GTP Cool Wall: 1978-1986 Ford Capri MK3

[SVT Cobra GT]

Modern owners are often the UK branch of confederate flag wearers and they're typically seen at classic car shows now, parading them about insisting it's a classic car...

Just one though? Most Capri owners have at least two - for parts, or daily Capri and show Capri.

Well. Isn't it a classic?

I've owned 2, but have 1.

 

[Famine]

Well. Isn't it a classic?

No. At the moment it's just an old car - until the Capri community can dissuade people who do things like this to them:

The last guy owns five of them.

My personal line for "Classic" is "Any car 25 years older or more for which more than 1 top condition, privately-owned example has sold for more than the original dealership price". So maybe the Brooklands, which was originally just under 12 grand but might get more now.

 

[Tyger]

Sub zero. Just wish it had a V8. I hate the Cologne engines with a passion after having bad experiences with them. Junk. Absolute junk IMO.

The 3 litre has the V6 Essex engine, though not sure that is any more reliable. A lot of the competition cars were based on the 3.0, in the UK at least, though the road version was a bit of a white elephant as it was, if anything, slower than the 2.8i. Bit of a hairy chest car for sure, but an easy Cool.

 

[Wiegert]

I'll have you know the 'Essex' 3.0 S was CI5-approved.



As was the case with the 2.8i a few years ago, the Mark III range as a whole does manage to fit the Cool billing nowadays. Even if some variants are obviously more enticing than others.

 

[TheCracker]

I think that South Africa had them with Windsor 302..

You're thinking of the Perena Capri, which was a Mk1. Not strictly an official Ford product, but it as sanctioned by them.

 

[eight6er]

Don't remember any 3.0 MK3. I only ever drove 2.8 v6 in the Mk3. I never drove one of these that didn't steer easier to one side than the other, they can be fun to drive though they are a bit wonky and come with rubbish engines. I can't really decide whether they're cool or not, though I think they can look cool.

 

[Tyger]

I'll have you know the 'Essex' 3.0 S was CI5-approved.

Good stuff, the 2000 driver never stood a chance though

 

[Crash]

My personal line for "Classic" is "Any car 25 years older or more for which more than 1 top condition, privately-owned example has sold for more than the original dealership price". So maybe the Brooklands, which was originally just under 12 grand but might get more now.

As an aside, when you say "more than the original dealership price", are you talking nominal unit of currency or inflation-adjusted?

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

No. At the moment it's just an old car - until the Capri community can dissuade people who do things like this to them:

AWFUL PHOTOS​

My personal line for "Classic" is "Any car 25 years older or more for which more than 1 top condition, privately-owned example has sold for more than the original dealership price". So maybe the Brooklands, which was originally just under 12 grand but might get more now.

Whilst I agree that there are still a few Capris that exist looking like those you posted, they are getting rare now, I'd imagine some have been saved and brought back to original spec. Most of the ones I see are either rolling restos or full nut and bolt jobs that are better than new.

Also the 280 Brooklands ones are fetching a lot these days so by your guidelines they'd be considered classics.
As would regular 2.8i models. I paid £5750 for mine which if I'm not mistaken is roughly similar to what they cost brand new. Mine is not in tip top shape and concourse models are fetching between 8-10k.

Also 3.0S Capris are going for insane money. So they qualify too. As would a 1.3L interestingly as they are as rare as rocking horse poo. So they are getting there, but just not all of them yet.

 

[axletramp]

If it's immaculate and stock then 'cool'. If it's beaten up and modified then 'SU'.

 

[Famine]

Also the 280 Brooklands ones are fetching a lot these days so by your guidelines they'd be considered classics.

So maybe the Brooklands, which was originally just under 12 grand but might get more now.

As would regular 2.8i models. I paid £5750 for mine which if I'm not mistaken is roughly similar to what they cost brand new.

You are. £9,500 in 1984.

As an aside, when you say "more than the original dealership price", are you talking nominal unit of currency or inflation-adjusted?

Raw numbers. It essentially means that a car doesn't just have to survive 25 years, but do so in limited numbers and be of sufficient interest. By the time something reaches 40 years it's hard not to call it a classic car just on age alone - and it's just about impossible to find a car over 40 years that hasn't matched its raw original price just through inflation alone, handily.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

You are. £9,500 in 1984.

Raw numbers. It essentially means that a car doesn't just have to survive 25 years, but do so in limited numbers and be of sufficient interest. By the time something reaches 40 years it's hard not to call it a classic car just on age alone - and it's just about impossible to find a car over 40 years that hasn't matched its raw original price just through inflation alone, handily.

Well if you're taking inflation into it, the regular 2.8i models are just about matching their original prices. But even those are concourse condition and a lot are struggling to sell at that price.

The 3.0S/Ghia models along with the 280s are probably doing enough to be classics in your book.

 

[Famine]

Well if you're taking inflation into it

I'm not. I literally said that in the passage you quoted...

As an aside, when you say "more than the original dealership price", are you talking nominal unit of currency or inflation-adjusted?

Raw numbers.

If you take inflation into account, barely anything is a classic car other than supercars - and even then it's touch and go.

The 3.0S/Ghia models along with the 280s are probably doing enough to be classics in your book.

That depends. '74 cars were only around £6k, but the last 3.0s in 1981 were just about £8k.

 

[Stotty]

I wouldn't call a Capri a 'classic' yet, but I'd love a clean, original 2.8i or 3.0s.

Cool.

 

[homeforsummer]

Love the shape of these. Probably one of the best forms of the late 70s-80s, in fact, and better looking than Mk1-Mk2s.

Low cool. Nice ones are really appealing now, but there are a lot of sheds out there still. And like a lot of other classic Fords, they're a bit too blue-collar to be truly cool.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

I'm not. I literally said that in the passage you quoted...

If you take inflation into account, barely anything is a classic car other than supercars - and even then it's touch and go.

That depends. '74 cars were only around £6k, but the last 3.0s in 1981 were just about £8k.

Ah, I didn't read it properly.

The 3.0 engined cars are now fetching between 12-17k depending on condition. Crap ones are fetching at least 6-7k and I doubt they'd be roadworthy.

Also worth noting that the smaller engined 1.6 and 2.0 Cameo and Calypso models are fetching a bit of money as they're rare now. They were intended to be cheap cars in the first place so I imagine they cost more when they did new.

 

[homeforsummer]

Also worth noting that the smaller engined 1.6 and 2.0 Cameo and Calypso models are fetching a bit of money as they're rare now. They were intended to be cheap cars in the first place so I imagine they cost more when they did new.

From 1985 issue of Car I have lying around:

Capri 1.6LS: £5701
Capri 2.0S: £6843
Capri 2.8: £9238

The 2.8 has definitely out-done its original price. I'm not too sure about the 1.6 and 2.0. Maybe the very, very nicest examples are more than their '85 prices now, but I'm not sure the market can support that - at this stage, it's probably just people chancing higher prices to see what someone desperate for a good car will pay.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

From 1985 issue of Car I have lying around:

Capri 1.6LS: £5701
Capri 2.0S: £6843
Capri 2.8: £9238

The 2.8 has definitely out-done its original price. I'm not too sure about the 1.6 and 2.0. Maybe the very, very nicest examples are more than their '85 prices now, but I'm not sure the market can support that - at this stage, it's probably just people chancing higher prices to see what someone desperate for a good car will pay.

1.6 and 2.0 Capris are going for 3.5-4.5k for absolute minters. I saw that a 2.0 Cabaret Capri from about 1982 were £5500 when they were new and seeing as though they're rare, I'd imagine they could command that now if they were mint.

 

[MisterWaffles]

Hatchback, mustang-ish, somewhat slow, basically UK only, don't know what to think
also no v8, bordering on meh

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

Hatchback, mustang-ish, somewhat slow, basically UK only, don't know what to think
also no v8, bordering on meh

They were sold in US as well.

 

[RandomCarGuy17]

When I first learned of this car, I liked the muscular type styling that it had. It reminded me of a Mustang, which made sense as I learned later on that is what Ford of Europe intended for it to be. Anyway, I voted cool.