Capri 2.8i
Billed as the car you always promised yourself, the rakish coupé was a sales hit the minute it was launched in 1969.
If there’s one car that’s guaranteed to get Ford fans excited, it’s the Capri. Billed as the car you always promised yourself, the rakish coupé was a sales hit when it was launched in 1969. However, despite its sporty looks, keen drivers were disappointed by the standard car’s weedy 1.3-litre engine, while the range-topping 3.0-litre model could only muster 128bhp.
Enthusiasts would have to wait until 1981, when Ford’s Special Vehicle Engineering team – working on its first-ever project – introduced a fuel-injected 160bhp 2.8-litre unit. Stiffer springs and uprated dampers were also added to the car in an effort to fine-tune the handling.
Even when fitted with power-steering, the 2.8i feels a little cumbersome as it rolls through corners and crashes over bumps. But the view of the trademark long bonnet through the windscreen and the V6’s throaty roar more than make up for any shortcomings – and guarantee the Capri’s legendary status.
* Performance: 3/5
* Heritage: 3/5
* Style: 4/5
* Driver appeal: 3/5
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Details
Model tested: Capri 2.8i
Chart position: 12
