The FINANCIAL — Where would Ford be today had the Mustang not galloped into our lives way back in 1964? It'd probably still be building mundane transportation devices because before the 'Stang, there wasn't much to get excited about from the Blue Oval's stable if you were after something really sporty.
But when over a million Mustangs were sold during its first two years in the US, Ford didn't think twice about producing a similarly-styled coupé for Europe.
Up until then, the sportiest thing available was arguably the Lotus Cortina. There was no shame being spotted in one of those, but Ford wanted its own sporty coupé, not a collaborated effort. So, ‘Project Colt' was initiated in the late Sixties and then green-lighted soon after.
The result was the Mark I Ford Capri which rolled off the assembly line in 1969. Aimed at the youth but with 26 derivatives on offer, there was a Capri for everyone. A mix of powerplants built in the UK could be had including a 1.3 and 1.6-litre four-pot and the range-topping 2.0-litre V4, while a German-built V6 was also popular. But the running gear under the attractive body boasting a long front and short back was from a 1966 Cortina. Not that anyone cared.
The Capri flew off showroom floors. All tastes were catered to while buyers could also personalise their car with a variety of option packs. For those looking to pit their skills on the track, the RS3100 with a 3.1-litre V6 making 148bhp was the one to go for.One of the best lookers was the Capri Special, launched in 1971. You could have this one in any colour, as long as it was Vista orange. The boot-mounted black spoiler and rear window slats were an instant hit. It was clearly a knowing nod to the Mustang.
1974 saw the arrival of the Mark II which had a smoother body, simplified option packs and a wonderful 3.0-litre V6. It became the star of TV shows Minder and The Professionals with its all-action antics during the prime-time slot. Soon enough, everyone was driving one, including the likes of Jackie Stewart and Cliff Richard.
The Mark III in 1978 had a tidier body while the Laser trim got you either a 1.6 or 2.0 motor, leather gear lever and steering wheel and four-spoke alloys.
Finally, the Capri 280 with a 2.8-litre injection signalled the end of the era for the marque, with the last one leaving the line in 1986.
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