Impending Capri Purchase

[Rod]

Just make sure it has not been 'rung'. This was a serious problem with the 2.8 and the 'tickford' version was almost always nicked.

[IanD]

Friend of mine used to have and a drove around with a bag of cement in the boot to help it stay pointing in the right direction, this was back in the day when bags of dust where a proper size not these poncy half bags you get today.

Good for classic insurance Specialist Car Insurance & Cheap classic car insurance UK | Adrian Flux

Edit: Ooh do you see what I've done there? cement, pointing. No? Oh well the Dude would have got it.

[MartyC]

I used to have the 2.0L S, loved it, the handling is interesting but not anything I worried about, bit of weight in the boot helps.
Buy the 2.8 special - dogs nuts mate

[Gary K]

Originally Posted by Rod

Just make sure it has not been 'rung'. This was a serious problem with the 2.8 and the 'tickford' version was almost always nicked.

ahhh the "Tickford Turbo", I remember racing one of those with my XR4x4 (which had had a visit to Turbo Technics ) on the M69

[sas steve]

If you get it you will have to fit an original 8 track stereo system as well.

[Woz]

Originally Posted by nickb

Ignore all that stuff about poor handling. Admittedly they'll suddenly oversteer with no warning and leave you in a field but that's all part of the fun of owning a Capri.

If I was in the market for an 1970s car it would be a BMW 3.0 CSL or a Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS

Now you're talking.

Diggs ditch the Capri idea and get a post 1976 911. Galvanised body so it won't rot, mechanicals that last forever and they really really do stick you in a hedge in the wet.

My dad had 3, from a 1970 911E (lovely) to a 1976 2.7 911 lux (nice) and eventually one of the last proper 911's, a 1989 3.2 supersport (utterly lovely and had a spoiler you could use as a picnic table).

[fezboy]

I had a 1974 RS3100, lovely car, loads of grunt, still wouldn't go round corners....

[rs3100]

Hi there PM me if you want to know more.
As my user name suggests I am a capri fan. RS3100 is the ultimate capri for me, closely followed by a Perana (5.0litre V8 south african special by Basil Green).

Go for:
Mk1 - (1969-1974 - Facelift in 1973)
2dr coupe - much stiffer shell, less chance of body torsion.
RS3100 (Mk1 3.1 litre V6) Not many
RS2600 (Mk1 2.6 litre V6) Event less - left hand drive, German made.
Perana (Mk1 5.0 litre V8) South African made, not many in the country.

Avoid Mk2s (1974-1978 i think)the first of the hatchbacks.
The only one that mught be worth going for would be the John Player Special edition (but only for money reasons, and only if in very good condition).

Mk3 - (1978 - 1987)everyones idea of what a capri is
Any E reg capri - generally Brooklands capris, but not many were registered on E plates (quite rare)
Tickford Turbo - expensive and generally dogs, conversions by Aston Martin
3.0s (3.0l V6 Essex engine - check oil pressure, and listen for a bottom end rattle)
2.8i (2.8l V6 Cologne engine) - fuel injected engine, bullet proof and spares common and cheap.
1.6/2.0 (OHC Pinto engines - someone suggested that they're underpowered, but these can be modified to feck, I also know someone who dropped a 2.0 DOHC Cossie engine in one, and it was fast as hell)

Avoid 1.3 litre engine cars like the plague, as well as the 2.3 litre V6 engines (foreign & shite).

Now the important bits:-
Bodywork is essential - panels are becoming harder to get hold of, and are subsequently becoming more expensive.
Check strut tops - these rust like hell, often patching plates are put over them as a repair (often without remedying what is underneath).
2.8i must have single leaf rear springs (standard on all S models), multi leaf are useless.
Should also have a limited slip differential - helps control the sideways movement of the rear
Brakes are crap on a 2.8i - upgrade the standard brakes to 4-pot (Austin Princess has great 4 pot brakes, if you can find one)
Unbroken parcel shelves are incredibly rare.
Check condition of recaro seats - leather ones are becoming harder to find.

I can't think what else to look for at the moment.
Oh yeah, stay away from affordable classics - they're anything but affordable.

[wilbo]

Digs,

will you start talking like DCI Gene Hunt and have a pretty side kick nicknamed 'Miss Bolly Knickers'?

you know - in for a penny and all that..

[Okeanos]

My lodger has a Capri, so does her brother. They're both members of Old School Ford too.

The one thing it won't like is salt water dripping all over it from dive gear.