Not a Mopar BUT I think you will like it • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **benmay100** » 03 Sep 2010 14:18

This is my Ford Capri MK3 2.0 pinto

I bought this when I was 15 and gave it a full bare-shell restoration.
Im 19 now (yes it took me a while) and love driving around in it.

It has 2.0 pinto engine with cam upgrade, four branch manifold.
Uprated suspension
New paintjob
better brakes etc etc etc.

by **dave-r** » 03 Sep 2010 15:09

Yes I used to like the Capris a lot when I was your sort of age. Always wanted a Mk1 or 2 myself. The Ford 302 engine drops straight in you know? Just needs a sump swap for a truck version. There used to be conversion kits to fit a chevy small block too.

Me and my Dad have rebuilt a few 2.0 Pinto engines. Mostly in Cortinas. I liked the 1600 crossflow better though. I had a hot cammed 1600 in my Mk2 Escort Ghia. Flying machine that was. Got me into loads of trouble.

This was late 70s and early 80s mind you. Before you were even born! :oops:

by **drewcrane** » 03 Sep 2010 16:20

So what year is that car? looks to be a fine machine,

and a young gun to boot

:thumbsup:

by **dave-r** » 03 Sep 2010 18:20

The Mk3s were made from 77-86 and by the registration number on that one it must be one of the last 86 models.

by **Eddie** » 03 Sep 2010 22:01

dave-r wrote:Yes I used to like the Capris a lot when I was your sort of age. Always wanted a Mk1 or 2 myself. The Ford 302 engine drops straight in you know? Just needs a sump swap for a truck version. There used to be conversion kits to fit a chevy small block too.

Me and my Dad have rebuilt a few 2.0 Pinto engines. Mostly in Cortinas. I liked the 1600 crossflow better though. I had a hot cammed 1600 in my Mk2 Escort Ghia. Flying machine that was. Got me into loads of trouble.

This was late 70s and early 80s mind you. Before you were even born!

Damn,,yer an OLD MAN :lol:

by **drewcrane** » 04 Sep 2010 2:45

dave-r wrote:The Mk3s were made from 77-86 and by the registration number on that one it must be one of the last 86 models.

So they made a few of them with some different body styles over the years I would assume? i would like to see more pix please of your car Benmay100 :nod:

by **babyelephant** » 04 Sep 2010 7:57

Cool Capri! Congrats on having it done!
I had two MK3's as my first cars, not brave enough to go for V8's from the beginning :mrgreen:

Mine were German 2,8 version and the coolest bang for the bucks.

by **ianandjess** » 04 Sep 2010 9:11

yea i like capri,s to you see a few pirahna,s from time to time at car shows but most are fakes with 302 winsors in them but hey a small car like that would be a hell of a lot of fun with a v8 in it
cheers ian

by **dave-r** » 04 Sep 2010 11:25

The origonal Mk1 was my favorite to be honest. The 302 V8 was deemed too big for the UK market so the biggest engine offered was the 3.0 V6.
Still a lot of engine for a small car though.
It was the closest thing to a "Pony Car" ever offered in the UK.

by **Adrian Worman** » 04 Sep 2010 18:50

I'm certain the Capri was marketed in North America as a Mercury Capri some time in the 70's, I assume it must have had the 3 litre V6 otherwise Americans would'nt have bothered to buy it.
My wife had a couple of 'em, her last one was an '85 2.0S model, 5 speed, white with black graphics, was her pride and joy till I swapped it for a '78 Trans Am :s003:

Perfect car to practice driving sideways :lol:

by **dave-r** » 04 Sep 2010 20:52

I have a copy of Hot Rod magazine with an article on fitting the 302 to the Mercury Capri.

The only type initially available used the British 1600-cc Kent crossflow, with a starting price less than US$2300. The 2.0-L OHC I4 was introduced for the 1971 model year. The '71 2.0-liter Capris are particularly desirable, since they have a 9.0:1 compression ratio (which was reduced to 8.2:1 in 1972). The 2.6-L "Cologne" V6 was introduced late in the 1972 model year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Capri

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Capri

by **benmay100** » 04 Sep 2010 21:35

Thanks for the comments guys

yep it is an 86' model

not quite as fast as a V8, but the four cylinder pinto sounds REALLY nice

will put some more pics up

by **benmay100** » 04 Sep 2010 21:50

More pics of the capri!

by **ianandjess** » 05 Sep 2010 0:31

very neat & tidy looks great
cheers ian

by **drewcrane** » 05 Sep 2010 3:38

Yea that,s a nice looking car , nice place,and great pix :thumbsup:

by **patrick** » 05 Sep 2010 4:13

Ditto on what Drew said! :thumbsup:

Had a buddy, back in the day, that had a 302 in one of those. That car was nuts! :s003:

by **Adrian Worman** » 05 Sep 2010 21:22

That would make for one spunky car Pat :lol:

I love the "specials" that small automotive engineering companys used to put out, stuff like Savage Cortina's, Black Prince Victor's,Tickford Capri's, they were our British answer to your Yenko, Baldwin-Motion, Mr.Norm type street racers, who else remembers that stuff :?:

by **dave-r** » 06 Sep 2010 7:47

Savage Cortina was on my most wanted list in my late teens. :mrgreen:

by **Adrian Worman** » 06 Sep 2010 9:10

I had an uncle who was a circuit racer in the 60's and mid 70's, mainly open wheel stuff, he had Jeff Uren convert his 68 Mk2 estate to Savage spec, was a proper sleeper, screw most any British car at the lights :!:

It was wonderful riding in cars like that when you were :lol:

a kid

by **dave-r** » 06 Sep 2010 12:23

Would it have been faster than my Dad's Reliant Supervan? :lol: