In the Ford Capri run, there were three power figures that mattered: 185 horsepower from the 3.0L Essex V6, 205 horsepower from the 2.8L turbo V6 in the Tickford Turbo model, and 281 horsepower for one of the rare 302 Windsor-powered Capri Peranas that were sold only in South Africa. Everything else was underpowered for the claims that the body made, and that wasn’t by accident. The Capri itself was the result of Ford U.K. looking at the Cortina and realizing that they could try to make the same kind of magic that had worked for Ford with the Falcon and the Mustang. And, strangely enough, it did work…between 1969 and 1986, nearly 1.9 million of the little coupes had escaped the factory.
To many, the Capri represents Ford Europe’s take on the Mustang. It’s not as powerful, but the looks were there, the performance was up to their par and they could be modded up with ease. They were big in racing as well, where cars similar to this Capri RS3100 would compete on the circuits. With an angry little Cosworth V6 underhood, the Capri could be a giant-killer in the hands of a solid driver. This footage from an Oldtimer Grand Prix race at the Nurburgring pits one of these little Fords up against a Porsche 935 and a BMW M1, both formidable opponents. Enjoy the Cosworth’s song as driver Stefan Mücke wrings the life out of this car!
