technology to DeLorean, I remember seeing some sort of documentary about it a few years ago.....

[@honda4185]

It just looks so agressive and hot. It's a stunner car to look at! Hope someone has a 3.0s for u to test.

[@jabbalechat7910]

Hey, I had one of these in the 1980s, same colour outside and in. The way to operate the auto box for speed was lock it in 1st, put your foot down till the red line, shift to 2nd and repeat into top gear. Additionally, if cruising along a road like you used there and there's a car or two in front, drop the box into 2nd and floor it, easy way to blow off a couple of cars. My one also had low profile Goodyear tires and Konis all round, noticeable improvement, dropped the cog and better handling. It was also a great car for doing long distances, once drove on a weekend camping trip from London to the Scottish highlands with two friends and all our gear, plowed a furrow up the motorways pretty much +100mph all the way, little motorway traffic in those days and plod few and far between, left at 8.00am, stopped off in Chester top pick up some electronics gear, and made the highlands by 9.00pm. I enjoyed that car and then traded it in for a XR2i which was also a reasonable car. Thanks for the review and bringing back the memories... 👍😻

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

I had a bright red 1.6 30 years ago. I loved that one. Went to buy a bicycle, got it in the Capri OK. Getting the bike out was a different matter. Had to take the front wheel off. Was jammed in there. Cool vid, Jack. Wheel arches and round headlights for the win. Cheers.

[@James1-9-7-8]

I grew up in Colchester, Essex, in the mid-nineties and to a young pup Capris, along with 205 GTIs and Escort Cosworths, were the dream cars. I genuinely believed my life would be superior if I owned one of those! Fully kitted out Capris were not uncommon and they looked the business with spoilers and tyres the width of the wheel arch. Obviously, I’ve lost such high-mindedness. However, around 2015 I regularly delivered to a guy in Colchester who had two Capris on his driveway; I think he still used the cars. Not having seen a Capri for at least a decade I was blown away and a vestige of my adolescence was momentarily reignited!

[@jeandibb4111]

Jack, we never got any Capris here in Australia after the series 1. But you should see the loud stripe package we fitted to the V6 GT. Look it up cos you won’t believe it. Way OTT, the stripes and Superoo stickers were meant to evoke the even wilder stripes on our homegrown Falcon GT 351 V8.

[@allareasindex7984]

I was in high school when these came to the US. I absolutely loved the look and preferred it to the Mustang. The Capris were very popular, several every block or two. Rostyle wheels shared with MGBs. My history teacher traded in his VW Beetle for one. Within a few weeks the safety “push-push” headlight switch popped out of of dashboard and was hanging by its wires. Dealer couldn’t/wouldn’t fix it. The rust showed up a bit later. They were fairly inexpensive and didn’t get the maintenance and fixing they needed. I literally haven’t seen one on the street or even in a show for many decades. Actually I see more MG Midgets here than Capris.

[@70Kenny]

The first year of importation to the USA, 1970, the Capri was only offered with a 1.6 liter Kent 4-cylinder engine. This didn’t work well for American driving conditions, as it only put out 75 horsepower. A better 4 cylinder was offered for ‘71 (100 horsepower) and in ‘72 the Capri got a V6 option. If your history teacher had a lot of trouble with his Capri, he probably had a 1970 model.

[@markfox1545]

'Literally haven't seen'? So you've not figuratively not seen? Thanks for clearing up that potential source of confusion. Cretin.

[@rogerking7258]

Actually, the Mk2 and Mk3 WERE hot hatches! The Capri is possibly the best demonstration of Ford's marketing genius; take a pile of already existing mundane components and stir the pot until they come together to make something exotic looking and desirable. Power wise though, I dyno tested several Essex V6s in the late 70s/early 80s and we never really saw anything much over 120bhp in standard form (Ford were claiming 138bhp). On the other hand, as you say, the torque was great from very low rpm.

[@john1703]

Yes. The Capri was to a Cortina what the Mustang was to a Falcon. "The car you always promised yourself."

[@john1703]

@@jjs3287 The Mk 1 Granada 3000 S (manual) was beloved of the rozzers (remember "The Sweeney"?), same engine, which was also a good swap for a failed Stag engine.

[@andyfry745]

I agree with the marketing comment to a degree,..take an ugly slow shit car,and get a good salesman to convince you differently..that’s what happened

[@Lasercapri]

Well first that was you best video you have ever done , hang on I would say that as I have a Capri 😂😂😂 nice one Jack great to see you enjoying a Old Ford

[@darrylstarling2665]

I agree 👍 Oh, I too own a Capri 😃👌

[@brianward9973]

Brilliant, I had a 3.0S from 1978 in Signal Amber with the ‘tennis racket’ Recaro seats. Wonderful car and the sound with its dual 3” system was wonderful

[@meandthefamily1485]

I also had the same car mate in 89 , brown check Recaros RS wheels , with 205 injection Capri tyres fitted Signal Amber on a early MK3 on a S plate 👍

[@brianward9973]

@@meandthefamily1485 great car, a different beast than the automatic Ghia version. I remember original road tests saying the Recaro’s added £££thousands to the cars feel alone.

[@meandthefamily1485]

@@brianward9973 I remember that road test write up he was bang on cheers

[@fasteddiers8418]

I own a 3.0s in the same colour, can't go anywhere without people taking pictures and wanting to talk capri, just makes people smile, also wanted to say I know of an escort rs2000 with a very similar registration number to the feature car, very cool and massive respect to the owner, thanks for the upload 👍

[@fasteddiers8418]

Ps your welcome to set up a test/ feature of my s if you feel the need cheers

[@MattB1981]

Period comparison on flickr: Ford Capri 3000 Ghia vs Ford Mustang II 5.0 V8 Ghia, both automatics, interesting read for performance figures etc. Capri: Top speed 118mph, 0-60 9.1, 20.4mpg. Mustang: Top speed 104mph, 0-60 10.5, 15.3mpg.

[@jimmypratt6450]

The Capri was an icon back in the day , i bought and sold many ghias , xl, gt , e 's etc always fun to drive even tho they didn't like going around corners too quicky and tail happy with the 3 litre . We put concrete slabs in the boot to try keep them stable lol . I once drove a jaguar conversion and that was terrifying .

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

Here we go, it didn't take long- the old urban myth about concrete slabs in the boot. I've heard that a million times, in over 30 years of being associated with Capris, I'm yet to meet anybody with a slab of concrete, or bag of sand in the boot. That would have been great in an accident- smashing through the collapsible rear seats and smashing your brains out over the dash..........

[@jimmypratt6450]

@@liverpoolscottish6430 The myth lives on lol don't spoil the fun 😂also don't forget to remove the giggling pin .

[@GuitarGuyATX]

I’ll never forget the Capri GT. I was 17, lived in Devon, UK. Walking into town to grab a bite to eat with my friends during school lunch break. A girl I had only seen a few times in school who had graduated a year before, pulled up and stopped beside us. “Hey Dave, I got a new car, get in” she said. She was beautiful ! So was her car. ! My friends were slack jawed and speechless. I got in and we drove away, her giggling, adjusting her blouse and batting eyes. Me, truthfully a bit bewildered at my lucky stars. The Capri barked its tires and left my friends staring at that sexy rear end. To my friends I became a legend. But we just went and ate lunch. 😉 It was the same color as the one you drove in the review. I’ll never forget the Capri, or that beautiful young lady who’s name I’ll keep a secret. It was a damn sexy car back then.

[@leolopezvalido1892]

Another great video Number 27! I grew up in the Ford Capri's heyday. And yes, when the "GTI" hot hatches appeared it was the end of an era. I was fortunate enough to drive many 3 litre versions: from being passengered in a very rough - and very fast - RS 2600 up Spanish mountain roads.. to thrashing a "chopped in" ex-police 3 litre S for a few days. Those manuals are a different animal to the autos, especially in soft Ghia spec. Yet I have always had a soft spot for these and other fast Fords. (Just look at the rally and racing heritage from the late 60's onwards.) Between my innumerable memories of the Ford Capri is the extremely rare version: no, not the Tickford. Way before that Jeff Uren developed a 3litre (originally a GXL I think) into the Uren Stampede: shoehorning in a 5.7litre V8 before anyone else had the idea. Motor magazine tested it, with the "fifth wheel" strapped on ; it ran a 5.7 seconds to 60mph! This was back in the '70's when tyre tech etc., was a world away from today. Funnily enough another old world car being built then was even faster. Anyone want to guess? It was the Panther J72 V12. These English "cottage industry" cars bring back fond memories. MG Costello anyone? To conclude, try a manual 3 litre, maybe a 3.0S. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.. All the best and thanks Number. 27!!

[@philipmccarthy6175]

My brother had a 3.0 ghia in gold with a black vinyl roof & it was a lovely car. Great memories of long drives.

[@russfoggan4092]

you need to drive a manual Jack, these were my car back in the day, didnt take much to hop them up back then but they always sounded good, Janspeed full system and a holly 4 barrel made a massive difference but back then we had loads of tuners for that engine

[@philzvids3577]

I had a MK3 3.0S V6 Capri, 1979 manual. In its day, it was a very cool car. From memory, 0-60 was 9 secs which is slow now, but was quick back then. I loved the car and only got rid of it to buy a 'family' car so first born could have a car seat in the back. I later discovered that the local garage could have put the child seat in the Capri! I was gutted. Around the same time that I owned the Capri, I test drove a very impractical Lancia Beta coupe with a 2.0 twin cam engine. Loved the car and the engine, but the body was full of rust. I never did get a Lancia unfortunately, but I did move from Ford to Alfa a few years later.

[@BigPaul62]

I'm a Capri nut, I own 3 of them!

[@ewaf88]

My friend had one , an early 70s model. Back in 1979 while he was 4 up, including me, He said watch this - Capri handling. We were actually going downhill and he tried to turn right where the road he needed was going up hill. He had full right lock. The Capri tried to take it but ended up going diagonally into a low brick wall. Such fun

[@70Kenny]

I really like the look of the Mark III Capri, which was never imported to North America. The example you drive in the video looks pretty well cared for. I always thought that the Mark III was more powerful than this, as European emissions requirements from the 1980’s didn’t stifle engine performance the way USA requirements did. A Mark III Capri with a 5.0 liter V8/six speed manual conversion would be a hell of great car!

[@juststeve5542]

I believe you're thinking of the 2.8i. Until I saw this video I didn't even know the 3.0 survived into the Mk3 (2 facelift). I always thought any 3.0 with the facelift had been given a bonnet/headlight swap (as my friend's one had). The 2.8i was 160hp from the factory. Plenty of tuning options eventually arrived. The 3.0 was easier to play with (injection being a hinderance at the time), triple webers and some loud pipes being popular in certain circles 😁 Performance wise, this 3.0 Ghia is ruined by the slushbox. I'm not sure, but 5 speed manual might have been available on the 2.8i.... If not, it's not the hardest job to steal one from a Sierra. And yes, V8s were possible. I never saw a US 5.0 transplanted, but the Buick derived rover 3.5 V8 did fit easily and made for some serious tail out fun.

[@user-bt2bb9gi2e]

Ah, the 3L Capri! When I was about 12 or 13, circa 1975'ish I used to help out on a farm, due to my interest in the subject and the farming life. At the time, the farmer's daughter had a boyfriend, whose family were all very successful national level, scramblers and grass track racers. If I was working on the weekend, when the boyfriend would be over to see his girlfriend at the end of the day, he'd ask if I wanted a lift home. A distance of about 6 miles, which I usually was happy to walk ( we were different in them days!). This was a real treat. He had a Capri 3L and coming from a family of racers, it was ' souped up '. It had spring attachments on the bonnet to stop it flying open while driving!. We'd get in the car and he'd always ask me - '' How fast d'you want to go? ''. Obviously, being a polite young lad, I'd say I'd leave it up to him. I remember it had black seats that you really sat in ( bucket seats ) and a snooker ball gear knob. It was the first car that I'd ever experienced being pushed back into my seat as he'd accelerate out of the bends, of which there were many. He was a very accomplished motorbike rider and I now realise he was also a bloody good driver too. This was in the mid 70's and I can see him now. Flares and platform boots, long hair with a centre parting and a spooncollar cheesecloth shirt. Happy days and God bless him. I've had a soft spot for the 3L ever since and thanks Ford for making a young man's weekends.

[@eze8970]

Thanks Jack, I think they were seen as previous generation drivers cars towards the end & suffered an image problem. Still, I liked the run out versions! 🙏🙏

[@caeserromero3013]

My Aunt had a nice looking black 2.8 Laser in the early 90's...but stacked it soon after getting it and it sat in our front garden for almost a year while she dealt with the insurers. In the end my mum had to call in a favour to get it towed to the scrap yard. My aunt was the personification of 'Drive it like you've just stolen it'. I remember her earlier Mk 2 Escort and once had a journey where I was sliding from one side of the vinyl rear seats to the other (no rear seat belts in those days) when she slung it round corners like a rally driver.

[@freespeech3673]

I think South Africa had a V8 called the Perana.

[@paulreed3716]

Yes you are correct..very fast indeed

[@TheSkip66]

So did ford Germany. Called the Mako. Mk3 or mk2 facelift. Look it up👍

[@davarosmith1334]

I remember it at the time, wishing it was going to be still be made. It still looked the business back then but that's history now!

[@Golo1949]

I had a 3LTR GT XLR early 197, in Light Orchid (pink). Had it for tens years great memories, petrol was cheap. Still think the first style was the best.

[@gibsalisbury]

I had a capri my first new car and loved it. Never had a problem. Fun little car to drive.

[@paultucker1272]

That's a lovely example. Try the late 2.8 Injection Special if you get a chance.......for me, that's peak Capri :)

[@davemorris9275]

I had a 79 mk3 3.0 ghia auto the same as yours but with a vinyl roof, my first car at 18, I loved that car and would love one again. They sound and look so good!!

[@janataman9196]

I owned in the 90´s two Capris, a green Mark II 1.6 and a golden Mark III 2.3. Both were not really fast, but very easy to control in corners, even when it´s wet. It was (surprising) very easy (and great fun) to control the outbreaking rear.

[@jimmer1976]

I’ve got a soft spot for these, my sister had a blue 1.6gl as her first car back in the late 80’s and her boyfriend had a Daytona yellow mk2 around the same time, sitting in those back seats as a nipper was quite a comfy place to be 👌

[@stuffhappens5681]

Always liked the look of these cars, particularly the early iterations. Good proportions, perfect size. Looking at them today the main thing that dates them are the small diameter wheels and little tires. I almost never see them for sale here in America. And I cannot remember the last time I saw one on the road. Would probably be a fairly affordable classic car to own if you can find one.

[@barrycuda3769]

They sold a lot of them in America though didn't they.

[@stuffhappens5681]

@@barrycuda3769 - A lot of the cars people salivate over crossing the block at Barrett-Jackson sold in big numbers when new. Most went back to Mother Earth. Considering the hundreds of millions of cars that have disappeared over the last hundred years makes one realize the earth is a lot bigger than we’re being led to believe.

[@barrycuda3769]

@@stuffhappens5681 Demolition derby's and salt on roads didnt help.

[@cjb8010]

@@stuffhappens5681they sold them as the Mercury Capri in the US.

[@gixxer750r3]

they were sold in the US as Mercury Capri. Loved that car with a V-6. Great quality and good looks. wish I could find one.

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

In Australia, quite a few people put 5.0 ltr V8's into the Capri and upgraded the suspension. They were very fast and great sport cars.

[@Schlipperschlopper]

In South Africa there were V8 powered Piranha Capris available right from factory!

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

@@Schlipperschlopper Really? Didn't know that. I will have a look. Thanks for the info. Cheers

[@monk3yboy69]

@BatManoe2gh Ford SA used the V8 from the Mustang at that time. I was under the impression that it was some these that had somehow made it to Aus. But I cannot find any reference to it. Any idea of the motors in the Aussie versions ?

[@Schlipperschlopper]

@@BatMan-oe2gh kzbin.info/www/bejne/gorFdH95h8t1pac

[@BatMan-oe2gh]

@@monk3yboy69 No V8 Capris made it to Australia. Some people put Ford 302 Windsor or Cleveland V8's into them. Some even put 351 Cleveland's in them as well for drag racing.

[@domtoni4567]

Giac, I had two Capris, the first was an early US import with the 1.6 cross flow engine and a single throat carb. It was called a Crapi. Everything that held fluids, leaked. The body started to rust in a year. Drove fantastically and I loved it. I have fond memories of it. The second was a series 2 with the 2.3 long stroke brazil engine. Engine was garbage, car waddled, and had poor driveability until I put 185/70x13 Uniroyal 240s on it. Changed the car completely. But really, the first car was far better.

[@marinopacini2990]

I had several capris in the 80's mostly 2.0 but I did have a 3.0 for a while , I converted it from auto to manual and loved it to bits . It was a lovely thing to drive . I uprated the suspension but not the brakes which were pathetic for the power available. But by the time I had had it for a few years into the early 90's it became that things like bx gtis etc could keep up with you and as soon as the boy racers saw the twin tail pipes they wanted to race all the time. I got fed up with proving a point that yes I can go around a corner and yes it does accelerate etc and sold the car. I should add the tin worm was rife by then. I think most of this video I agree with a fair assesment . the tail out fun that could be had was addictive as a young man .

[@bogusmogus9551]

the ideal conversion was to get the rear axle and single leaf suspension from an injection special and also the vented discs to put on a 3.0. Also the five speed box as well, Not too sure about the bell housing though if there was a conversion kit or it would fit the essex from the cologne.

[@abinam2255]

Loved my Capri ... my first car, a 1.6L 1979 model, bought 2nd hand when I graduated from Uni in 1983. I still love the unique shape.

[@mariopizzamanmario8563]

Haha you did it! You should try my 3.4 liter Capri... or actually, it will be a 3.0 again after I installed the S-type V6 (270HP...). If you dare... and if I get it done. The thing is, I have a Fiat 500, a Mini, a Capri, an X1/9.... and now all that is left be fore you tried them all, are a Range Rover and a Citroën Visa... Then the wife has a Fiësta, daughter has a Ka and son has a Puma. LMAO!!

[@swanvictor887]

had a capri back in the 90s, bought for just 250 quid, immaculate! fire-engine red mk3 in amazing condition but my mechanic who took it for a job, couldn't sell it! Nobody wanted them! I had it for several years and Loved it...fantastic car of my dreams. The ONLY car that can get you laid!! Girls LOVED Capri's!

[@deanstevenson6527]

🥝✔️ In the US, this catagory is called the Specialty Coupé. To create it in the Ford of Europe version, its differentiation is the extra 5 inches from the A pillar to the leading edge of the wheel arch on the Escort, not the Mark II Cortina. Its a Mark 1 Escort undeneath, with Its IFS suspension and Rack and Pinion steering and the Atlas Kolin Axle. The Consul Capri glass house, with the Mustang style 1931 Bugatti Royalé esque style hood length and back slopping nose rake. Ford had the Escort unibody paid off, so the Capri II Facelift continued. The key was that Ford worked the mock Company Executive market, perfectly. Ford didnt know how to continue the concept in a European idiom.

[@freedman917]

Having came from a Cortina 1600E via a Mk1 Golf I absolutely loved my Mk11 3.0Ghia, Manual. Did a lot of miles in it and it was absolutely superb, and yes it was good fun on roundabouts :)

[@theoriginaldanalogue]

This engine is much better with a manual gearbox. I have this engine in my Scimitar GTE and it certainly isn’t sluggish. Especially with the watts rear linkage suspension. Makes it handle very well too. I would love to see what you think in a comparison, as the Scimitar grossly underrated. So much cheaper and so much better in my opinion. You’re welcome to drive mine. It’s a bit tatty though! Runs well however!

[@justinbrown6558]

I would love to see this! My dad had two scimitars (not at the same time) in the early-mid 70’s. Still eye catching today, and Princess Anne had one! 😉😂

[@theoriginaldanalogue]

@@justinbrown6558 Pahaha she did indeed. On paper, the Scimitar is a much more sophisticated design. The early ones are pretty light. My one feels pretty nimble when you plant your right foot. Value wise, the Fords are worth so much more but looks wise, the Scimitar does it for me.

[@justinbrown6558]

@@theoriginaldanalogue agreed. Personally, I think the scimitars should be the more valuable car. Ogle design, I believe. If ever I see one (which is pretty rare these days) I always stop to take it in, including the dash/instrumentation. Way more stylish than a capri, in my opinion! 😉👍🏻

[@theoriginaldanalogue]

@@justinbrown6558 agreed. I really rate the scimitars. I drive mine all the time. Having also owned a Capri, the Scimitar is a much more sophisticated design. Brilliant handling car.

[@davidhatred7275]

my cousins bf had two over the years, a green and silver one and a red one with a liverpool fc badge on the bonnet, was so much fun driving about in the summer, RIP neil! good video!

[@jontheodore8450]

Great Video brings back memories had a MK1 1.6 as second car then 3.0 Chia, blow the box converted to manual using breakers then blew the engine, stuck a reconditioned engine it from a local engineering company then moved on to a 2.8i Special. They were great cars cheap for parts fun to drive especially when getting the back sideways, think they call it drifting now in those days it was just driving a Capri, Happy days…

[@RJN82]

My first car was a 1973 Capri with the 2.6L V6. The car was quite luxurious with a swing out map light that also served as a g-meter during hard turns. It had an electro-mechanical clock, full gauge package, chrome bumpers, black out grill, and other stylish features. I kept the car until 1990 and 175,000 miles when the transmission would no longer shift out of first gear during a long trip in Florida. The four speed manual was geared very low in first so I had to drive 100 miles with a top speed of 25 mph to get back home. Near the end I had to remove and clean the back plugs every few hundred miles due to fouling. I've still got my old articulated spark plug wrench and gapping tool though they haven't been used in 33 years.

[@philipgreensmith1694]

V4, turbo, 3.1 rs, loads of engines. 280 brooklands has to be the best looking though

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Loved that voice from the start. Always heard it as a child on many adverts, it was Patrick Allen, a super actor and great voice. Liked Ford cars too. For me, the best salesman for the Ford Capri was Lewis Collins.

[@gregtaylor6146]

The earlier 3000E and 3000GT was a FAR nicer car in every respect!

[@67daltonknox]

I fancied one, but by the time I had the cash, I opted for a MkII Supra which gave me 205,000 very enjoyable (and reliable) miles

[@davyboy888]

Now Jack... let me tell you... the Ford Capri was one of the greatest cars ever made [IMO :)]. I had many of them and I absolutely adored them. The Mk 3 3.0S and 2.8i Special were my favourites. I drove the absolute nuts off them everywhere - high speed tail out slides at 80mph-90mph along fast bends on A-roads in the wet, particularly with the 2.8i Special and its LSD were just an absolute hoot. The wail of the V6 at full chat was pure music... particularly with the Janspeed exhaust. They were properly fast and in their day the thing to have in touring car racing. Anyway, to see how they should be driven, here's BTCC star Jake Hill in Ric Wood's Gorgeous Gitannes 3.0S at Goodwood. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmrFm52AYrx5b7c

[@bugattieb110ss]

Even Better - Jake Hill in a Calsonic GTR32 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fIXIe4B3dq50pLc

[@davyboy888]

If you're talking Group A Skylines then it doesn't get much better than the to die for HR31... here's three of them screaming their heads off at Philip Island a few weeks back. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2qpg6qve7Wdp5o

[@regisdumoulin]

I remember coming to the UK as an Erasmus exchange student in 1991 and seeing these on the road. What surprised me at the time was that a lot of them were new or fairly new as opposed to the old ones I could see in France where I came from... And thinking these face-lifted versions looked pretty good. In fact I still think they look good now!

[@rob19632]

I had a 3.0 with 2.8injection interior brakes and suspension, great fun

[@macdodd]

You are a very lucky man getting to drive such an ICONIC car. I drove a few different Fords but never had the good fortune to drive one of these.

[@jonctr]

A Capri Ghia - Del boy would be proud ! Got to be a Mk3 for me after watching endless episodes of The Professionals as a kid :) 2.8i Special and the Tickford were early objects of desire as a teenager

[@neilwalsh4058]

Your wording, your reactions, your body language say it all. Like every Ford from before the Focus , it smacks of Bang Average. I nearly bought a W-reg 3 litre Ghia in 1987 but the day after viewing it I saw a FIAT 131 Sport, a year newer , same mileage. Drove that and despite the 131 being a 2 litre and half the price of the Capri , it was twice the car

[@Grahame59]

5:50 looks like the second-hand on the clock is going round backwards! Quite apt for such a superb example that takes you back in time. My dad had a 2-litre Ghia (I was aged 16) and I really enjoyed this video. Thanks Jack. Edit: just watched the end of the vid now and at 13:08 the second-hand is ticking the correct way. What's going on, Jack, we need to be told!

[@strongbowism]

Enjoyed the video Jack👍 My first car at 17 back in 83' was a 'S' plate Mk2 Signal Amber/ Black Vinyl roof 1.6 s, loved that car. Two years later I changed it for a lovely mini mileage 'A' plate Mk3 Black 2.0 s off a work colleague who bought it new. To me I preferred the cleaner lines of the Mk2 but both great cars back in the day. I aspired to later own a 3.0 s or 2.8 Injection but other cars got in the way. Would I like one today? Yes especially in rare Mk2 3.0 s Guise.

[@barryrathbone]

That is a stunning example. Only ever drove one capri a 3.0S and ended up facing the wrong way on the first roundabout! You are so right about modern day cars seats and comfort the seats in my first car (Renault 4) were like sitting on my coach. Never understood the 1.3 engine in the capri though!

[@bogusmogus9551]

Yeah, I ended up going round a roundabout twice in the wet, unintentionally.

[@kevingreen8581]

Great video. In the early 1980s I owned a Mark 2 Capri 1600 in red with a black roof. Then in 1987 I bought my dad's Capri Mark 3 which was a 2.0 GL in Gold. The exact same colour you test drove here. My dad had bought the gold capri in 1980 brand new . It was I think Solar Gold, and there was another softer shade of gold Capri that my Uncle owned . I sold the Capri in 1993 for just £250 part exchange after being in the family for 13 years. The car had 73k on the clock and I traded it in for a Ford Sierra as I had a small family. Happy days.

[@project9320]

Had a BOA Cosworth with a T5 box until a couple of years ago. Absolute weapon.

[@mikeperth8027]

I always loved the look of the Capri's. A mate of mine here in Western Australia had this model, not the Ghia, I'm pretty sure it was the lowest model with the little 4 cylinder engine, he put a 302 cubic inch V8 into it with an Aussie 4speed manual and a cut down nine inch diff from a Ford Falcon.

[@DaveInYateley]

I owned a few Capri's. The 1975 1600 XL auto, the 1979 3.0 Ghia auto and finally the 1984 2.8i auto (yes auto). My favourite was the 3.0 Ghia and I used that daily for 12 years - up to 2000. Beautiful cars. Nothing produced today comes close! I really miss that 3.0 Ghia Capri!!

[@clacton17]

I am 70 years old, I had a Mk 1 3 ltr dark blue JCC 61 H back in 1973/4. Like most people who had one I spun it hitting a side of a hill (no barriers). dented all panels, all 4 of us got out without injuries. Just my proud shot to pieces. Had it for a year in total loved every minute of it. Never bought another car on Hire purchase again, paying for 2 years with no car.

[@andyhill6398]

My dad in law had a 3.0 Ghia but ordered it with a 4 speed manual . Loved that car.

[@weedaviec]

I had a mk2 Escort with those alloys on it. I didn't like the alloys but the car was a hoot. Whenever it snowed I was straight out the door and on the backroads chucking it about. Many a bend was miscalculated and a few fences were harmed in the process. Incredible fun.

[@redlineste4283]

My first car was a Capri 1.6 Calypso. Definitely got one cos i watched the Professionals. I drove mine like Bodie & Doyle everywhere. Those was the days.

[@kevmagill5163]

That is one of the nicest Capris I've seen. I would love to have a Capri in my life again. Now the 2600RS goes for almost 90,000 euros. But this sweet 3 litre Ghia would be very affordable and desirable. Awesome.

[@captainbimble]

I had two mark 3 Capris. A 1980 3 litre S and a 1981 1.6 GL. I loved them both. The 1.6 was the same colour as the one in this video. Ford Venus Gold. Lovely!

[@Slaktrax]

I owned a 1974 Capri 3.0 GXL I decided to have the engine rebuilt as a 3.1, stage II and fitted with the Weber 40 DFI5 (a Weber 38 DGAS was standard fitment). It was a nice, simple car which I enjoyed as a young 24 year old for 3 years. Yes, it's handling and brakes were not the best, but pretty average for the time. I was surprised to see the Essex V6 actually had fabricated exhaust manifolds. Though I had the chance to drive the German version, they came with the much better Cologne V6 with the choice of a 2.0, 2.3, 2.6 and 2.8 engine. The last of these had mechanical fuel injection and a 5-speed box. IIRC a few were imported into the U.K. in RHD as the Capri 2.8 Brooklands which was so much better than the UK version. A nice honest car without any of the electronics and gizmos which cause a lot of the reliability issues nowadays.

[@darrensmith6999]

Beautiful! Spent a lot of time in these as a young lad in the 80s Happy Days (:

[@rob5944]

My of my school friends dad's had one very similar to this but in bronze with a cream interior. I had a ride in the back once and I remember thinking what a gorgeous car it was and wished we had something like that!

[@malcholden5357]

The car you always promised yourself. I wanted one as my first car but I let my dad talk me out of one on favour of a MK3 Cortina. To this day I don’t remember ever driving one. I’ll not own one but I’d love to hire one for a week to scratch the lifelong itch. Great video Jack. I did enjoy this and the F430 vs 308.