Ford (D) Capri II "Stampede"
(1974 - 1974)
Car articles about Ford (D) Capri II "Stampede" by year
The Ford Mustang had paved the way. Towards the end of the sixties, young people with and without families wanted a practical yet individual and attractive vehicle. This was true not only in America, but even more so in Europe. The marketing people at Ford took the lead and drew up a specification around the mid-sixties that read something like this: A sporty body in the style of a sports coupé, a comfortable interior with space for four adults, low production costs and sales prices, many customization options in terms of engines and equipment variants. In 1968, a prototype was secured for the first time and generated premature publicity; the Ford Capri was then officially unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show in 1969. And it hit like a bomb. This article looks back, sheds light on the technology and development over 17 years, shows the Capri in racing and on the road and is illustrated with many old and rarely/never seen illustrations, brochures and information.
From 1974 to 1977, Ford built the Capri II, which had slightly more space than its predecessor, but above all a larger trunk that was easier to access thanks to the rear hatch. Auto Revue tested a 1.3-liter version, which clearly lagged behind the sporty look in terms of performance. This article reproduces the newly edited original text and is illustrated with historical images and a sales brochure from the time.
The trend towards powerful, sporty-looking coupés suffered from the fuel problems of the time in 1974, but the example of the USA showed that the road racers were also in demand in speed-restricted countries. A good reason to take a close look at the most powerful coupé variants from Audi, Ford and Opel.
They played the dominant role in racing in the 70s: the BMW CSL Coupé, the Ford Capri and the Porsche Carrera. A major comparative test in 1974 examined the concessions that had to be made in terms of comfort for everyday usability and how much sportiness was still left in the most powerful production coupés.
The technology of the Ford Capri II (1974-77) was essentially based on its predecessor. Only the chassis was tuned softer and the body smoothed and equipped with a practical tailgate. This made the Capri not only more comfortable and pleasing, but also more streamlined. This test report from that time investigated whether the Capri was still competitive.
To this day, the Ford Capri is one of the best-known cars of modern times, even though more than 30 years have passed since the last model was built. With almost 1.9 million vehicles produced, the Capri is also one of the most successful cars of its kind. The sports coupé was never really powerful ex works, but those who wanted more power found it with Michael May. His turbocharger turned 108 hp into 180 horsepower. This driving report describes the Ford Capri II including the May turbocharger and shows it in many historical and current pictures. Sales literature and a sound sample round off the article.
Current market prices for Ford (D) Capri II "Stampede"
Coupe, 54 PS, 1297 cm3
Coupe, 72 PS, 1592 cm3
Coupe, 88 PS, 1592 cm3
Coupe, 107 PS, 2293 cm3
Coupe, 137 PS, 2993 cm3
null, 97 PS, 2799 cm3
null, 129 PS, 4950 cm3
null, 97 PS, 2799 cm3
Targa, 132 PS, 2772 cm3
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