Ford Capri Mk.3

Historical article recovered from a Wayback capture dated 2017-04-25.

Ford Capri MKIII

1978 - 1986

Country:

Engine:

4 or 6 Cylinder

Capacity:

1593 - 2994cc

Power:

98 - 168bhp

Transmission:

Manual or Auto

Top Speed:

179-210 kmh

Collectability:

Ford Capri MKIII
Reviewed by Unique Cars and Parts
Our Rating: 3

Beetle Browed

By 1979 Ford’s Capri had been around for ten years, the first in the series appearing in 1969, but of course it had undergone many changes over a decade. 1978’s revision was less than many people had expected; only relatively minor changes were made to the Mark 2 style body that had been introduced in 1974, and this was something of a tribute to a design which had aged well over a period when fashions had fluctuated considerably.

Production began in April 1977 with the first cars being available in March 1978, but failed to halt a terminal decline in sales. This model was used in the TV series ‘The Professionals’, which was credited with keeping interest in the car in the UK. The most obvious difference was in the new ‘beetle browed’ look to the bonnet line which appeared partially to mask the four new headlights. The radiator grille, it is true, was different, as was the front air dam. The net effect of all three changes was to effect around a six per cent improvement in aerodynamic efficiency.

While the changes at the front were easy on the eye, the addition of a boot-mounted spoiler on the S models was less so as it seemed to form less of an integral whole with the car than did the changes at the front. In fact, as purely a cosmetic feature it would not have been there at all, but what it did do was to help counteract the tendency for the rear of the car to rise which was a side effect of the new front air dam.

Hardly any changes were made to the mechanical side of the Capri; the suspension remained by MacPherson struts at the front, while the live rear axle was located by those traditional devices, semi-elliptic leaf springs. The basic 1300 model, however, was given an increased power output of 57 bhp, up from the previous 50 which was hardly adequate for a car with the Capri’s looks!

The top of the line 3000 S used the old trusty Ford V6 3-litre push rod unit as before, and this engine with a power output of 138 bhp gave the 3000 S a very impressive top speed of 124 mph. No less impressive was the 0-60 mph acceleration time of only 8.0 seconds, and there were very few coupes that could match this performance at the price.

In 1981, the 3.0 V6 is dropped from the lineup, but a new sporty version debuted in the Geneva Motor Show, called the 2.8i. The new model was the first regular model since the RS2600 to use fuel injection. Power rose to 160 hp (118 kW), but the car still had a standard 4-speed gearbox. Although the Capri no longer had a racing career, specialist Turbo Technics developed a limited edition turbocharged model with 188 hp (140 kW), which could propel the car to 220 km/h (137 mph) in April 1982. A few months later, Tickford upped the deal with a 205 hp (153 kW) version, which also featured a large rear spoiler, white front grille and enlarged bumpers.

MkIII Capri: 1980 - 1986

• Engine 6-Cyl. vee formation at 60 degrees
• Crankshaft Four main bearings
• Bore x Stroke 93mm x 68.5mm (3.66in x 2.70in)
• Capacity 2972cc (107.4 cu in)
• Valves Overhead
• Compression ratio 9.2:1
• Fuel system Bosch K-Jetronic injection
• Maximum power 160bhp at 5700rpm
• Maximum torque 162 lb ft (22.5kgm) at 4300rpm
• Transmission Five speed manual, limited slip differential standard
• Gear Ratios 5th 0.825, 4th 1.00, 3rd 1.26, 2nd 1.81, 1st 3.36, rev 3.37
• Final drive 3.090
• Top gear speed 25.7mph (41.4kmh) per 1000rpm
• Brakes Ventilated Front disc / rear drum, servo assisted
• Wheels / Tyres 7x15in alloy wheels with Pirelli P7 195/50 15 tyres
• Length 172.8in (4376mm)
• Wheelbase 100.9in (2563mm)
• Width 66.9in (1698mm)
• Height 51.1in (1298mm)
• Front Track 53.3in (1353mm)
• Rear Track 54.5in (1384mm)
• Unladen weight 2712lb (1230kg)
• Top speed 130 mph (210km/h)
• 0-60mph 7.8 secs

MkIII Capri 3000: 1978 - 1981

• Engine 6-Cyl. vee formationat 60 degrees
• Crankshaft Four main bearings
• Bore x Stroke 93.66mm x 72.44mm (3.69in x 2.85in)
• Capacity 2994cc (182.7 cu in)
• Valves Overhead
• Compression ratio 9.0:1
• Fuel system Weber 38/38 EGAS carburettor
• Maximum power 138bhp at 5100rpm
• Maximum torque 174 lb ft (24.1kgm) at 3000rpm
• Transmission Four speed manual gearbox, fully synchronised. Optional Ford C3 three speed automatic
• Gear Ratios 4th 1.00, 3rd 1.412, 2nd 1.94, 1st 3.16, rev 3.346
• Final drive 3.090
• Top gear speed 21.9mph (35.2kmh) per 1000rpm
• Brakes Front disc / rear drum, servo assisted
• Wheels / Tyres 6in alloy wheels with 185/70 tyres
• Length 172.8in (4376mm)
• Wheelbase 100.9in (2563mm)
• Width 66.9in (1698mm)
• Height 51.2in (1323mm)
• Front Track 53.3in (1353mm)
• Rear Track 54.5in (1384mm)
• Unladen weight 2850lb (1170kg)
• Top speed 122 mph (196km/h)or 118mph (190kmh) automatic
• 0-60mph 8.5 secs (10 secs automatic)

MkIII Capri 2.8 Injection: 1981 - 1986

• Engine 6-Cyl. vee formation at 60 degrees
• Crankshaft Four main bearings
• Bore x Stroke 93mm x 68.5mm (3.66in x 2.70in)
• Capacity 2972cc (107.4 cu in)
• Valves Overhead
• Compression ratio 9.2 : 1
• Fuel system Bosch K-Jetronic injection
• Maximum power 160bhp at 5700rpm
• Maximum torque 162 lb ft (22.5kgm) at 4300rpm
• Transmission Four speed manual gearbox (1981-84) five speed manual (1984-86), limited slip differential standard from 1984
• Gear Ratios (1981-84) 4th 1.00, 3rd 1.42, 2nd 1.94, 1st 3.16, rev 3.346
• Gear Ratios (1984-86) 5th 0.825, 4th 1.00, 3rd 1.26, 2nd 1.81, 1st 3.36, rev 3.37
• Final drive 3.090
• Top gear speed Four speeds - 21.9mph (35.2kmh) Five speeds - 25.7mph (41.4kmh) per 1000rpm
• Brakes Ventilated Front disc / rear drum, servo assisted
• Wheels / Tyres 7x13in alloy wheels with 205/60 13 tyres
• Length 172.8in (4376mm)
• Wheelbase 100.9in (2563mm)
• Width 66.9in (1698mm)
• Height 51.1in (1298mm)
• Front Track 53.3in (1353mm)
• Rear Track 54.5in (1384mm)
• Unladen weight 2712lb (1230kg)
• Top speed 130 mph (210km/h)
• 0-60mph 7.8 secs

MkIII Capri 2000: 1978 - 1986

• Engine 4-Cyl. In line
• Crankshaft Five main bearings
• Bore x Stroke 90.8mm x 76.9mm (3.57in x 3.03in)
• Capacity 1993cc (121.6 cu in)
• Valves Overhead camshaft
• Compression ratio 9.2:1
• Fuel system Weber 32/36 DGV twin-choke carburettor
• Maximum power 98bhp at 5200rpm (101bhp from late 1979)
• Maximum torque 112 lb ft (15.5kgm) at 3500rpm
• Transmission Four speed manual gearbox (1978-83), five speed manual gearbox (1983-86), optional Ford C3 three-speed automatic
• Gear Ratios 1978-83 4th 1.00, 3rd 1.37, 2nd 1.97, 1st 3.65, rev 3.16
• Gear Ratios 1983-86 5th 0.825, 4th 1.00, 3rd 1.1.37, 2nd 1.97, 1st 3.65, rev 3.16
• Final drive 3.440
• Top gear speed 21.4mph (34.4kmh) per 1000rpm
• Brakes Front disc / rear drum, servo assisted
• Wheels / Tyres 5.5in or 6in wheels and 185/70 13 tyres standard
• Length 172.8in (4376mm)
• Wheelbase 100.9in (2563mm)
• Width 66.9in (1698mm)
• Height 51.2in (1323mm)
• Front Track 53.3in (1353mm)
• Rear Track 54.5in (1384mm)
• Unladen weight 2194lb (995kg)
• Top speed 111 mph (179km/h)
• 0-60mph 10.8 seconds