The Ford Capri Mk2 Was a Softer, More Refined Coupé

It's quite amazing how many little bits of that Capri are exactly the same as bits in my grandfather's 1980 Escort MkII; the vents, window winders, clock, gear lever, wheels, to name a few. Ford were definitely the masters of parts sharing back in those days. Definitely good back good memories of growing up in a late 70's Ford.

Excellent review. I love the Capri. I had a Mk3 3.0S in 80/81 and while it is nowhere near the best car that I've owned over the years it remains to this day my absolute favourite. What memories! What a car!

Brilliant educational review as always. Your set up is looking a lot more professional too 👍

Another fantastic video! We here in the US got this Capri around 1975 as a 1976 Capri sold through Lincoln-Mercury. 2.3 litre 4 or 2.8 litre V6 was optional, as well as SelectShift automatic. Ghia was top line, only the two model ranges. Air conditioning was an optional add-on, not integrated with the climate control, and a sunroof. Of course, we had those bumpers. I don't believe I have ever ridden in one, a shame as these are very rare here. And I believe these were possibly imported for two model years, then came the Mercury Capri which was a Mustang clone for 1979 MY.

I wonder what an earth those people who put thumbs down on these marvelous videos of Ed's think. If one doesn't like the car in question, fine, but let's still value and appreciate his very thorough effort. Do better if you can, don't put him down. I think so. Thank you, sir, so much.

This GL has Ghia seats fitted to it. My first two cars were MK3 Capris, I still think to this day the Capri has the best overall driving position and most driver orientated feeling cockpit I’ve ever experienced. There is something about sitting in a Capri that just feels right.

Those comfy seats were actually Ghia seats someone had fitted to the GL, plus the arm rest/cubby was from a mk3 capri.

I actually owned this exact car WRW 489S in the very early 80s. At the time i was i think the second owner. I loved this car.

I think that this is where Ford won over BL. Ford did stylish cars that were very basic in their technology: iron block & head engine (pushrod apart from Pinto) 4-speed manuals, RWD, basic suspension. BL were doing all alloy V8s & V12s, 4 valves/cylinder, fuel injection, overdrive manuals, FWD, hydogas suspension in cars that were often very dubious in their styling. I think people would rather have had an Escort Mk1 on their drive than an Allegro, regardless of technology content.

My first car was a 1974 Mk1 Capri 1.6GT - white with an obligatory black vinyl roof! In 1982, as an 18 year old, the insurance was just £80 from the AA - don't tell today's teenagers! I basically learned to drive properly in that car, spending a year going up and down the A1 from Cambridge to Newcastle. Mods included a stereo, sunroof, tiny steering wheel, and rear fog lights. I also added a tow-bar for towing a punt in and out of the river annually! I remember vividly the clutch cable snapped once mid-drive. I managed to get it home by starting it in 1st on the starter motor and using the synchromesh and balanced revs to change gear. Happy days!

I had a Mk2 3ltr Ghia manual which was the first Ford I ever bought but I much preferred the two Mk3s I had later on. I don't believe the Cortina dashes were real wood but the door cappings most certainly were quite a substantial piece of lumber. The now iconic bonnet bulge was only introduced when they fitted the V6 to the Mk1 as the biggest engine at launch was a 2.0 and they had to modify the bonnet to accommodate the air filter. If you look at the early MK1 cars they didn't have the bonnet bulge. Great video brought back some great memories, when I was about 21 all my mates and I had some sort of fast Ford, mainly 3ltr Capris or Escort RS 2000s or Mexicos, happy days.

The higher models in ‘Ghia’ trim of the Cortina, Capri, Granada did have real wood veneer dashes. The lower trims had imitation wood and the lowest entry level ones just had black vinyl.

I had a Mk1 1.6, which I loved. But when I developed a back problem the first thing my doctor asked me was "What car do you drive?" When I told him he told me to get rid of it or learn to live with the bad back. It's the only car I've ever owned that I still miss. The far end of the bonnet felt like it was in a different postal code region to the rest of the car and it lived up to Douglas Adams's famous quote: "Looks like a fish, moves like a fish, steers like a cow." But it was awesome.

My 1st car was a MK3 Capri..GTL269T what a car it was

wow amazing mate love the video like the way your coulor coordinated haha i love the mk2 theres one in my area all done up not so nice lovely example i can see melvin in the backround :)

Always loved the Ford Capri....One of my first cars was a Mk1 Capri 1300 XL and later i went on to get a Mk2 1600 GT in that gorgeous purple velvet..what a lovely 1970`s colour!

Great video Ed. Glad to see you back on the road again. Take care mate. Steve.

Great vid. Thanks for posting. Took me down memory lane.. My second ever car was an S-reg Mark II 1.6L. White, black vinyl roof...go faster dotted black coach line. The boys thought it was a copy of one in 'The Professionals'? I didn't care; I was in love with the huge... HUGE, push back Brittax Sun-roof!! And the hatchback was so practical. Seats down I remember it was great for slinging in all my student gear heading for college.... Like I said: memory lane. Great to see one still soldiering on... Thanks!

My dad had a base yellow 1300 mk2 Capri in the late 1970s that contrasted with a neighbour's metallic green 3000 with twin exhausts and vinyl roof.