Yahoo News Our fondest memories of the Ford Capri, according to Telegraph readers
News that Ford is planning to revive the 1970s classic car – the Capri – by giving it an electric makeover was announced Wednesday, with it expected to go on sale again next year. The new electric version will have 300 horsepower and a £40,000 price tag.
Telegraph readers swarmed the comments section following the revelation, reminiscing and sharing stories about their own Capris - describing how fun it was to drive and how simple a car it was to maintain.
Read on for a selection of readers' fond memories and unfortunate mishaps to do with the 1970s classic Ford car, as well as their thoughts on its electric transformation:
'Several miles along the dark lanes the accelerator pedal flopped to the floor'
Robert Bishop: “Had a metallic blue 1976 model. I loved it and had only one real problem with it. I left my grandparents' (deep in the country) house late and several miles along the dark lanes the accelerator pedal flopped to the floor.
“With the aid of the built-in map light I was able to see that the accelerator cable had been attached to the pedal by a little lead like ball which was now on the floor. Took a while, but I was able to haul the cable out into the engine bay and run it, extended by some baler twine from the hedge, out from under the bonnet and in through the side window. Tied on a stick, also from the hedge, as a handle and drove the rest of the way home, in rain much of the time, with my arm out the window to operate the accelerator.”
'I won’t forget the rear-wheel drive'
Sheila Hodgkinson: “In the early 80s I bought a 1970 mark one 3000 GT XLR in oyster gold. This model came with the ‘Ford's original’ matt black bonnet. This was part of Fords ‘X’ pack marketing ploy, with some extra toys/styling such as matt black colour detailing on the exterior, interior clock near the gear shift, front fog lights & steel rostyle wheels. It all looked pretty cool and a powerful two door GT.
“It was bought 2nd hand, was previously well maintained and gave me trouble-free motoring. What great fun I had – and not forgetting rear-wheel drive too.”
'An electric version will not be the same'
Mark Kelly: “My first ever car, the 1.6GT. I was 19 years old and thought it was THE business. And for my age and budget it was.
“It was a lovely car. I always loved how the back fishtailed going round a wet roundabout. But an electric version? No! I want to hear that engine. It will not be the same.”
‘It was the car I had when I met my wife and I’m sure it definitely helped’
Robert Sanderson: “My first car was a Capri 1.6 MK11. It was purple with a black vinyl roof. Then, I had a 2.0 litre Ghia in silver.
“And after that, the stunning 2.8 followed. It was the car I had when I met my wife and I’m sure it definitely helped. It was an incredibly cool car. I wish I still had it.”
‘I was taught to drive in a Capri’
Hans de Vries: “In 1974, I was taught to drive in this car. Oh, what happy memories.”
‘It is still my favourite car ever, even 35 years later’
Donald Troosers: “I was 18 years old and owned a CLP 600T, 1979 white 3.0 Ghia. Double X pack body kit, whale tail spoiler, white 8 spoke wheels, 235's at the back, 205's at the front. 136bhp of boy racer magic!
“Great on the straight, terrifying on bends and roundabouts. I got 9 points in 9 months! Had to go, but it is still my favourite car ever, even 35 years later.”
‘I remember the Capri being called the Crapi’
Ray Gee: “I do remember the Capri typically being called a ‘Crapi’ but it didn't reflect the truth. The only thing I didn't like so much on a long journey was sitting with my legs almost flat on the floor.”
‘It was powerful and practical’
Ivor Headache: “I've had two Capri 1.6 LSs and the last was a 2.8i which was a superb car. It was powerful, practical with a hatchback body, and had extremely comfortable and supportive half-leather Recaro seats.
“Even though traction in the snow with its wide tyres and rear-wheel drive was terrible, the rest of the time it was a delight to own and drive.”
'My dad had four Capris in succession'
Yvonne Twiss: “The company my dad worked for held the port agency for Ford in Hull. He had, I think, four Capris in succession. The last was the three litre.
“We used to open her up on the M62 and it was my job to look out for the "Hurons" (traffic police). Such wonderful memories.
“When the company switched to Renault he promised my mum that he'd get a family car. He brought home an Alpina. The most unholy row ensued that rings my ears to this day!”
‘She did drink as much oil as fuel but she was gorgeous’
Gail Ennis: “Metallic blue body, black vinyl roof, black leather seats 3.0. Oh back in the day when life was simple. She did drink as much oil as fuel but she was gorgeous.”
‘Fun to drive, lusty engine and simple to maintain’
Jerry Baverstock: “The first car I bought was a 1971 Capri 2000GT. It certainly had a hard life but never let me down. I have had many more over the years, including my 1983 2.8 injection, which I have had for the last fourteen years.
“Fun to drive, lusty engine and simple to maintain. But the electric version has no interest for me.”
‘A couple of friends of mine were always comparing which was the best’
DJ EA: “A couple of friends of mine were always comparing which was the best. One had the monster 3.0S and the other the 2.8l. Both were awesome but hated corners.
“Back then they were dirt cheap, but today, £40k isn't really for the working man”
‘You could open the bonnet, get in and stand beside the engine’
Auclan McIntyre: “I had a J-reg Mark 1 1600. It was loud, basic, and underpowered, but built like a tank! And surprisingly reliable.
“It was aubergine in colour, so I always called it purple! It used to make me chuckle that you could open the bonnet, get in and stand beside the engine. But the later twin-headlight models were naff-looking.”
