Good to see some love for the Capri, I've had my 2.8i 29 years and will never sell. I've had some rather lovely cars over the years but it's the Capri that's still with me and I couldn't be happier. 😁
IMO the Ford Capri 2.8i was one of the greatest cars ever. I had mine back in the early 1990s and it was just fantastic. The V6 would howl through every tunnel and it was just a joy to opposite lock around corners in the wet. I drove the nuts off it everywhere, just couldn't help myself. It's a car that just makes you so happy and I've never had a car make me feel like that since.
I owned quite a few 3 litres and 2.8 Capris I thought the same they had something about them the V6 cars , they were lots of fun to drive fast and slow , nice to hear someone else was bitten by the Capri bug Cheers DAVID NEILSON 👍
As someone born in the early 60s with a number of family members who worked for Ford, I was lucky enough to be driven in, or later drive, every iteration of the Capri. Personally I prefer the original 3 litre carb based Mk1s but all were fantastic cars to be around and provided a real sense of occasion on every journey. As you say, these were the performance cars of the day available at working class money. The standard 2.8is were good for sub 8 sec 0-60 and 130mph top speed, so in their day, a quick car. You had to know how to drive if you were pushing these to anything near their limit, that said, enormously entertaining if you did. It was only really when the early Cossie Sierras began appearing in the mid 80s that you realised how much performance the Capri now lacked…. Nonetheless, these are cars that deserve their place in UK Hall of fame motoring history 👍
I've had my 1982 2.8 since 1986, now done 144000 miles and still a joy to drive. I do like accelerating in 2nd through tunnels as it sounds great (standard exhaust).
Had a Black 1980 3.0 S with a Stainless Steel Janspeed exhaust, used to rattle the windows on our house when I started it up, like you said in the video, proper car noises :)
I've never driven a Capri 2.8i but I did have a slightly interesting encounter with one. Back in the 80's I used to help out a pal who ran a second hand car business who from time to time I helped out driving drop off and pick up cars as a favour as it gave me the chance to drive cars that I could never afford at the time. One such car he had was a Cosworth whale tale and as we cruised up aside to a 2.8i who was in the outside lane on a dual carriageway at red traffic lights. Chap with the at the time with obligatory oil filled slick back hair and designer stubble while I still had a yard of hair being a biker (my only transport at the time was a motorbike in my miss spent youth). 2.8i guy blipping the throttle it made a gorgeous sound as we waited for the lights to change. My old pal looked over and said something along the lines of "give it the beans" so when the lights changed the deed was duly done. In no time the Capri was a dot in the rear view mirror but I'll never forget that sound of the V6 of the Capri. That Cosworth Sierra was nuts though, the closest feeling of acceleration to what a bike could do was amazing. Fun times back then.
When I was growing up in the '80s, a neighbour had a gold Capri 3.0S and then a blue/grey 2.8i afterwards. I actually preferred the sound of the Essex V6 - a proper snarl rather than the polite burble of the injected engine. Back in the days when you needed a V6 for 160bhp! I SO wanted one of these when I was a teenager - they were bargain-cheap new for what you got, but obviously I couldn't afford a new car back in those days...and nowadays the survivors will be collectors specials. Also these days 160bhp wouldn't lift the skin off a modern two-ton rice pudding.
Ohhh memories.... say what you want about the car, but that engine had THE sound..... A lot of cars of the day , you just knew what they were from the sound.... A great find indeed Ian.
What a beauty! Twenty six years ago my mate Brian had a 2.8i TurboTechnics Capri that was pushing out near to 300 bhp and it was INSANE! It quite literally tried to kill you every time you drove it. I dread to think what that Capri would be worth in 2023
No Turbo Technic Capri produced 300 Bhp. They did a 200 Bhp kit and a 230 Bhp kit. I've owned a pristine 1984 Injection since Oct 1994- I've bored and stroked the engine to 3000cc, all internals blueprinted, Kent fast road cam, Stage 1 heads, 230 Bhp TT conversion- including 7th injector- produces 285-290 Bhp and 300 lbs ft of torque. My car has never 'tried to kill me,' it's entirely predictable- only hamfists with no feel and a divers lead boot on their right foot crash Capris.
Here's my tenuous link to the Capri: Back in the '80s I used to have an Allegro, and I used to do a stupid party trick with it, which was pulling the choke out with the car in reverse and the wheels at full-lock, at which point I would get out & leave it driving around in a circle at quite some pace. One night I did this in an almost empty pub carpark, the only other vehicle there was a Capri 280 Brooklands, & after I finished my cigarette, I decided to attempt re-entry into the Allegro, a really tricky job. What was making things worse this time, was the idiot with me, who was hell bent on diverting the course of the circling Allegro, from its relatively safe circuit, to a direct path into the Brooklands. He was kicking the shit out of it, desperate to make it straighten up & smash into the Capri. Luckily I managed to get into the car before a catastrophe occurred. I was a fucking idiot!
I wasn't any better than you myself. It has been alleged that I may have found it amusing to drive round roundabouts the wrong way. Although, I would never kick an Allegro like your mate. That's just crass! lol :)
Sounds the absolute business even when you're taking it easy. It might be a parts bin wonder but to a lot of people it's still and always will be a legend.
Back in the late 80's a friend of mine bought a 1984 2.8 Capri, whilst at the same time I purchased a 1984 Mitsubishi Galant to replace my old 2.0l Mk3 Cortina. The difference in refinement between the Capri and the Galant was unbelievable. If you got in the Galant and started the engine you had to check the tach to see if the engine was actually running, you could not hear it, and you could not feel it running, and because the gear linkage was cable, you could not even feel it through the gear stick. The capri on the otherhand left you in no doubt that the engine was alive! Vibrations galore, along with the noise. The Capri felt like a 10 year old Transit inside compared to the Galant. And on a quiet motorway the Galant would leave the Capri way behind with it's top speed, despite the fact it only had a 2lt engine. I realised then just how far Ford had fallen behind some of the competition. But when it came to looks, the Capri was a clear winner, it looked stunningly beautiful and sporty compared to a very bland looking Galant. Still love the styling of the Capri to this day. From a time when cars were designed by people, not computers and wind tunnels.
COBBLERS! The Galant 2.0 was *SLOWER* than the 2.8i- maximum speed of 124 mph 0-60 *9* seconds. The 2.8 would smash it. Give your head a wobble! In addition, comparing the refinement to a ten year old transit is also *COBBLERS.* The Capri is fine at motorway speeds- pulls 2,500 rpm at 70 mph in 5th gear.
I had a 2.8i special C600PWP back in the eighties. As my memory serves, I swopped the front callipers for Austin princess to improve the braking. I also fitted the later 15” wheels from the Brooklands. Best car I ever owned, sob!
The memories of Old Fords.. The only Capri i've been in was a mid 70s 1,6L mk2, driven very fast on small roads. ..but i've also experienced a 1,7 V4 Consul Coupe, and several 2,3 mk1 Granada estates (LOVE those!), and a Taunus estate from the late 70s i think, with the also lovely 2L 90hp V6 engine. ..and yes.. There's something about those cars, the V6 engines especially, that just gets to you. The last one i experienced was the Taunus, in the late 80s, and all of them still haunt me. This Capri: I agree. This is the right car for me too. The Capri i would buy, if i ever buy one. Such a badass looking, and sounding car. I enjoyed the hell out of watching this :)
I bought a ex police 2.8i capri from Preston auctions in the late 80's, got it home and started to look around it properly, all was going well until I checked the spare in the boot. The wheel well was filled with concrete, obviously a police addition to keep that rear end planted
I remember a young lad who bought the 3.0 litre as a first car. Within a fortnight it was a write-off in a ditch, and he had the pleasure of spending the next three years paying for it. All part of the learning process....
Never owned a 2.8i. But many years ago I had a 3.0S. Black with a black vinyl roof! Ah, them were the days. I can still recall the reg number BBX448V. Lovely sound she made. Not too loud, just nice and growly thanks to the twin Janspeed exhausts she was fitted with. Wish I still had her.
That sound reminds me of my best mates Scimitar SE5 with the V6 Essex in it. We had so much fun with that car in the 80's and early 90's. Ended up putting an ex Paris Dakar Rover V8 in it. No substitute for cubes used to be his favourite phrase. 🤩
I bought one of those brand new, enticed by the styling as a young man. It was the most underpowered thing I've ever driven and it loved to do 360s on slippy roads. I upgraded to the 1600 which was much better but just as frightening on ice.
Always wanted a black 3.0 s -Ended up with white 1.6 L and a burgundy 1.6 laser ..Loved both of them and managed to get one of them the wrong way around on a roundabout.
Owned a few 3.0 Capri's after my dad had a nearly new 3000E when I was a kid, traffic light grand prix and the V6 noise had a lasting effect on me , back in the late 80's £800 bought a nice 3.0S, they were great, such a nice noise and easy to fix, you should try a 3.0, has more torque as I remember.
A neighbour’s dad had a similar 2.8i - I think it was a special, black with grey leather. It looked glorious, sounded glorious, and as a 14 yr old boy, a Sunday afternoon blast in it was a real treat. It didn’t like corners though………personally though, it’s Bodie’s 3.0S that represents peak Capri for me………
Don’t forget to change the oil pump drive shaft regularly. Please remember that the shaft rounds off and you loose the pump drive and then no oil pressure.
Best facelift ever done to any car model. The mkIII is just a stunning car, and the way they changed especially the whole front look so drastically by lengthening the hood was just genious. Never cared for the mkII at all, although they are so similar. Man, i regret selling my mkIII in the 90's, even though it was in pretty rough shape and a crappy 1.6. It was still such a special car. Always lusted for the Turbo though, that bodykit gave it 90's supercar looks.
I agree, the third generation still looked fairly modern into the 90s. I used to find it incredible back then, when there were still loads around, that it was a car designed in 1977! There is one mk2 I like though, the Ghia - they were so special, with so many unique parts.
Somewhere around 1998 I had a '83 Sierra XR4i with that exact same engine. The car had seen better days and was basically end-of-life. The noises and vibrations made this car feel quick but when I actually timed it, it turned out it took over 16 seconds to do 0-60mph. Mileage was absolutely ghastly, and it needed leaded fuel too.
My dad owned a MK1½ Capri GTR in the seventies, loved that car. Those days there were many beautiful affordable coupés on the market unlike today where many people think they need an ugly SUV.
February 1982, working for Ford, owned an Avenger, age 20. Drove a brand new XR2 and a 6 month old Capri 2.8i the same week, both through the lanes from Brentwood to Dagenham.
That's the sound of a man having a good time..!. Round about 1977, I had a Sunday out at Prescott Hill Climb. As the afternoon wore on, I was getting slightly jaded by all the old Bugattis , and ex-F1/F3000 cars. Then, lining up at the start line, I saw a Mk1 3 litre Capri. The sound of it...., the driver had driven there, removed the silencers, and fitted straight thrus. I still remember the sound and sight of that Capri being hurled up that hill.
I had an American market '74 Capri (Mk 1) 2800. This video brings back many memories, good, bad, and weird. Torque for days; coupled with a ridiculously light rear end that would snap out at the slightest provocation. I spun it 360 on a right hand bend on a snowy night at 35mph. Nearly spun simply changing lanes in the rain. '74 American bumpers added 170lbs to the '73 which already had an extended front bumper. I removed them and welded up nerf bars (remember those) to replace -- much better. That ridiculous horn on the indicator stalk. My car had no power steering with that big V6. I let my next door neighbor try to park it, she couldn't move the wheel when still. Having the plastic timing gear explode at maximum revs -- no damage, non-interference engine. I had a friend with an XKE, his eight year old son called my Capri "the race car".. Silly American emissions hack that wouldn't let the revs drop when you took your foot of the gas - soon removed.
The reason the 2.8 handled the worst of all the Capri variants was purely down to Fords insistence on keeping the live rear axle but strapping it to those new fangled single leaf parabolic springs without any kind of cross axle anti sway devices, get a bit too larey motoring around fast sweeping bends and the springs would load up and bend sideways - then unload themselves with a bang mid turn as one or more wheels lost a bit too much grip, I used to do it for fun in all the 2.8 injections I have owned back in the day, until one by one the twisting torque fatigue snapped the springs clean in two at the thinner outer ends of the spring, I had to change four of them in the late eighties/early nineties until I started fitting cross axle fifth link stabiliser arms which in my opinion Ford should have fitted from the get go on all 2.8's, another of the three or four weakest spots they never addressed on the Cologne motors was that bloody compressed fibre timing gear on the end of the cam I had three go over a four year period - no bang no drama, just calmly stalled and wouldnt run again, another was the siamesed exhaust ports (which oddly enough the German Colognes soon changed to three port while Capris kept them). But the chesnut in my opinion was WHO THE HELL thought putting a high pressure injection pump sticking out of the tank RIGHT behind the offside rear wheel was a good idea ??? - with the fuel pipes and electrical connections about three inches behind the wheel - right where they could pick up all the rain and the salt thrown off the wheel....I had two of those rot to bits on me until i twigged to installing a long wide eigth inch thick black pvc sheet in front of them between them and the wheel sealed to the wheel well.....kept all the sh*t off them lovely, but they SHOULD have fitted them centrally in the top of the tank from the word go in my opinion, plus back in the day you could only get them from Ford RS dealerships on special order....bloody special eye watering price too ! but with all that carping aside would I have another one ?........you bet your bloody life I would - in a heartbeat, only this time it would only be taken out if the weather man promised we would have sun for the entire month !...my Focus ST can handle the rain.
I had an ‘82 Y plated 2.8i which being an early one had the 4 speed gearbox. Those actually had a nicer shift and better lower ratios. The 5 speed box had too much of a gap between first and second as I recollect. They’re a lot of fun and the 2.8i had lower suspension with Bilstein shocks and wider wheels so not quite so lethal. I think the earlier 3 litre Essex V6 engine used in the MK1 & 2 Capris had better tuning potential and I’ve driven some quick ones!
Love it. I've always wanted a Capri. In 1988 I was born and brought home from the hospital on my mum's knee in my dad's 1979 Ford Capri 2.0 Laser. It was written off a few months later, parked on the street and hit up the rear by a drink driver.
The Capri is a gorgeous looking car. I had a go in a 1976 3.0 Ghia in the late '80s and it was wonderful. Watching the Professionals and Minder was great adverts for the Capri.
One of your best Ian. Always loved the look of the Capri from the days of watching Minder. My other favourite is the Consul from The Sweeney. Great sounds all round.
My late aunt started driving in a MK1 Capri when they’d just come out. Every model change, the Capri went in. Her preference was always the 1.6 Ghia, her last car was a brand new one when they’d announced they were stopping making them. She was still driving it in the 2000s before she finally hung up her keys for good.I couldn’t get on with them but the Granada, oh that’s a whole ‘nother story. The Sweeney anyone ?
I love these cars. I remember seeing a new white Capri 2.8i for sale in the showroom at the Ford dealership in Stourbridge West Mids in the autumn of 1986. Ford stopped making them a few months later.
I had an X reg two tone Blue and Silver one, brand new. £7,880 OTR. Fantastic car, seriously fast with amazing acceleration. Sold it privately at 3 years old as ‘highest offer secures’ local paper advert. The phone never stopped ringing! I later bought a Sierra XR4X4. Another brilliant car with better road holding manners. But when you lost it, there was no recovery and you sat there waiting for the bang!
I have had my red 2.8i since August 1991 (31 and a half years ago) best £2500 I have ever spent. Talk about love at first sight!! Still the best car I have ever had that one. 142k and still purrs like a moggy. I also have a MK1 3 litre thats now an ETCC ford works touring car replica. I decided to go the box arches rather than the cologne one. I like the V6 ones.
Owned a 2.8 Capri mid eighties,,had to be careful going round sharp bends in wet,tail spun easily,as for mileage,put a tenner in the tank and it got you down the End of the road,and tyres wore quickly,but it was lovely to drive and could get to 60 in second gear.Lovely engine sound,V6 was reliable.
I have a Capri in my collection a mk1, 5😂! That's the first model with the big tail lights! It's a V6 2.3 ghia, color: brons with a beige vinyl top. Absolutely beautiful! The interior matches the top. The dash with lots of woodgrain and the rear seat as if it has two separate seats.
Wow that's a beauty. My favourite is the mk3 too. The lines, the lights. The engine noise is just perfection. Enjoying the excited chuckle everytime you put your foot down!
Thwe Capri you tested is in fact a 2.8 injection special which incorporated a LSD (Limited slip Diff) rear axle and a 5 speed box! along with Half leather trim The early 2.8 has just a 4 speed gearbox and no lsd. and the interior was either tartan fabric or flat grey! Loved them all and I have cracking memories of them and just think the spares were so cheap and scrap yards were scrap yards that you just went to and removed the spare part yourself! just think of all the spares you could fit inside a scrap door you just purchased! lol Thanks for sharing! great viewing
Back then, forty year ago, I drove a Capri faster than I ever driven a car, on really winterroads. What a car with a V6. Today, I dosn't dare to drive as fast on dry summerroads.
I had a 2.8 just like that with the blue over silver paint, same wheels and it was a C reg too. I thought it was actually mine for a moment until I saw the number plate! I’ll always love Capris, happy memories in those
I remember sitting in a brand new one in '82 (that new car smell) it was my dad's mate's car two tone blue over silver his present to himself after coming home from Falklands War.Great video as usual many thanks. 👍
Dad had a mk2 2.0GL back in '77. Only have a few memories as I was very young. He always wanted a 2.8 but by then my brother and I were too big, didn't stop the odd test drive :)
This is one of those where the v6 grunt definitely makes up for the worrying wiper action. A very enjoyable spin in a much loved classic. She will do well in the auction.
I owned a Ford Capri 2.0S in Stratos silver with chequered trim and fishnet style headrests It was a 1979 car and I was just 22 when I bought it from Ford main dealers in Coventry. My preferred car would have been a 2.8 injection but in an ideal world the "brooklands".. Great looking car 1986 was a good year..
Another car I have fallen out of love with as the years pass, yet when you feature them, and in this case pour love over it.......I want one! That Bonnet and That Exhaust sound are all its about and all that matter. Worked on a few of these back in the day and cant say I ever disliked the sound or Torque of the V6s, I even liked the ride comfort. Its a shame these are always compared to the Mustang and labelled the Euro Mustang as they are much better than that. I liken them more to a budget friendly Aston V8 or Jensen Interceptor.....Fabulous!
That's not a bad car to slap L plates on. I learnt in my parents ,1978 citroen cx, which was fine until I tried a ' normal car' and had to learn to drive all over again.
Oh this is the review I’ve been waiting for. I was lucky enough to own a 2.8i in the late 80’s. Possibly the best car I have ever owned. So many great memories of that car .today a good example is bringing £20k plus which shows what a great car it was
I had a few 3 .0 S in the 80,s and a 2.8 also , my favourite car ever they were a lot of fun , people that call them never drove a good V6 car with power steering fond memories of mine 👍
That looks and sounds way to refined for me. I had a 1968 Triumph GT6 and part of the ambiance was the rattling and twinking of the various bits n bobs inside. Loved it
I had a go in 1.6 Lazer when I was young. That tiny steering wheel, sweeping rear and that looooooong bonnet with its bump was incredibly seductive. I'd imagine a 2.8 would have been AWESOME!
You sir just made me a very happy man As the car i spent my childhood in all from 1.6 pinto mk3 to 1973 3ltr gxl mk1 make me tear every time i think about these beautiful cars. I recently experienced driving a capri for the first time and when they say you should never meet your heroes im glad that didnt apply to me. P.s im glad that you actually admire my favourite car rather than having all the negatives i sometimes here about your opinions on ropey old fords
Love the Capri's, Uncle had a 2.8i in burgundy, gorgeous car, step dads was a 3.0 auto, gold with vinyl roof, didn't look as nice but it was fast! Love to get a hold of a shell and do a ground up restomod.
One of the coolest cars ever made if you are from the UK and of a certain generation. My brother lost the backend of his 2.8 on a corner and ended up in a field in the early 90s
Although I’m not a Capri, or even a Ford fan, the Capri was certainly an interesting concept, it brought performance motoring to the masses. This is a lovely example, and judging by your oral response to the noise it makes, it would appear to be lots of fun to drive too😊.
Best video in ages Ian. Back in the day I nearly bought a 3.0S but it was too clapped out, so I settled for a 2.0S instead which I loved whilst I had it. Always fancied the 2.8i. Great test, cheers!
Haha awesome … who didn’t see the thumbnail and drop whatever they were doing … even if you’re a neurosurgeon in mid surgeoning. Huge fun … I want one … And that Ford gear lever buzz … all just ace …
Great video Ian.....i owned several 3 litre Capris in my youth, and the sound of that V6 certainly brought back many fond memories, cheers! Gorgeous car.😊😊👍👍
I had a capri 2.8 lovely looking car, but I prefered the 3.0S which I owned before, it had more low down grunt and handled better, best car I owned, great fun.
Having owned about 20 Capri's since I was 17, you could say I am a bit of a fan boy. I love them. I have a 280 now, which I love and would never sell. (well only for 💵💵💵) It's not the fastest car by any stretch of the imagination, but I just love the way it pulls. In any gear, uphill, downhill, it just pulls and pulls. You can push them quite hard through the lanes and I find they handle well. People will tell you the opposite and that you need to fill the boot full of sand or concrete. That's utter rubbish in my years of experience driving them like I stole them. Mine has a sports exhaust too and sounds amazing. Can't wait till next month when it'll be out of hibernation again. Great review, I did fear the worst when I seen you next to a Capri. 🙈🙉🙊🤣
Finally someone who appreciates what the 3 0 litre and 2.8 s offered great fun and great drivers cars Cheers , Just Junk Videos , unfortunately i never kept one of the 10 i had I sold my last 2.8 in 95 , never owned a Brooklands mind Cheers fella 👍
I used to work at a Halfords service centre and was surprised when someone brought in their Tickford Capri in for a service, needless to say I gave it a very good test drive after, such fun..
The Ford Capri still Look good even today
Are you unwell?
Especially the restored ones! All I’d change is the wheels 😂
Good to see some love for the Capri, I've had my 2.8i 29 years and will never sell. I've had some rather lovely cars over the years but it's the Capri that's still with me and I couldn't be happier. 😁
I’ve regretted selling my car so much over the years. Good on you for keeping yours 👍
I've owned an LS for 23 years now and it's great I've a GL to,bonnie and Clyde. 😁
I had a Mk3 3.0L Ghia auto. Lovely kick down for overtaking.
The first car I ever bought at 18 years of age, was a 1970 mk 1 3000 GT.
Had it for about 15 years, and wish I still did now.
Still got my Mk3 1.6S, I'll never sell it
IMO the Ford Capri 2.8i was one of the greatest cars ever. I had mine back in the early 1990s and it was just fantastic. The V6 would howl through every tunnel and it was just a joy to opposite lock around corners in the wet. I drove the nuts off it everywhere, just couldn't help myself. It's a car that just makes you so happy and I've never had a car make me feel like that since.
I owned quite a few 3 litres and 2.8 Capris I thought the same they had something about them the V6 cars , they were lots of fun to drive fast and slow , nice to hear someone else was bitten by the Capri bug Cheers DAVID NEILSON 👍
As someone born in the early 60s with a number of family members who worked for Ford, I was lucky enough to be driven in, or later drive, every iteration of the Capri. Personally I prefer the original 3 litre carb based Mk1s but all were fantastic cars to be around and provided a real sense of occasion on every journey. As you say, these were the performance cars of the day available at working class money. The standard 2.8is were good for sub 8 sec 0-60 and 130mph top speed, so in their day, a quick car. You had to know how to drive if you were pushing these to anything near their limit, that said, enormously entertaining if you did. It was only really when the early Cossie Sierras began appearing in the mid 80s that you realised how much performance the Capri now lacked…. Nonetheless, these are cars that deserve their place in UK Hall of fame motoring history 👍
Spot on had to know how to drive them to make them fast
I've had my 1982 2.8 since 1986, now done 144000 miles and still a joy to drive. I do like accelerating in 2nd through tunnels as it sounds great (standard exhaust).
Had a Black 1980 3.0 S with a Stainless Steel Janspeed exhaust, used to rattle the windows on our house when I started it up, like you said in the video, proper car noises :)
Had one of those in my 20’s when living in the Isle of Man - no speed limits. All the good times 😊
I've never driven a Capri 2.8i but I did have a slightly interesting encounter with one. Back in the 80's I used to help out a pal who ran a second hand car business who from time to time I helped out driving drop off and pick up cars as a favour as it gave me the chance to drive cars that I could never afford at the time. One such car he had was a Cosworth whale tale and as we cruised up aside to a 2.8i who was in the outside lane on a dual carriageway at red traffic lights. Chap with the at the time with obligatory oil filled slick back hair and designer stubble while I still had a yard of hair being a biker (my only transport at the time was a motorbike in my miss spent youth). 2.8i guy blipping the throttle it made a gorgeous sound as we waited for the lights to change. My old pal looked over and said something along the lines of "give it the beans" so when the lights changed the deed was duly done. In no time the Capri was a dot in the rear view mirror but I'll never forget that sound of the V6 of the Capri. That Cosworth Sierra was nuts though, the closest feeling of acceleration to what a bike could do was amazing. Fun times back then.
When I was growing up in the '80s, a neighbour had a gold Capri 3.0S and then a blue/grey 2.8i afterwards. I actually preferred the sound of the Essex V6 - a proper snarl rather than the polite burble of the injected engine.
Back in the days when you needed a V6 for 160bhp! I SO wanted one of these when I was a teenager - they were bargain-cheap new for what you got, but obviously I couldn't afford a new car back in those days...and nowadays the survivors will be collectors specials. Also these days 160bhp wouldn't lift the skin off a modern two-ton rice pudding.
Ohhh memories.... say what you want about the car, but that engine had THE sound.....
A lot of cars of the day , you just knew what they were from the sound....
A great find indeed Ian.
What a beauty! Twenty six years ago my mate Brian had a 2.8i TurboTechnics Capri that was pushing out near to 300 bhp and it was INSANE! It quite literally tried to kill you every time you drove it. I dread to think what that Capri would be worth in 2023
No Turbo Technic Capri produced 300 Bhp. They did a 200 Bhp kit and a 230 Bhp kit. I've owned a pristine 1984 Injection since Oct 1994- I've bored and stroked the engine to 3000cc, all internals blueprinted, Kent fast road cam, Stage 1 heads, 230 Bhp TT conversion- including 7th injector- produces 285-290 Bhp and 300 lbs ft of torque. My car has never 'tried to kill me,' it's entirely predictable- only hamfists with no feel and a divers lead boot on their right foot crash Capris.
Here's my tenuous link to the Capri: Back in the '80s I used to have an Allegro, and I used to do a stupid party trick with it, which was pulling the choke out with the car in reverse and the wheels at full-lock, at which point I would get out & leave it driving around in a circle at quite some pace. One night I did this in an almost empty pub carpark, the only other vehicle there was a Capri 280 Brooklands, & after I finished my cigarette, I decided to attempt re-entry into the Allegro, a really tricky job. What was making things worse this time, was the idiot with me, who was hell bent on diverting the course of the circling Allegro, from its relatively safe circuit, to a direct path into the Brooklands. He was kicking the shit out of it, desperate to make it straighten up & smash into the Capri. Luckily I managed to get into the car before a catastrophe occurred. I was a fucking idiot!
Yikes!
Very nearly only 1037.😉
Refreshingly honest and incredibly self aware! To this day despite being 61 I'm still a twat !
I would like to see that.😳
I wasn't any better than you myself. It has been alleged that I may have found it amusing to drive round roundabouts the wrong way. Although, I would never kick an Allegro like your mate. That's just crass! lol :)
My dad had five of these when I was growing up spent many an hour squashed into the back thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Sounds the absolute business even when you're taking it easy. It might be a parts bin wonder but to a lot of people it's still and always will be a legend.
Back in the late 80's a friend of mine bought a 1984 2.8 Capri, whilst at the same time I purchased a 1984 Mitsubishi Galant to replace my old 2.0l Mk3 Cortina. The difference in refinement between the Capri and the Galant was unbelievable. If you got in the Galant and started the engine you had to check the tach to see if the engine was actually running, you could not hear it, and you could not feel it running, and because the gear linkage was cable, you could not even feel it through the gear stick. The capri on the otherhand left you in no doubt that the engine was alive! Vibrations galore, along with the noise. The Capri felt like a 10 year old Transit inside compared to the Galant. And on a quiet motorway the Galant would leave the Capri way behind with it's top speed, despite the fact it only had a 2lt engine. I realised then just how far Ford had fallen behind some of the competition. But when it came to looks, the Capri was a clear winner, it looked stunningly beautiful and sporty compared to a very bland looking Galant. Still love the styling of the Capri to this day. From a time when cars were designed by people, not computers and wind tunnels.
COBBLERS! The Galant 2.0 was *SLOWER* than the 2.8i- maximum speed of 124 mph 0-60 *9* seconds. The 2.8 would smash it. Give your head a wobble! In addition, comparing the refinement to a ten year old transit is also *COBBLERS.* The Capri is fine at motorway speeds- pulls 2,500 rpm at 70 mph in 5th gear.
I had a 2.8i special C600PWP back in the eighties. As my memory serves, I swopped the front callipers for Austin princess to improve the braking. I also fitted the later 15” wheels from the Brooklands. Best car I ever owned, sob!
Brakes are definitely a weak point...
For some reason the Princess had 4 piston calipers as standard
The memories of Old Fords.. The only Capri i've been in was a mid 70s 1,6L mk2, driven very fast on small roads. ..but i've also experienced a 1,7 V4 Consul Coupe, and several 2,3 mk1 Granada estates (LOVE those!), and a Taunus estate from the late 70s i think, with the also lovely 2L 90hp V6 engine. ..and yes.. There's something about those cars, the V6 engines especially, that just gets to you. The last one i experienced was the Taunus, in the late 80s, and all of them still haunt me. This Capri: I agree. This is the right car for me too. The Capri i would buy, if i ever buy one. Such a badass looking, and sounding car. I enjoyed the hell out of watching this :)
I bought a ex police 2.8i capri from Preston auctions in the late 80's, got it home and started to look around it properly, all was going well until I checked the spare in the boot. The wheel well was filled with concrete, obviously a police addition to keep that rear end planted
I remember a young lad who bought the 3.0 litre as a first car. Within a fortnight it was a write-off in a ditch, and he had the pleasure of spending the next three years paying for it. All part of the learning process....
That delicious sounding engine, as Ford said way back when, the car you promised yourself .
Never owned a 2.8i. But many years ago I had a 3.0S. Black with a black vinyl roof! Ah, them were the days. I can still recall the reg number BBX448V. Lovely sound she made. Not too loud, just nice and growly thanks to the twin Janspeed exhausts she was fitted with. Wish I still had her.
That put a smile on my face. While I'm not a huge Ford fan, I do love a V6 Capri🙂👍
That sound reminds me of my best mates Scimitar SE5 with the V6 Essex in it. We had so much fun with that car in the 80's and early 90's. Ended up putting an ex Paris Dakar Rover V8 in it. No substitute for cubes used to be his favourite phrase. 🤩
Can’t think of anything better, Hubnut testing a Capri fantastic video.
A Ford Capri 1.3L would be ultra Hubnut levels
I bought one of those brand new, enticed by the styling as a young man. It was the most underpowered thing I've ever driven and it loved to do 360s on slippy roads. I upgraded to the 1600 which was much better but just as frightening on ice.
Always wanted a black 3.0 s -Ended up with white 1.6 L and a burgundy 1.6 laser ..Loved both of them and managed to get one of them the wrong way around on a roundabout.
Owned a few 3.0 Capri's after my dad had a nearly new 3000E when I was a kid, traffic light grand prix and the V6 noise had a lasting effect on me , back in the late 80's £800 bought a nice 3.0S, they were great, such a nice noise and easy to fix, you should try a 3.0, has more torque as I remember.
More torque, but also lower down rev range in the 3.0
True and better than the 2.8i engine
Our family car at one point in the early 80's was a yellow 3 litre Capri. As Derek and Clive would say the sound of that 2.8i "gives me the Horn"!!
I do believe Mr HubNut has just experienced Grin Factor 10!
A neighbour’s dad had a similar 2.8i - I think it was a special, black with grey leather. It looked glorious, sounded glorious, and as a 14 yr old boy, a Sunday afternoon blast in it was a real treat. It didn’t like corners though………personally though, it’s Bodie’s 3.0S that represents peak Capri for me………
Truth is the Capri was never naff. I had a Mk 1 3000 GXL and a Mk2 3.0 S. Wish I still had them.Fantasic machines.
All the 80s fast cars recently, loved the MG the other day now a 2.8 capri 👍
Don’t forget to change the oil pump drive shaft regularly. Please remember that the shaft rounds off and you loose the pump drive and then no oil pressure.
Best facelift ever done to any car model. The mkIII is just a stunning car, and the way they changed especially the whole front look so drastically by lengthening the hood was just genious. Never cared for the mkII at all, although they are so similar.
Man, i regret selling my mkIII in the 90's, even though it was in pretty rough shape and a crappy 1.6. It was still such a special car.
Always lusted for the Turbo though, that bodykit gave it 90's supercar looks.
There is no difference in bonnet length between a Mk2 and a 'Mk3' Capri. For never officially designated it as the Mk3 either ;)
I agree, the third generation still looked fairly modern into the 90s. I used to find it incredible back then, when there were still loads around, that it was a car designed in 1977!
There is one mk2 I like though, the Ghia - they were so special, with so many unique parts.
I agree. I think the mk3 was the best looking Capri. Still a desirable car right to the end, even though it was very long in the tooth by then.
2.8iS was the ultimate Capri I think. Lovely car, great video as usual. How about a follow up video on a 3.0S Capri : come back Bodie and Doyle !
Somewhere around 1998 I had a '83 Sierra XR4i with that exact same engine. The car had seen better days and was basically end-of-life. The noises and vibrations made this car feel quick but when I actually timed it, it turned out it took over 16 seconds to do 0-60mph. Mileage was absolutely ghastly, and it needed leaded fuel too.
16 seconds is significantly slower than the 1.6 Pintosaurus engined Sierra, must have been pretty poorly.
What a shame it didn't seem to be maintained properly
My dad owned a MK1½ Capri GTR in the seventies, loved that car. Those days there were many beautiful affordable coupés on the market unlike today where many people think they need an ugly SUV.
February 1982, working for Ford, owned an Avenger, age 20. Drove a brand new XR2 and a 6 month old Capri 2.8i the same week, both through the lanes from Brentwood to Dagenham.
That's the sound of a man having a good time..!.
Round about 1977, I had a Sunday out at Prescott Hill Climb. As the afternoon wore on, I was getting slightly jaded by all the old Bugattis , and ex-F1/F3000 cars. Then, lining up at the start line, I saw a Mk1 3 litre Capri. The sound of it...., the driver had driven there, removed the silencers, and fitted straight thrus. I still remember the sound and sight of that Capri being hurled up that hill.
I had an American market '74 Capri (Mk 1) 2800. This video brings back many memories, good, bad, and weird. Torque for days; coupled with a ridiculously light rear end that would snap out at the slightest provocation. I spun it 360 on a right hand bend on a snowy night at 35mph. Nearly spun simply changing lanes in the rain. '74 American bumpers added 170lbs to the '73 which already had an extended front bumper. I removed them and welded up nerf bars (remember those) to replace -- much better. That ridiculous horn on the indicator stalk. My car had no power steering with that big V6. I let my next door neighbor try to park it, she couldn't move the wheel when still. Having the plastic timing gear explode at maximum revs -- no damage, non-interference engine. I had a friend with an XKE, his eight year old son called my Capri "the race car".. Silly American emissions hack that wouldn't let the revs drop when you took your foot of the gas - soon removed.
The reason the 2.8 handled the worst of all the Capri variants was purely down to Fords insistence on keeping the live rear axle but strapping it to those new fangled single leaf parabolic springs without any kind of cross axle anti sway devices, get a bit too larey motoring around fast sweeping bends and the springs would load up and bend sideways - then unload themselves with a bang mid turn as one or more wheels lost a bit too much grip, I used to do it for fun in all the 2.8 injections I have owned back in the day,
until one by one the twisting torque fatigue snapped the springs clean in two at the thinner outer ends of the spring, I had to change four of them in the late eighties/early nineties until I started fitting cross axle fifth link stabiliser arms which in my opinion Ford should have fitted from the get go on all 2.8's,
another of the three or four weakest spots they never addressed on the Cologne motors was that bloody compressed fibre timing gear on the end of the cam I had three go over a four year period - no bang no drama, just calmly stalled and wouldnt run again, another was the siamesed exhaust ports (which oddly enough the German Colognes soon changed to three port while Capris kept them).
But the chesnut in my opinion was WHO THE HELL thought putting a high pressure injection pump sticking out of the tank RIGHT behind the offside rear wheel was a good idea ??? - with the fuel pipes and electrical connections about three inches behind the wheel - right where they could pick up all the rain and the salt thrown off the wheel....I had two of those rot to bits on me until i twigged to installing a long wide eigth inch thick black pvc sheet in front of them between them and the wheel sealed to the wheel well.....kept all the sh*t off them lovely, but they SHOULD have fitted them centrally in the top of the tank from the word go in my opinion, plus back in the day you could only get them from Ford RS dealerships on special order....bloody special eye watering price too !
but with all that carping aside would I have another one ?........you bet your bloody life I would - in a heartbeat, only this time it would only be taken out if the weather man promised we would have sun for the entire month !...my Focus ST can handle the rain.
All true , the X brace fixed the spring issues
What a gem of a car definitely one of my favourite cars the 2.8
I had an ‘82 Y plated 2.8i which being an early one had the 4 speed gearbox. Those actually had a nicer shift and better lower ratios. The 5 speed box had too much of a gap between first and second as I recollect. They’re a lot of fun and the 2.8i had lower suspension with Bilstein shocks and wider wheels so not quite so lethal. I think the earlier 3 litre Essex V6 engine used in the MK1 & 2 Capris had better tuning potential and I’ve driven some quick ones!
Once again the “power, less is more”, goes out the window with a smile ear to ear driving a car with “cubes” as we say in Australia. Hehe
Thing is, it isn't that powerful though. What I loved was the noise, and only having 150bhp means you can actually floor it quite often.
@@HubNut admittedly, nothing will match the sheer joy (and terror) of the Aussie Malloo. Hehe
Love it. I've always wanted a Capri. In 1988 I was born and brought home from the hospital on my mum's knee in my dad's 1979 Ford Capri 2.0 Laser. It was written off a few months later, parked on the street and hit up the rear by a drink driver.
No such car as a 1979 2.0 Laser- they didn't launch the Laser until *1984!*
The Capri is a gorgeous looking car. I had a go in a 1976 3.0 Ghia in the late '80s and it was wonderful. Watching the Professionals and Minder was great adverts for the Capri.
One of your best Ian. Always loved the look of the Capri from the days of watching Minder. My other favourite is the Consul from The Sweeney. Great sounds all round.
Consul GT I believe ? I agree, a great looking car.
@@davidfoster1762 Yes, Consul 3000GT.
My late aunt started driving in a MK1 Capri when they’d just come out. Every model change, the Capri went in. Her preference was always the 1.6 Ghia, her last car was a brand new one when they’d announced they were stopping making them. She was still driving it in the 2000s before she finally hung up her keys for good.I couldn’t get on with them but the Granada, oh that’s a whole ‘nother story. The Sweeney anyone ?
Sweeny Granada, not true it was a Consul GT, sorry for being a anorak 😊
Finest car i ever owned and still 30 years on regret selling it
I love these cars. I remember seeing a new white Capri 2.8i for sale in the showroom at the Ford dealership in Stourbridge West Mids in the autumn of 1986. Ford stopped making them a few months later.
Apex Ford……I remember it well!
The smile I got straight away from starting this video just grew the higher you got up the rev counter
I had an X reg two tone Blue and Silver one, brand new. £7,880 OTR.
Fantastic car, seriously fast with amazing acceleration.
Sold it privately at 3 years old as ‘highest offer secures’ local paper advert. The phone never stopped ringing!
I later bought a Sierra XR4X4. Another brilliant car with better road holding manners. But when you lost it, there was no recovery and you sat there waiting for the bang!
I have had my red 2.8i since August 1991 (31 and a half years ago) best £2500 I have ever spent. Talk about love at first sight!! Still the best car I have ever had that one. 142k and still purrs like a moggy. I also have a MK1 3 litre thats now an ETCC ford works touring car replica. I decided to go the box arches rather than the cologne one. I like the V6 ones.
Hi hubnut. I think you know Pete c. (cortina city) he lives near me.
Miss mine soooo much :)
Owned a 2.8 Capri mid eighties,,had to be careful going round sharp bends in wet,tail spun easily,as for mileage,put a tenner in the tank and it got you down the
End of the road,and tyres wore quickly,but it was lovely to drive and could get to 60 in second gear.Lovely engine sound,V6 was reliable.
I love capri's. I much prefer the 3.0 especially in S trim. I know it has less power but it's all about that torque.
I used to take great pleasure in out accelerating 2.8i Capris in my Montego efi. These days I don't care. Love them both!
Ahhhh what a thing of beauty, loved mine back in the late 80s. Would love another.
My brother had the 3 litre S back in the 80s,this brings back good memories Ian,
I have a Capri in my collection a mk1, 5😂! That's the first model with the big tail lights! It's a V6 2.3 ghia, color: brons with a beige vinyl top. Absolutely beautiful! The interior matches the top. The dash with lots of woodgrain and the rear seat as if it has two separate seats.
Wow that's a beauty. My favourite is the mk3 too. The lines, the lights. The engine noise is just perfection. Enjoying the excited chuckle everytime you put your foot down!
Ford made some fantastic and reasonably priced cars. A 2.8i Capri being right up near the top of the 'want one' list.
Love this car. My mate initially got a 2 litre S back in the 80's, then upgraded to the 2.8i, wow, I remember the acceleration of that machine!
Thwe Capri you tested is in fact a 2.8 injection special which incorporated a LSD (Limited slip Diff) rear axle and a 5 speed box! along with Half leather trim The early 2.8 has just a 4 speed gearbox and no lsd. and the interior was either tartan fabric or flat grey! Loved them all and I have cracking memories of them and just think the spares were so cheap and scrap yards were scrap yards that you just went to and removed the spare part yourself! just think of all the spares you could fit inside a scrap door you just purchased! lol
Thanks for sharing! great viewing
Back then, forty year ago, I drove a Capri faster than I ever driven a car, on really winterroads. What a car with a V6. Today, I dosn't dare to drive as fast on dry summerroads.
It was the 3.0 V6 I had (138 BHP) as opposed to the 158 BHP 2.8i (which I couldn't afford) - loved it! I'm jealous 🙂
I had a 2.8 just like that with the blue over silver paint, same wheels and it was a C reg too. I thought it was actually mine for a moment until I saw the number plate!
I’ll always love Capris, happy memories in those
I remember sitting in a brand new one in '82 (that new car smell) it was my dad's mate's car two tone blue over silver his present to himself after coming home from Falklands War.Great video as usual many thanks. 👍
There is indeed a nice sound in the Cologne V6.
I have a 2.3 V6 in the shed that will be used again in my Transit MK2.
Dad had a mk2 2.0GL back in '77. Only have a few memories as I was very young. He always wanted a 2.8 but by then my brother and I were too big, didn't stop the odd test drive :)
This is one of those where the v6 grunt definitely makes up for the worrying wiper action. A very enjoyable spin in a much loved classic. She will do well in the auction.
''The car you always promised yourself.'' The 70s had the best advertising.
It's the only Ford I would consider owning ... Simply wonderful!
I owned a Ford Capri 2.0S in Stratos silver with chequered trim and fishnet style headrests It was a 1979 car and I was just 22 when I bought it from Ford main dealers in Coventry.
My preferred car would have been a 2.8 injection but in an ideal world the "brooklands"..
Great looking car 1986 was a good year..
Another car I have fallen out of love with as the years pass, yet when you feature them, and in this case pour love over it.......I want one! That Bonnet and That Exhaust sound are all its about and all that matter. Worked on a few of these back in the day and cant say I ever disliked the sound or Torque of the V6s, I even liked the ride comfort. Its a shame these are always compared to the Mustang and labelled the Euro Mustang as they are much better than that. I liken them more to a budget friendly Aston V8 or Jensen Interceptor.....Fabulous!
this is one of the best cars I have seen you drive in a while.
i love a capri, learn to to drive in my dads mk1 3000GT in 1985, at 17 it was a beast, would love to have the funds for one today
That's not a bad car to slap L plates on.
I learnt in my parents ,1978 citroen cx, which was fine until I tried a ' normal car' and had to learn to drive all over again.
Oh this is the review I’ve been waiting for. I was lucky enough to own a 2.8i in the late 80’s. Possibly the best car I have ever owned. So many great memories of that car .today a good example is bringing £20k plus which shows what a great car it was
..or what orrible and boring cars they make now
I had a few 3 .0 S in the 80,s and a 2.8 also , my favourite car ever they were a lot of fun , people that call them never drove a good V6 car with power steering fond memories of mine 👍
That looks and sounds way to refined for me. I had a 1968 Triumph GT6 and part of the ambiance was the rattling and twinking of the various bits n bobs inside. Loved it
I had a go in 1.6 Lazer when I was young. That tiny steering wheel, sweeping rear and that looooooong bonnet with its bump was incredibly seductive. I'd imagine a 2.8 would have been AWESOME!
My uncle had a 3lt JPS capri from new, I loved that car.
I love the Mk3 Capri 2.8i. And this one looks and sounds particularly good, too.
My favourite generation of Capri without a doubt maybe because I am a 80's child. Excellent review as always Ian, the Capri sounded ace.
What a fantastic video of a truly iconic car!
By no means a Ford fan but hard to dislike the 2.8i.
You sir just made me a very happy man
As the car i spent my childhood in all from
1.6 pinto mk3 to 1973 3ltr gxl mk1 make me tear every time i think about these beautiful cars.
I recently experienced driving a capri for the first time and when they say you should never meet your heroes im glad that didnt apply to me.
P.s im glad that you actually admire my favourite car rather than having all the negatives i sometimes here about your opinions on ropey old fords
I think my hatred of Fords is a little over-stated. I like a great many of them. Just not all of them. ;-)
great video Ian! Just bought a MK3 Capri myself, admittedly it's a 2.0 so it doesn't have as much grunt as the 2.8 but I still love it!
Love the Capri's, Uncle had a 2.8i in burgundy, gorgeous car, step dads was a 3.0 auto, gold with vinyl roof, didn't look as nice but it was fast! Love to get a hold of a shell and do a ground up restomod.
One of the coolest cars ever made if you are from the UK and of a certain generation. My brother lost the backend of his 2.8 on a corner and ended up in a field in the early 90s
Although I’m not a Capri, or even a Ford fan, the Capri was certainly an interesting concept, it brought performance motoring to the masses.
This is a lovely example, and judging by your oral response to the noise it makes, it would appear to be lots of fun to drive too😊.
Best video in ages Ian. Back in the day I nearly bought a 3.0S but it was too clapped out, so I settled for a 2.0S instead which I loved whilst I had it. Always fancied the 2.8i. Great test, cheers!
Haha awesome … who didn’t see the thumbnail and drop whatever they were doing … even if you’re a neurosurgeon in mid surgeoning. Huge fun … I want one …
And that Ford gear lever buzz … all just ace …
Never owned one or even been in one but always wanted one. A beautiful machine.
Good on you for getting a sponsor Ian. Well deserved. And very well done. It doesn't feel like you're pushing anything to me.
Superb car. Love the v6 sound. Thats as nice as the V8. My nan had a Mk 1 and i love the style of all three marks.
Great video Ian.....i owned several 3 litre Capris in my youth, and the sound of that V6 certainly brought back many fond memories, cheers! Gorgeous car.😊😊👍👍
I had all the 3 litre cars being mk1 mk2 and 3 and a 2.8 in the 80,s loved them fab cars , that V6 burbling along happy days 👍
My uncle had one of these in late 90s can still smell the petrol smell😍😍 was fast as well. I guess anyone who sold this back in the day regrets it?
I had a capri 2.8 lovely looking car, but I prefered the 3.0S which I owned before, it had more low down grunt and handled better, best car I owned, great fun.
Having owned about 20 Capri's since I was 17, you could say I am a bit of a fan boy. I love them. I have a 280 now, which I love and would never sell. (well only for 💵💵💵) It's not the fastest car by any stretch of the imagination, but I just love the way it pulls. In any gear, uphill, downhill, it just pulls and pulls. You can push them quite hard through the lanes and I find they handle well. People will tell you the opposite and that you need to fill the boot full of sand or concrete. That's utter rubbish in my years of experience driving them like I stole them. Mine has a sports exhaust too and sounds amazing. Can't wait till next month when it'll be out of hibernation again. Great review, I did fear the worst when I seen you next to a Capri. 🙈🙉🙊🤣
Finally someone who appreciates what the 3 0 litre and 2.8 s offered great fun and great drivers cars Cheers , Just Junk Videos , unfortunately i never kept one of the 10 i had I sold my last 2.8 in 95 , never owned a Brooklands mind Cheers fella 👍
I used to work at a Halfords service centre and was surprised when someone brought in their Tickford Capri in for a service, needless to say I gave it a very good test drive after, such fun..