Capri's Designer Mystery Solved

Thought this was interesting as I've always kinda liked these cars...

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2010/09/16/capris-designer-a-mystery-no-longer/?refer=news

I like them too. I didn't know there was a mystery surrounding them though. Good that the actual designer gets credit for his work.

Beautiful cars.

Huh, I always thought they were designed by committee?

I remember reading an Industrial design book where they had an example of a design committee and it was a group of people sitting around a table examining a Capri drawing. It looked period correct for the late 60's.

Oh well, glad to know that his daughter took interest in his work and helped get him credit.

Cool. There isn't much about Capris Norm doesn't know. Damn I wish I could get mine to run right and finish it. Hoped to be driving it by now.

I saw one yesterday... um, in Provence.

Wow, I never see them anymore- unless it's me or one of my Capri friends. I saw them very rarely when I lived in California, but that's almost 10 years ago.

My Father had one of those in the early 80s.. fond memories

Saw one on I-26 the other day. My older brother had one, he 'endoed' it in a washout one drunken night.

I had 3...... 2 - 2600 powered cars... 72 and a 73 and 1 2800 powered 74. They did rust a fair amount......

It was one of my favorite cars... but it had a STUPID front suspension design with the sway bar doubling as the track rod - just dumb.

If you ever want to build the little Cologne V6... there is a book.......

oldeskewltoy wrote: If you ever want to build the little Cologne V6... there is a book.......

The book is hard to come by and sells for quite a few bucks. There is a lot of good info in there, but there is also a lot of info about parts you just can't get.

I decided to stick with my 2600 and built it as best I could. It's a pain trying to build one just because parts are so hard to find. But I never see them any more so I thought it would be neat. If I ever get it running right I estimate it should be good for close to 150 HP.

A Zetec or Duratec would be a neat swap. A lot of guys are putting 5.0s in them. It's supposed to be pretty easy. A 2.9 or 4.0 keeps it in the Cologne family.

I really wish my '73 wasn't dissolving as we speak, I really like the thing but the rust is bad enough to make me not want to mess with it.

Only a handful surviving in New England.

Very cool that an American designer penned it. I had no idea. It's a shame there aren't more of them around. They just SCREAM to be resto-modded.

Inspiration for anyone who has his/her sights set on a Capri.

This is the inspiration picture I've been using for my build.

Difference is that one probably runs right.

My first car was a 74 2.0. Terrible rust and a worn out U-joint after just 8 years. I've thought about picking one up, but have shied away from them. I still like them, though. Wish I'd had the V-6.

A friend of mine had one back in HS, a 2800 version, '74 I think. I always liked it, but your right, I can't remember the last time I saw one alive and on the road. Very sad....

My first car was also a '74 2.0. They rusted like crazy everywhere but the west coast and south west. There are quite a few out there, but if you're not in a dry climate you'll have to find it elsewhere.

U-Joints are a common problem. Most folks just have a custom one piece drive shaft made up. That's what I did. Front end components need to be freshened up as well or you have "Capri Shimmy". Car vibrates like crazy under braking and sometimes just driving down the road at any speed. Easy to fix- new lower control arms (ball joints are integrated into the arm) and front suspension bushings usually do the trick.

There is one that looks long since forgotten sitting in a driveway near my house, less than half a mile from the Plymouth Mass. airport. That Capri shimmy is also common in BMW 2002s, BMW 320s, and TR7 and 8s. It's because the sway bar is used to locate the lower control arm, effectively forming a lower a arm. Too many things can wear and cause the shimmy. Once it starts, everything wears faster.

My father's came in that every popular 70s colour: Brown...

I had a pretty rare '74 Capri GT - only one I've ever seen, canary yellow with a white GT decal package. Sweet little SOHC 2 liter, 4 speed. Weber with the warped airhorn. Converted the water-heated choke to manual. Rust in the trunklid only - until I got rear ended.

Never was impressed with the handling tho - or the A/C.

My First car was a 71 Capri 1600. It was really slow but beautifully balanced. It had fabulous hang time off RR crossings. It eventually wound up in a lake and I "bleep" you not....Octopus's Garden was playing on the 8-track.

mad_machine wrote: My father's came in that every popular 70s colour: Brown...

Brown is my favorite Capri color.

SVTF wrote: Never was impressed with the handling tho - or the A/C.

They need a lot more spring. Big front bar makes a load of difference too. And some way to get some camber. They can handle really well.

What is it, this A/C you speak of?

fast_eddie_72 wrote: Easy to fix- new lower control arms (ball joints are integrated into the arm) and front suspension bushings usually do the trick.

I think Edd China did this on Wheeler Dealers's Capri.