Ford Capri (United Kingdom, 1973-1980)

The second generation Ford Capri came out in February 1974. This mid-sized sports car resulted from Ford’s goal of conceiving a car that would be able to battle the 1973 oil crisis by being affordable for those who need to use a car on a daily basis. Although still mechanically linked to the previous generation, the Mk2 Capri was somewhat more reliable and is considered a modern car for that time.

The Mk2 Capri was also available in a ‘John Player’ special limited edition (JPS) from March 1975. The cars were produced at Ford’s European factories in the United Kingdom, Belgium and Germany. It was produced until 1977, before it got replaced by a new generation model.

The Mk2 Capri carries on with the front engine and rear-wheel drive arrangement. The base trim level models were the 1.3-liter engine with 55 hp and a top speed of 90 mi/h (145 km/h) and the 1.6-liter model with either 72 hp or 88 hp and a top speed of 97 mi/h (156 km/h). the European Capri cars also received a 2.0-liter version. Besides these, there were also a 2.3-liter V6 (108 hp) and a 3.0-liter V6 engine. The Mk2 Capri works with a 5-speed manual transmission.

Unitary steel structure.   Platform (no data)   Suspension Front McPherson struts with lower wishbones and Bilstein shock absorbers; rear live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, coil springs and Bilstein shock absorbers.   Steering Rack-and-pinion.   Brakes Front disc brakes and rear drums.

The Mk2 Ford Capri is a fastback coupe as well as the previous generation model, but the bodyshell was redesigned and enlarged. The Capri now had a shorter nose to allow for a larger cabin space and it now had a hatchback-type rear door. The new design resulted on an overall softer shape, although it retained its sporty looks and the Mk1’s characteristic big and square front lights.