Special exhibition 80 Years of Ford

Description of the Capri's

Capri RS 2600, build 1972

With the Capri, Ford coined a completely new type of car in January 1969: the sporty, four-seater fastback coupé. And the driving pleasure began at just under DM 7,000. That was the price of the Capri 1300, whose V4 engine produced 50 hp. That was enough for a top speed of 133 km/h. The top model of the Capri series in 1969 was the 2300 GT with 108 hp. Ford offered a total of seven different four- and six-cylinder V-engines up to three litres capacity for the Capri I (1969 to 1974). The hottest variant was called the RS 2600, costing 15,800 DM and was a racing sports car tamed for the road. 150 hp helped the 'Porsche-Schreck' to a top speed of 210 km/h. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

From 1972 onwards, all models were fitted with the familiar 'power hump' on the bonnet. In the meantime, Capri cars with Cosworth engines producing up to 450 bhp were winning countless victories for Ford on the racetracks.

Ford built a total of over one million Capri I models and sold them all over the world. The Capri II followed in 1974 (until 1985). In Germany, Ford produced more than one and a half million Capri units.

  • Engine: Six-cylinder V
  • Engine capacity: 2,637 cc
  • Power: 110 kW/150 hp (5,800 rpm)
  • Power transmission: 4-speed gearbox
  • Top speed: 130 mph

Capri RS Group 2, build 1974

The success story of the racing legend Ford Capri began in 1969 when Dieter Glemser took class victory in the Lyon - Charbonnières Rally with a 170 hp 2300 GT. The very next year, the power unit produced 235 hp thanks to Weslake aluminium cylinder heads and Jochen Mass won the runner-up championship in the European Mountain Championship.

From then on, things went steeply uphill: in 1971, Glemser became European Touring Car Champion. In 1972, the Capri received three litres of displacement and 300 hp. Hans Joachim Stuck became German champion, Mass won the European title. In 1973, Ford entered a select squad in the European Touring Car Championship - including sporadic appearances by Formula 1 drivers Emerson Fittipaldi and Jackie Stewart.

In 1974, the so-called oil crisis considerably limited Ford's motorsport programme. However, the Capri RS with the 3.4 litre V6 engine, which in the meantime had 450 hp, came out on top at the European Championship races in Jarama (Spain), Zandvoort (Netherlands) and at the Nürburgring. Niki Lauda, Klaus Ludwig and Rolf Stommelen were among the drivers.

  • Engine: V6-24V Cosworth
  • Engine capacity: 3,400 cc
  • Power: 330 kW/450 hp (9,200 rpm)
  • Power transmission: Fully synchronised ZF 5-speed transmission
  • Top speed: approx. 188mph

Capri Group 5, build 1980

On the eve of the Formula I Grand Prix in Hockenheim, the 1978 Ford Capri celebrated its comeback on the race track. The ultra-flat turbo runabout with an aluminium trellis frame caused quite a stir. Its four-cylinder 1.4-litre engine initially produced 380 hp, later 495 hp. By 1979, the Capri had already become a pike in the carp pond in the small division (up to two litres displacement) of the German Racing Championship (DRM).

The year 1981 then became the most successful for the Capri: In both DRM divisions (under and over two litres displacement), the Toren cars from Cologne set standards.

Klaus Ludwig secured all the best practice times and ten victories in 13 starts with the now 510 hp small Capri. Team mate Manfred Winkelhock achieved eight best times in practice and six victories in the large division with the Super Capri (BDA engine with twin turbochargers and 550 hp) against fierce competition from Porsche and BMW. Klaus Ludwig became German Racing Champion and Manfred Winkelhock came third.

  • Engine: Four-cylinder Cosworth B
  • Engine capacity: 1,400 cc
  • Power: 363 kW/495 hp (9,000 rpm)
  • Power transmission: 5-speed gearbox with own oil cooling and oil pump
  • Top speed: approx. 200 mph

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