Hi,
If you're in your 40's you and can remember the Sweeney and the professionals burning their tyres on the tarmac in their fords. (I don't think any of the British Leyland cars on loan did this.)
Ford came up with the European version of the mustang. At first the Capri was a two door with a boot. If you wanted the convertible you had to go to Crayfords.
A missed opportunity.
The mark II had rectangle head lights and a hatchback. Ford did put a V8 in their rally cars and added 4X4, but the road cars had a V4 or V6 engines.
The mark III was a sleeker car harking back to the original, once again the hatchback had no convertible. Later add-ons had turbo or diesel engines fitted, aircon and spring suspension. Tickford did their own version.
Whiffing could lead to a saloon version although an estate version may need a donor estate with the bonnet and front wings chopped off, the front end could be fitted. Or a half track added. Camper van, pick up or beach buggy. The emergency services such as the police had their own.
There are a few kits in the larger scales still available.
Oxford dicast's do the Capris from the Professionals in 1/76 scale they even have the correct number plates
Just a correction and having spent the first 25 years of my life in the UK and the last 31 here in Canada, I can tell you that the European Ford Capri is nothing like a North American Ford Mustang which was, under the Mercury badge, called a Capri.
Having said that, I can remember the German student that brought her Capri when she was staying at my Mom's house (at that time Bournemouth's main trade was teaching English at a number of colleges and the students were boarded out at peoples homes), the girl's name was Ute Glemser (Glemsa maybe ?) and she raced cars in Formula VW, Formula Ford and these Capries in another class. Her brother was the German champion in one of the classes too (their Dad was the owner of the Coca-Cola franchise in Germany). This car of Ute's had a V-6 with a six-speed gearbox and while driving around town could only get into second when we got onto a dual-carriage road.
Yes the name Capri was applied to the mercury (which was the badged mustang) from 1979-1991 in the states although the European Capri was sold through Lincon-Mercury dealerships- the ford logo was dropped and the name Capri added to the hood.
The Australians based their Capri on the Mazda 323.
The European models marks I, II, and III were also sold.
The South Africains based their conversions on the European mark I's.
As photos are worth thousands of words, this is what I remember the Capri looking like.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhomepage.uab.edu%2Fbmclean%2Fpics%2F73capri.jpg&hash=86669cbe105e7462abc5737f70abcca179cd70d9)
I'm a 43y/o Yank, raised in Texas, so let's all make sure we're speaking of the same car.
IMHO, best whif modification would be a shooting brake like the old Volvo p1800es. ;D
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorbase.com%2Fpictures%2Fcontributions%2F990720%2F%2Fstd_1972_volvo_1800es_sport_wagon-rvr_max_.jpg&hash=aad12dd76dcc34597b75cdd4ce7e0b54c18d3489)
There are two Capri kits I know about the old Airfix Mk I kit in 1/32 & Tamiya's 1/24 Zakspeed Capri which was a DTM car based on the Mk III, both like rocking horse poo. I've always fancied turning the Tamyia Zakspeed kit into a Mad Max MFP style Interceptor with lights on a roof bar, yellow, red white & blue paint job.
I've very fond memories of a girl who had a 3 litre Capri ;D :wub:
Quote from: RotorheadTX on August 28, 2010, 02:16:26 PM
As photos are worth thousands of words, this is what I remember the Capri looking like.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhomepage.uab.edu%2Fbmclean%2Fpics%2F73capri.jpg&hash=86669cbe105e7462abc5737f70abcca179cd70d9)
I'm a 43y/o Yank, raised in Texas, so let's all make sure we're speaking of the same car.
That's the one :thumbsup:
IMHO, best whif modification would be a shooting brake like the old Volvo p1800es. ;D
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorbase.com%2Fpictures%2Fcontributions%2F990720%2F%2Fstd_1972_volvo_1800es_sport_wagon-rvr_max_.jpg&hash=aad12dd76dcc34597b75cdd4ce7e0b54c18d3489)
Can anyone remember a TV show the Beeb put on called 'Autorally' or something like that. I used to watch that avidly back in the 70's and when Ford introduced the 4Wheel drive Capris which promptly kicked everyone's keester in the series. So much so the next year they got a 30 second start delay but still went on to win the races.
Didn't Airfix make a 1/32 scale kit of the Capri, I'n sure I converted one to run on the Scalextric track we had.
Looking at various pictures it is apparent to me that the European Ford Capri and the US Mercury Capri were the same between 1970 and 1979.
From 1979 the US Capri was a rebadged Ford Mustang. I really don't get the point of auto badge-engineering where rival firms sell the same car under different badges with mildly different trims.
Wikipedia states that Capri's were imported to the US from Germany with certain modifications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Capri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Capri)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Capri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Capri)
Quote from: kitnut617 on August 29, 2010, 07:26:36 AM
Didn't Airfix make a 1/32 scale kit of the Capri, I'n sure I converted one to run on the Scalextric track we had.
Yeah they did, although you'll have trouble finding one that's not going for silly money. Airfix recentely released a few of it's old 1/32 cars both under it's own lable & a Hayne's one. Maybe they'll come around to the Capri, although a quick search seems to suggest it the mould was converted into the 'Krackle Kat' custom version. I think they did the same with some of their other other 1/32 kits & several of the moulds are supposed to be worn out, sold on or missing.
Never seen a European Capri over here, I've seen loads of these though
http://members.tip.net.au/~jcarroll/capri/pix/misc/1979MercuryCapri.jpg
Quote from: Nick on August 29, 2010, 10:38:53 AM
Looking at various pictures it is apparent to me that the European Ford Capri and the US Mercury Capri were the same between 1970 and 1979.
From 1979 the US Capri was a rebadged Ford Mustang. I really don't get the point of auto badge-engineering where rival firms sell the same car under different badges with mildly different trims.
Interesting, because I got here in 1980, I'm sure I should have seen some of them running around.
Ford = bottom of the line
Mercury = in the middle
Cadilac = top of the line
Not really 'rival' companies Nick, all are under the Ford roof, just aimed at different clientele
Quote
Ford = bottom of the line
Mercury = in the middle
Cadilac = top of the line
Actually, it's Ford - Mercury - Lincoln. Cadillac is a GM product.
Quote from: RotorheadTX on August 29, 2010, 12:45:18 PM
Quote
Ford = bottom of the line
Mercury = in the middle
Cadilac = top of the line
Actually, it's Ford - Mercury - Lincoln. Cadillac is a GM product.
D'oh!! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: (erm, you can tell I'm not into cars --- ;D)
The Ford Sierra and Scorpio were also briefly sold in the US and Canada under the Merkur name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkur
The Sierra was called XR4Ti, which to me always looked like XRATi. ;D
Quote from: NARSES2 on August 29, 2010, 01:36:15 AM
I've very fond memories of a girl who had a 3 litre Capri ;D :wub:
I had a 3ltr Capri.........................you keep your sordid thoughts to yerself. LOL. (LOVED THAT CAR)
Quote from: joncarrfarrelly on August 29, 2010, 02:21:33 PM
The Ford Sierra and Scorpio were also briefly sold in the US and Canada under the Merkur name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkur
The Sierra was called XR4Ti, which to me always looked like XRATi. ;D
Ford US also marketed the Ford Escort & early models of the Ford Focus before launching it's own version. I think the Mercury Lynx was based on the Escort as well.
The XR4Ti just missed out the 'T' over here, being XR4i. XRATi is a pretty good name for it, it was quite a beast (at least in Europe anyway), I think our local Police had some as armed response cars, although that might have been the even quicker Cosworth version.
Quote from: Nick on August 29, 2010, 10:38:53 AM
Looking at various pictures it is apparent to me that the European Ford Capri and the US Mercury Capri were the same between 1970 and 1979.
From 1979 the US Capri was a rebadged Ford Mustang. I really don't get the point of auto badge-engineering where rival firms sell the same car under different badges with mildly different trims.
Wikipedia states that Capri's were imported to the US from Germany with certain modifications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Capri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Capri)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Capri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Capri)
Back in the British Motor Company before British Leyland. You could buy an Austin 1300, or the MG, Vandas plas, or Reliey. Same with the mini, austin, morris, wosley, reliey, hornet, and elf. Most of the front wheel drive cars produced by BMC could have four different badges, different spec depending onyour budget.
Quote from: McColm on August 30, 2010, 04:25:17 AM
Back in the British Motor Company before British Leyland. You could buy an Austin 1300, or the MG, Vandas plas, or Reliey. Same with the mini, austin, morris, wosley, reliey, hornet, and elf. Most of the front wheel drive cars produced by BMC could have four different badges, different spec depending onyour budget.
There was even an Austin America! I helped assemble the prototype even. :)
It looked just like a 2 door Austin GT (if ever there was a mis-named car that was one!) with two-tone paintwork etc. But it had air-con as standard which reduced the power from the 1275 cc engine to about 50 bhp going downhill. NOT the fastest car on the block!
Quote from: Mossie on August 29, 2010, 05:15:38 PM
Ford US also marketed the Ford Escort & early models of the Ford Focus before launching it's own version. I think the Mercury Lynx was based on the Escort as well.
Yes, as far as the Focus (1st gen in all markets shared the same platform) is concerned, not
exactly for the Escort though.
Ford's ballyhooed
world car, wasn't.
While the 1st generation US market Escort shared its general appearance and an engine with the 3rd gen European car, they were
actually two different vehicles. The 2nd & 3rd gen US Escorts are Mazda based.
I remember back in 1987/8 whilst on holiday in florida, seeing a small mustang, this looked like the ford escort.
Quote from: McColm on August 31, 2010, 03:58:21 AM
I remember back in 1987/8 whilst on holiday in florida, seeing a small mustang, this looked like the ford escort.
You probably saw an Escort EXP, which kind of looked like the 80s Mustang.
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthegarageblog.com%2Fgarage%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fford_exp_red_1985_c.jpg&hash=07beaaec95619d91913d7f1e3b7375995203f389)
1st gen EXP
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthegarageblog.com%2Fgarage%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F1986fordexp.jpg&hash=194ee0d00c2e7b27b0885765387b5e60a570cabe)
2nd gen EXP
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F1%2F1f%2F%252783-%252786_Ford_Mustang_Liftback_%2528Centropolis_Laval_%252710%2529.jpg%2F800px-%252783-%252786_Ford_Mustang_Liftback_%2528Centropolis_Laval_%252710%2529.jpg&hash=9679f00b7885b0cd24d8077376d16b54694a796b)
83 -86 Mustang
(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.musclecardrive.com%2Fford%2Fimages%2F1987-mustang-gt-lx6.jpg&hash=1c22ae20cf4f60f21dd7663e885130585c59936d)
87 Mustang
Thanks for clearing that up. :thumbsup: :cheers:
Going back to the Capri, I saw a 'V' reg one the other day in excellent nick. Diamond white with black cheat line. From the roar I'd guess it was one of the big 2.9's or 3.0 L jobs..Beautiful. I only had a 1.6 model for a while, blaze orange with ther black vynil roof. God I loved that car!!!!
You can still pick up a 1.6L Laser MKIII for under £5000. The 2.8's varry in price from £5000 upwards. The Tickfords go for £10,000. The 3 litre is even rarer.
Usually the Cossie engines are sourced from donor cars.
Other models from Ford/Mercury have come close such as: The Probe/EXP-1993-1997
and the Cougar/ZX2-1998-2002.
Is there a resin/plastic aftermarket kit of the Ford Cosworth engine?
I've seen 'real world' Cossies fitted to the European Ford Capri and Ford Granada / Consul (2 door) and thought I could do a Whiff conversion in 1/24 scale.
I know that I can get the V8 and V6 engines in 1/24, but a Cossie seems a bit rare these days.
Tamiya do the 1/24 Ford Escort RS Cosworth kit, not too sure if there's a detailed engine with it.
I've also seen the Merc with the Cossie engine, there again not too sure if this has an engine included with the kit.
There are diecast models with detailed engines which I could source as an alternative, but they aren't cheap.
The question is WHICH Cosworth engine?
Cosworth worked on lots of engines for various manufacturers and in Fords case they did maybe 4-5 different ones, ranging from the relatively common Sierra RS DOHC 16 valve Pinto engine to the 2.9 litre 24V V6 in the Scorpio.
Cosworth's Merc, Chevrolet and Opel engines were totally different and the only thing in common with the Ford engines was the 'Cosworth' name on them.
Thanks Kit,
I think it was the 2.9L V6 Cossie that's in Ford's magazine for April/May edition. Saw it on the magazine rack in WH Smith Woolwich Arsenal store.
The guys from BBC Top Gear also did an episode featuring the Cossie. The Hamster had a BMW, May the Merc and Clarkson the Ford Sapphire.