Ford Capri GTV6

Introduction

The Capri 3000GT was released into Australia in 25th February, 1970, and then only as a 4-speed manual. Although a little pricey, it was an immediate success, selling 1,502 units to the end of 1970.

The 3-speed Borg Warner 35 automatic version was released later in the year and sold some 167 units before years end.

"The new shape of power for the '70s" was how the official Ford brochure described the 3000GT. Click the sports shift a few sweet inches, press the pedal and inside ten seconds, the white line is slipping by at a mile a minute.

Under that long, black panelled bonnet a 3-litre V6 engine is answering the call of highway or track with a pulse-quickening 144 horsepower.

And like all fine pieces of precision machinery, Capri GT/V6 is designed, built and equipped to handle the muscle: Sports suspension, Wide track, Wide, safety-rim wheels shod with road-gripping radials, Servo-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes, Sports console housing a fast all-synchronised, close-ratio manual shift, or T-Bar automatic.

As for the inside story, you've got everything an international-class, high performance GT should have. There was everything for the ultimate in personal comfort to put the sheer joy back into driving.

Ford Australia sold a total of just over 3,000 V6 Capri's of which nearly 5 out of 6 sold was a manual. So, although automatics were scarcer than manuals, it's the manuals that everyone seems to want, and who can blame them.

Capri 3000 GT V6 Engine Specifications:

• Engine Type: 6 cylinder 60 degree vee formation, OHV Crossflow
• BHP: 144bhp @ 4750rpm
• Torque: 192.5 lb ft @ 3000rpm
• Bore & Stroke: 93.66mm x 72.44mm / 3.69in x 2.85in
• Displacement: 2994cc / 182.7cu in
• Compression Ratio: 8.9:1
• Carburettion: Weber 40 DFAV 2-barrel
• Wheels and Tyres: 5-inch wide x 13 safety-rim wheels with 175 x 13 radial-ply tyres.
• Gear Ratios:
  Manual Transmission, 1st - 3.16:1; 2nd - 2.21:1; 3rd - 1.41:1; 4th - 1.00:1; Reverse - 3.35:1
  Borg Warner 35 three speed automatic, 1st - 2.393:1, 2nd - 1.450:1, 3rd - 1.00:1, Reverse - 2.094:1

MODEL	MONTH / YEAR	NEW PRICE
3000 GT Manual	June, 1970	AUD $3,230.00
	March 1971	AUD $3,286.00
	June 1972	AUD $3,490.00
3000 GT Auto	March 1971	AUD $3,546.00
	June 1972	AUD $3,750.00
Accessories
Long Range Radio	March, 1971	AUD $94.00
Sports Wheels	March, 1971	AUD $92.00
Sports Steering Wheel	March, 1971	AUD $26.00
Tinted/Laminated Windscreen	March, 1971	AUD $51.00

TYPE	1970	1971	1972	TOTALS
GT 3000 Manual	1,502	495	462	2,459
GT 3000 Auto	167	225	163	555
TOTALS	1,669	720	625	3,014

1. All Capris were assembled from UK-sourced knockdown kits at Fords Homebush Plant in Sydney, NSW.
2. Production of all Capri models ceased in November 1972, though some were still being sold into 1973