BUYING GUIDE
After years of climbing ever-upwards, there are signs that prices for the Blue Oval’s effortlessly cool coupé are cooling off. So it’s a good time to buy – if you find a good one. Here’s how to do exactly that
The Sixties came to a memorable end with a man on the moon, Concorde taking to the skies and the arrival of Dagenham’s muscle car. It brought Ford into a new decade of style and innovation. That long bonnet, rear-wheel drive and broad range of engines – some spicy, some less so – served up an appealing ownership experience.
And yet the Capri project may never have happened had the Mustang not been such a runaway success for Ford in the US market. The US car led directly to the European one, and although the Capri was never as successful as its American counterpart, 1.2 million sales notched up in five years was still pretty good going. The Capri’s extensive model range meant that just about anybody could afford to buy one; having a dealer in every town helped, too.
Ford launched the Capri in the UK in February 1969, with Kent (1300, 1300 GT, 1600, 1600 GT) engines or there was a V4-engined 2000 GT. The desirable GT models came with more power and extra instruments. The first V6-powered Capri – the 3000GT – was introduced in September 1969 and really was the car that everyone had promised themselves.
Afacelift in September 1972 brought 151 changes, including modified suspension, a range-wide bonnet bulge, larger front lamps with bumper- mounted indicators and rear lamps incorporating reversing lights. There was also anew dash and better seats and the 1600 Kent engine was replaced by the 1600 Pinto.
The millionth Capri was built in August 1973 (an RS2600 in Cologne), before the MkII took over a few months later. There aren’t huge numbers to choose from today, so it pays to get in with the clubs in the search for your perfect Capri.
WHY I LOVE MY CAPRI MkI
‘I bought it from a sales company that looked after British forces in Germany where I was based at the time and drove it home to Wales, where I registered it, soon after. It had seven miles on it when I picked it up and I’ve been enjoying it ever since.
‘The engine is very simple to maintain but parts – trim and things like that – can be a little tricky to get hold of. And body panels, too. Not that I worry about such things – mine is what it was on the day I picked it up! It really is like new. I feel happier driving the Capri than a modern car because it’s not so wide, there are no blind spots and it’s simple to maintain. I do sometimes forget that it only has four gears; but apart from that it still has the capacity to thrill. It really is a great car to drive and that view down the bonnet still makes me smile, eve
