![]() In 1952, the Lincoln Capri marked the first use of the nameplate, serving as a trim level through 1959. The Capri nameplate is derived from the namesake Italian island in automotive use, it has been used by all three Ford divisions. In North America, the first and third generations of the Capri were marketed without a direct Ford-brand counterpart but were sold in other markets under the Ford brand. From 1991 to 1994, the Mercury Capri roadster was built by Ford Australia (and sold outside North America as the Ford Capri). From 1979 to 1986, the Capri became part of the Mercury model line as a U.S. The asking price is on the high side, but this also is one of the cleaner Capris of this era I can recall seeing in recent memory.Capri (later Mercury Capri) is a nameplate marketed by the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company on three distinct series of automobiles between 19.įrom 1970 to 1978, the Capri was a sport compact marketed in North America by the Lincoln-Mercury division without any Ford or Mercury divisional branding it was a captive import, built by Ford of Europe and sold simply as the Capri. The seller doesn’t detail any specific maintenance projects and/or improvements, but the high level of detailing in the engine bay should put most fears to rest. The Capri’s engine got bumped to 2.8L in 1974, making this the one to buy if you’re hunting for a rare European Ford like this. My favorite features in the Capri of this era is the glorious Cologne V6 engine, which makes some of the best noises you’ve ever heard from a V6. ![]() Regardless, they are easy fixes for the next owner. Look, I get it, it’s not the end of the world that it has these modifications it’s just that none of them are what I’d call period correct at the moment. The wheels are in keeping with the tweaks in the cabin, namely the CD player and Bluetooth capabilities. There’s plenty of period-correct wheels out there that would compliment this car better than these, which would look more at home on an early 90s Nissan S13. The wheels aren’t my favorite look, as they strike me as being a few years too new for the Capri. The body looks to be in spectacular condition as well, with no obvious dings, dents, or rust. The Capri seen here clearly benefits from ongoing attention, as the interior looks to be in great shape with the aforementioned updates the sort of thing only a committed owner would focus on – a flipper could hardly be bothered to add heated seats. I often wonder who is looking after these unusual Ford products built by the company’s operations in Germany: is it dyed-in-the-wool Ford guys who would otherwise pilot a Mustang, or is it a contingent of Ford fans who always yearned for more of the company’s “forbidden fruit” to be sold stateside? It’s hard to tell, especially considering I’ve yet to see one in person and/or meet the owner that drives it. The Capri is listed here on craigslist with an asking price of $12,000. This one has clearly been updated with contemporary wheels, Bluetooth, and heated seats, making one wonder if it was used briefly as someone’s daily driver. Today, there’s a limited following for these captive imports, but the ones that are still on the road tend to be owned by enthusiasts. Few of these cars are left in condition like this, quickly becoming obscure models not long after their introduction. This Mercury Capri is a clean example of the rarely seen coupe that offered American shoppers a taste of Ford’s European product line.
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