Capri - The Death Of An Automotive Icon

[Steve509926]

Those of a certain age will recall how iconic the Capri was during the 70S and 80s. I had two of them. The first was a MKI 1.6, White with the obligatory red stripe down the side. The second was a MKII 3.0 Ghia Auto, metallic chocolate brown, beige vinyl roof, beige leather interior (plastic!), jacked 2" at the rear. I loved both cars, but especially the 3.0 Ghia, I thought I was the Dogs Bollocks at the time.

So imagine my horror this morning when I saw a big, ugly, bright yellow SUV on my younger neighbours drive with the word C A P R I emblazoned on he back. My neighbour came out when he saw me looking at it " Bet that takes you back a bit", no it doesn't! Each to their own but its as ugly as sin and doesn't deserve the name Capri to be on the back of it.

Why couldn't Ford call it something else - Corfu, Faliraki anything but Capri!

[Fenlander]

I'm with you on this but I guess it only matters to those of us in our more senior years.

Like you I went through the Capri phase when I was about 22. It was a modest 1600ohc model but a minter and looked great in that yellow with black vinyl roof plus the Hella driving lamps I added after that image was taken. So typical of its era. Mum had a bright orange Mk.2 2.0 GT (or perhaps an S, four headlamps and high back seats etc) also a few years later and that was a really nice motor.

In the background was Mrs F's first car after being a biker for a few years, a purple 1500 Mk.1 Cortina with no more than slightly wide wheels and a leather sports steering wheel added.

We had a good amount of interesting cars during that period, many being well thought of classics now. Fun days back then.

[Steve509926]

Nice looking Capri David. I loved the Daytona yellow colour at the time, it's perhaps a little to ostentatious for my tastes now.

[scrambler]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

So imagine my horror this morning when I saw a big, ugly, bright yellow SUV on my younger neighbours drive with the word C A P R I emblazoned on he back.

Black 2.0S myself. Sheep in wolf's clothing!

[Steve509926]

The 3.0 litre V6 was IMO, a great engine which could be tuned pretty easily to get the most out of it. Such a shame that the auto box was rubbish on acceleration it was a good cruiser though. I'm sure the auto was only 3 speed, I know some people stripped them out and replaced them with a 5 speed manual box, I never got the chance to do that. I met Diane and it was either her or the car, couldn't afford both at the time.

[willk]

*sniffs*

What is that? Burnt oil and dangly vanilla Christmas Trees?

or Mothballs & Wintergreen liniment?

[Steve509926]

Originally Posted by willk

Mothballs & Wintergreen liniment?

I'm a modern man, I use Voltarol !

[Fenlander]

>>>The 3.0 litre V6 was IMO, a great engine...

Yes in some was I felt it was a better drive than the later 2.8, I drove them both in the Granada body so tugging some bulk. Got to know the 2.8 V6 engine very well having bought a lovely Ghia from a deceased farming estate for peanuts but where the guy didn't believe in oil changes, grade or quality so that was a full rebuild.

BTW it was Feu Orange for me.