Car of the Week

Owner: Ken Todd: Stirling

The Ford Capri is a fastback coupe’ built by Ford of Europe, designed by Philipe T Clark. It used the mechanical components from the Mk2 Ford Cortina and was intended as the European equivalent of the Ford Mustang. The Capri went on to be highly successful for Ford, selling nearly 1.9 million units in its lifetime.

Ford Capri Mk I (1969–1974)
Production of the Capri began in November 1968 and was unveiled in January 1969 at the Brussels Motor Show. The intention was to reproduce, in Europe, the success Ford had had with the North American Ford Mustang by producing a European pony car. It was mechanically based on the Cortina, built in Belgium and Germany and in the UK at the Halewood plant. The car was named Colt during its development stage, but Ford was unable to use the name, which had already been trademarked by Mitsubishi.

Mk I facelift
The Capri proved highly successful, with 400,000 cars sold in its first two years. Ford revised it in late 1971. It received new and more comfortable suspension, enlarged taillights (replacing the one sourced from the Escort Mk1) and new seats. Larger headlamps with separate indicators were also fitted, with quad headlamps now featured on the 3000GXL model.

Ford Capri Mk II – 'Capri II' (1974–1978)
On 25 February 1974, the Capri II was introduced. Ford chose to make the new car more suited to everyday driving with a shorter bonnet, larger cabin and the adoption of a hatchback rear door to the 630-litre boot. This first Ford car hatchback came at a time when the hatchback was becoming increasingly popular in Europe after first being patented by Renault in the mid-1960s.

By the standards of the mid-1970s, the Capri II was well evolved with very few reliability issues. For Germany the Capri now offered 1.3-litre, 1.6-litre, 1.6-litre GT, or 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder engines, plus a 2.3-litre V6. The UK sourced a 3.0-litre V6 available with either a four-speed Ford Type 5 manual transmission or one of Ford's new C3 three-speed automatic transmissions, available on all models except the 1.3-litre. The C3 automatic transmission proved so popular with Ghia buyers it became standard, after 1976 models, with the four-speed manual transmission as optional.

Although mechanically similar to the Mark I, the Capri II had a larger body and a more modern dashboard and a smaller steering wheel. The Capri still maintained the large rectangular headlights, which became the easiest way to distinguish between a Mark II and a Mark III with its circular headlamps.

Ford Capri Mk III (1978–1986)
The Capri Mk III was referred to internally as "Project Carla", and although little more than an update of the Capri II, it was often referred to as the Mk III. The first cars were available in March 1978, and sold very well initially. The concept of a heavily facelifted Capri II was shown at the 1976 Geneva show: a Capri II with a front very similar to the Escort RS2000 (with four headlamps and black slatted grille), and with a rear spoiler.

Series X
The Mark II and Mark III 3.0 litre X-pack special performance options pack for the Capri were offered between 1977 and 1980.

Ken’s car is an early 1977 Capri 3.0 X Pack with original Factory X Pack panels. It is finished in very rare Cobalt Blue. Seats are original Recaro chequered with Fishnet headrests, and it retains the original 4 speed gearbox. Very few of these cars were made and they are a very rare sight now. The Capri has a cult following in the UK and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver owned a 1970 Ford Capri 3000GT.

Since owning his Capri Ken has rebuilt the engine and fitted aluminium timing gears , unleaded heads , refurbished and skimmed, new Webber carb, all new leads, dizzy, coil and chromed alternator. The engine bay has also been highly detailed.

Ken has attended many classic car shows with the car including Thirlestane, Glamis and Moffat. The car also goes on many scenic runs with other members of his own club, Central Scotland Capri Club. The Club regularly has runs to Kenmore, Pitlochry, St Andrews and Glencoe enjoying the lovely scenery on the way.

This car drives and sounds excellent and brings many smiles to the driver and the viewing public.

General information Source: Wikipedia
1. Wikipedia: Autocar 196701