G'Day Mate!

Foreigner · 20-10-2007, 03:18 AM

: Hi All,

A brief intro if I may. I'm a 27 yr old South African female, living in Ireland, with family in Aussie, South Africa and Germany, so I live up to my nick, lol.

My automotive interests include Capri's, Escort's, Probe's, Cortina's and BMW's.

My boyfriend and I have quite a stack of cars, a Focus, 2 Probes (and another coming next weekend), 3 mk3 Capri's (of which one we might be selling, extremely reluctantly), a '97 Escort (yawn), and a mini that we are in the process of restoring... very slowly. Oh and we have a fubar'd mk2capri, in bits.

I was wondering, why did the Capri only feature as a mk1 in Australia, then jumped to the cabriolet, which Europe didn't get? What happened to the mk2 and mk3's? I would have thought they would have been fantastic in Australia.

.

**Mesa** · 20-10-2007, 10:12 AM

Hi Foreigner!!!
Pretty simple really. As good looking as the Capri was/is, it wasn't a huge success at the time. They were imported from the UK and assembled here. After years of British influence, (particularly through the 40's, 50's early 60's) Australian motoring was aligning itself more with what was happening in the American auto industry, as both countries shared a lot in common with open roads and the desire for bigger cars and larger engines. By the time the Capri was released, we were deep into our own muscle car period. American influenced performance V8's like GT Falcons, Monaro's and 6 pak Chargers were the cars that most people wanted. Australian's were also influenced by race track success, which the Capri had none of early on. It's local competitor was the Australian designed and built Holden Torana. Both were similar in size and both had 4 and 6 cyl engines, but the Torana was by comparison was extremely popular with local buyers. Particularly the performance Torana's like the GTR and GTR XU1. The Capri also had to compete against it's Escort stable mate which was also very popular with small car buyers. Both were available in GT forms, and the Escort GT was more than a better match for the equivelent 4 cyl GT Capri. The 6cyl GT Capri's never gained ground against the 6cyl GTR's and began to fall. So as the sales for the Capri began to slide, it made economical sence to stop importing them. The Escorts were the cars the small car buyers wanted in the Ford stable. By the time the Capri began having a lot of class success in motorsport, bulk imports had been stopped 3 years before!!! There were some RS Capri's imported for motorsport, but Ford only imported the MK1 in bulk.
Over the last few years the MK1 Capri has become extremely popular for drag racing, through the combination of a Windsor V8 and a light body. A few of them are also beginning to pop up in historic racing as well.

Foreigner · 20-10-2007, 07:22 PM

Cool Kingy, thanks for the reply :0)

Yeah, I can see how the smaller engines, combined with the big 'ol heavy shell, would hardly raise any eyebrows among the speed enthusiasts.

I dont think Ford ever brought out a V8 Capri since the mk 1. They are called Capri Piranah's in South Africa, wouldn't mind owning one of them!

Of course you do find the fellas who've stuck a Rover or Cosworth v6 or v8 into the capri themselves, but its not quite the same as having 'the real McCoy'.

Europe does seem to be rather tame with its vehicle engines in comparison the America and Australia, with the average car having a 1L, 1.2L, 1.4L, 1.6L, 1.8L or 2L, the last two of which are usually 'wow thats a big engine!'

Having said that, the Jap import scene is pretty massive in Ireland, and I'd say the imported cars engines would rarely be under a 2L. But the killer for the Irish anyway, is the massive cost to tax the cars, as its specifically calculated on engine size, the higher the engine size, the heavier the penalty - price. Also car insurance becomes much more of a killer as the engine size goes up.

:

There are plenty cars in Ireland with larger engines than 2L alright, but another factor, other than tax and insurance comes in there too, trying to find somebody who will work on the engine. It is my experience that as soon as its not a regular A-to-B car with a regular engine, the mechanics just DON'T want to know, OR they charge you the earth, moon and stars, even if its for a poxy service. So my partner and I are learning the hard way, how to do a lot of mechanics ourselves.

Our Probes are all 2.5L (its a Nightmare getting anyone to work on them, simply because of the engine size.) Two of our Capri's are 2L's , and our new arrival Capri is a 3L, and

: -me she is fast!

As you alluded to earlier, another reason Europe has smaller engined cars is because of the roads. They would be smaller in general than those of Aussie and America. But I dont think there are- in the whole of Europe- worse, windier, smaller tarmacadam'd roads than in Ireland! Its unreal how small and windy the roads are, even the biggest most important roads. Yet the Irish fly along them. I'd say ye would equate them to a go-cart arena!!!

**Mesa** · 20-10-2007, 09:24 PM

There is a large number of Capri V8's here, as I mentioned before, mainly on the show scene and drag strip. Most are street registed. So when you combine the countries love of V8's, and the small body shell, it's almost a perfect fit for Aussie's!!! Genuine Perahna's however, are practically non exsistent!!!
We have a similar "ricer" movement out here. Unfortunately, a few of them are under the impression that the "Fast and Furious" movies are documentries and their cars can do all the same thing. They are relatively cheap to buy, and the after market here for parts and performance is growing rapidly. Some of them don't look too bad.
We're pretty lucky in that finding a workshop to service, repair or modify any type of car isn't too hard. Like anywhere else though, it has it's shonks and dodgy mechanics who charge like wounded bulls.
Hey, don't think that Europe has a mortgage on winding twisting roads either!!!! Most of our major highways have not long progressed from their goat track origins!!! Some would argue that they still are!!! While a majority of our cities are slowly being linked by freeways etc, most of the original highways remain, which is good if you want to throw the car around. But at least most are wide enough to carry traffic in both directions.
Looks like you have a handful there with your Capri's!!! We don't have many MK3's here, though they are a good looking Capri. I wouldn't mind one myself!!!
After years of owning larger cars, I've only just started getting into Capri's. I was originally chasing an Escort with plans of running a V6 in it. Bit I've recently picked up a '69 Capri fitted with a Pinto 2L. I was going to change it to a V6 or V8, but I might just leave the Pinto engine in it for now. Besides, as my wife tells me, I don't need two V8's right now, and I'm not selling the Falcon!!!!!

Brock071 · 21-10-2007, 12:19 AM

Greetings Foreigner and Kingy.

I own a Mk.1 GT V6 and I wouldn't trade her for the world! Kingy you forgot to mention that we had the popular Cortina's here too and that in the Mark 3 Corty (Our TC model) we shoe-horned the 200 and 250 cubic inch Falcon motors into them. These were very popular also and it was this model that put an end to the Capri in Oz! Ford did import 6 Mark 2 Capri's for evaluation, but alas, it was not to be. These cars were sold off to the trade and some found there way to the track, one with Lawrie Nelson. We did get 50 RS3100's out here too, which were imported by Ford Australia because they couldn't sell them in the UK due to the then 1974 fuel crisis!

In our Capri Car Club here in Melbourne, we have 5 Mark 2 Capri's here in Victoria and also a handful of Mark 3's, which come out for the show n shine circuit. We also have a few V8 Capri's in our stable including 2 Perana's, though the built up V8 Capri's are probably better than the Perana's because they have more modern bits in them. Keep on Capri'n!
Cheers, Terry

**Mesa** · 21-10-2007, 09:10 PM

Thanks Brock71, I forgot about the Corty!!!! They had a pretty good history here too!!

Foreigner · 22-10-2007, 02:08 AM

Here are a cpl pics of our lot.

Foreigner · 22-10-2007, 02:14 AM

We have this mk2 as well, which as we started to strip her back, we discovered was well rotten. Needs a new shell tbh.

As she is now

Brock071 · 22-10-2007, 01:22 PM

A very nice collection indeed Foreigner!

Persevere with the Mark 2 as they are the 'forgotten' model Capri, with dwindling numbers too! A great stable you have there, I'm jealous!!!!

Cheers, terry

R0BD0G · 22-10-2007, 06:56 PM

.....with the very long posts and some sick lookin capri mk2's im sure ur knowledge will come in very handy on these forums.....love the white one. looks like the sierra rear spoiler?????

Foreigner · 30-10-2007, 03:17 AM

Quote:

and some sick lookin capri mk2's

Erm, I'm kinda wondering what you mean by that?

Well, we have just the one very rusty mk2, the rest are near mint mk 3's.

The whale-tale on the white one is capri-specific. It is a sierra cosworth replica whale tale that was produced to fit a capri.

Thanks for the complement Brock071

**Mesa** · 31-10-2007, 08:02 PM

Out here, 'sick' means good. Kermit was paying a compliment!!!
I really like the look of those MK3's!! Pity there weren't more of them out here.
The MK2 is looking pretty sad. A lot of work there!!!

groulder · 31-10-2007, 08:07 PM

sick is aussie slang for good, great, awesome, etc.

he's complimenting you

the mk3 capri is a very attractive looking car and it is a shame that it was never officially released in australia.

i've read somewhere that halfway through the mk1 the mk1 1/2 was released. this too was never released in australia. we strictly only received the mk1. i have been looking for a capri gt for a while now. i have big dreams of overboring and stroking to 3.4l and triple carb setups...but, might focus on obtaining the car first ;)

on a final note, in case you were unaware, the only differences i can recall on the aussie version of the capri gt was that it used the falcon side mirrors of the time, and employed the use of the superroo decals on the front guards, as used on the xw gt.

**Mesa** · 02-11-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groulder

sick is aussie slang for good, great, awesome, etc.

he's complimenting you

the mk3 capri is a very attractive looking car and it is a shame that it was never officially released in australia.

i've read somewhere that halfway through the mk1 the mk1 1/2 was released. this too was never released in australia. we strictly only received the mk1. i have been looking for a capri gt for a while now. i have big dreams of overboring and stroking to 3.4l and triple carb setups...but, might focus on obtaining the car first ;)

on a final note, in case you were unaware, the only differences i can recall on the aussie version of the capri gt was that it used the falcon side mirrors of the time, and employed the use of the superroo decals on the front guards, as used on the xw gt.

The current issue of Australian Muscle Car Magazine (has a replica of Moffs 73 Hartop on the cover), has a story on the MK1 V6 Capri GT's. A very interesting read.

whooligan · 03-11-2007, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingy351

The current issue of Australian Muscle Car Magazine (has a replica of Moffs 73 Hartop on the cover), has a story on the MK1 V6 Capri GT's. A very interesting read.

This car was previously owned by the parts officer (JR) at our club.....(Terry (brock071) is our president, by the way). Its a brilliant car.

I'm lucky enough to own 3 Capris including a Mk 3 that I'm restoring. It was unfortunate that they didn't bring the later Capris out to Australia, but I don't think it was a question of them being unpopular back in the day, that slowded the sales, and eventually canned importation....It was more a question of the price of a GT Falcon (not much more) and the Capri being caught btwn the economical Escort and the practical Cortina. Many people I've spoken to wanted to buy a GT Capri, but at the time it just didn't add up.
There is an upside to this....They are a lot more rare and are now being appreciated as the muscle car they genuinely are. Comparison test showed the Torana GTR was a little short on performance compared to the V6 Capri, hence the introduction of the XU1 Torana (which, in cult status, is like the Aussie Holden version of the UKs RS3100)....and I hate to say it got me interested in Capris when I couldn't find one that I could afford....even 20 years ago.