The large bumpers were used on the update because US law mandated that a vehicle had to be able to withstand a 5 MPH collision with no damage. My Australian XC Fairmont has huge bumpers for the same reason although the standard was never introduced here. The reason many US spec cars are converted to round headlights is that halogen headlamps weren't approved for use in the US until 1983. Other notable imports to have this are XJS Jaguars and Mercedes SL.
Thanks for reminding me of the hours I spent underneath my brother's 1600 Capri.I don't know if this was just his, but the rear end really didn't want to behave around corners. The V6 would have been even more exciting. Before Canada went metric, they used Imperial - not US - gallons - something I didn't know until I watched this. Thanks!
Plenty of them in the junk yards over here - have yet to see one on the road or at classic car events. A whole generation of cars ruined by those horrible bumpers though many can be 'euro' retrofitted. Mercs and 70s & 80s Jags for example. Appreciate the review
automatic choke...oh I remember that, from a Taunus Coupe' , I drove .think it was a 74 . In South Africa , they called them Perana , and raced them , with a V8 .
The Ford Capri was only sold in Australia from 1969 to 1972. Ford Australia never sold the Mk I facelift version, or the Mk II or Mk III versions. Initially it was with the 1600 or 1600 GT engines. Those cars were assembled in Australia. Ford Australia also imported some of the 3000 V6 versions. There is one other interesting story to the Capri name in Australia. From 1989 to 1994, Ford Australia produced a two door convertible also called the Ford Capri. It was based on Mazda 323 mechanicals. Unlike Mazda's MX-5 Miata, it was a two plus two. It featured pop-up headlights. Engines were 1.6 litre four cylinder naturally aspirated, or a 1.6 litre turbo four cylinder. Unlike Mazda's MX-5 Miata, it was front wheel drive. They had a bad reputation for reliability due to the early versions having problems with leaking roofs. Apparently though, there are still many of them around, likely due to the robust mechanicals of the Mazda 323 on which they were based. An interesting vehicle. They were exported to the USA and sold there as the Mercury Capri. Apparently more were sold in the USA than in Australia! That one would make an interesting Ford Friday episode.
Two things, composite headlights were not yet legal in America, thus the dual round lights ( which I like) and our engines had restricted flow due to emissions regulations and thus had less horsepower. 72 might have been the same, but things got progressively tighter year by year, with catalytic converters coming in in ‘75.
Later on they were branded the Mercury Capri and sold in Lincoln Mercury dealers. I always wondered how many of these actually sold. I dont think they went to the MK3, i think they stopped after the MK2. I guess Ford saw how the MGB was still selling well in America and thought the Capri would be able to get some of that kind of market?
The full size US spec bumpers became mandatory in 1974. I never understood why the European version was not offered as an option with A/C? Ridiculous decision On the 1974-on models the bumpers were mounted in telescopic shock absorbers thereby being able to absorb 5mph impacts. That was the legislation that became compulsory
Ford UK and Ford Europe felt that British and European summer weather didn't warrant air conditioning on UK / European spec Capris, and that fresh air Aeroflow ventilation was just as effective. But air conditioning fitted as standard on higher spec cars or an optional extra on lower trim models would've been a boon, because we did get one or two warm summers in the 70's and 80's and it cools the interior more quickly. Standard fresh air Aeroflow ventilation on a hot summer day doesn't cut it to cool a car quickly.
Hell yes! My family had one for a short time. We really liked it. It was just too small for us . I only rode in it and my great aunts mk2 mustang was just a turd. The Capri was so much better looking. Not sure of engines and such but both were manuals, and the Capri was a race car next to the stang. My favorite thing about it was actually the steering wheel thank the lord they didn't put that awful thing they put in everything else.
