1976 Ford Capri II 2.8 from North America

Summary:

I'm a sucker for beautiful looking Babes like this Black Beauty

Faults:

The shift lever snapped at 36,000 miles.

The half-shafts in the rear differential started to leak at 50,000 miles.

The Electronic Control Module failed at 70,000 miles.

Electrical systems were always under par.

General Comments:

The looks on this car, Blacks S Cat Capri II were hot stuff in the mid to late 1970's.

It chirped between all gears when it had good compression (2.8 liter manual).

It was an excellent car to build up on -- headers, suspension, rims, etc.

The lack of these cars in California (easiest of all climates on autos) does demonstrate it's lack of durability though.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd December, 2005

1976 Ford Capri II 1.6 GT from Germany

Summary:

Very stylish and fun to drive, but rusty and high fuel consumption

General Comments:

A very nice and stylish 70ies car. Not very reliable because of its high fuel consumption, compared with its poor performance. But people will look.

I would buy a 2.3 litre V6, because performance and fuel consumption are better here.

Look out for rust. You will find a lot!

It's a quite big car and good to transport a lot of stuff.

Fun to drive because of its styling and old-school-driving feeling.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 26th November, 2001

13th Nov 2002, 17:03

Look.

If you bought the car in 2000 it was 24 years old. If you are trying to compare a 24 year old car with anything vaguely modern, say something made in the mid 90's you are talking about a gap of nearly 20 years. In that time fuel injection has become the norm, with it's plus point on power and economy. Further, suspension and handling (including tyre technology has vastly improved). The Capri 2 was very closely related to the 1960's Ford's, and they were designed at the end of the 1950's. I owned and loved a 77 Mk 2 2.0S back in the 1980's, but I wouldn't compare it to what I drive now. Back then I was young and anything was possible - so was the Capri. Now I'm older and not so nimble - so is your Ford, in body, but where's your head at??

5th Jun 2006, 12:05

I owned a '76 Capri II in 1985 and it was one of the most awesome cars on the road. The first day I owned it I beat a brand new trans-am in a red-light to red-light race. By today's standards it is not very quick, but back then it was able to outrun most corvettes on the road. It would even out perform that Ferrari 308 from the Magnum PI show (according to 'road and track' performance numbers).

I have nothing, but great memories about that car not just because I was a lot younger, but because it was one of the quickest cars on the road at the time.