CAR magazine delves into the history of the ultimate working class hero – the 1969-1981 Ford Capri
Today is D Day for Ford fans across Europe. The moment they’ve been waiting for is now upon us – a new Capri is launched, some 37 years after the last one fell off the price lists. Here we take a fond look back at its legendary namesake.
Unlike the car, the name wasn’t really new: In the 1950s, the Americans already had their Lincoln Capri, and on the British market there was the Consul Capri. Later we had the Mercury Capri, which was developed in Australia and was the sad end to a highly promising side-story. The sexier Capris were coming. First was the UK’s 3000GT at the end of 1969. Using the 2994cc 138bhp ‘Essex’ unleashed genuine performance. For just over £1000, you got a 120mph top speed, and 0-60mph of less than 10 seconds. But that was soon eclipsed by Germany’s RS2600 , which featured Kugelfischer fuel injection and made 150bhp. It would soon form the basis of Ford’s Group 2 activities in the European Touring Car Championship.
Ford once again followed the mantra of offering a Capri for all drivers, meaning you could now buy a Capri L, GL or Ghia – just like a Cortina or any other run-of-the-mill model in the range. Sales did take a hit with the new car and, although the 3000S, Ghia and JPS Special edition went someway towards making the Mk2 sexy.The oh-so sensible Mk2 made way for the Mk3 in what must be one of the industry’s must successful facelifts, ever.
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