Turbo Capri?

"MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner" (montegoman562)
10/28/2016 at 16:09 • Filed to: BUBBLE TROUBLE, CAPRI, MERCURY MUSCLE, MERCURY

Alright I know I was complaining about theme day and I won’t shut up about Mercury Capri’s I want to buy. Sorry . This is my last post for a few days on the subject. Promise.

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What do we think about this? Turbo! It’s about 300 pounds lighter than the V8 model. I’m not familiar with working on turbo motors like I am 5.0 V8's though.

This one (supposedly) runs and drives and is not far from me at all.

DISCUSSION (15)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/28/2016 at 16:19

SVO! Also, this never came with a 5.0. It was only 4.9

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/28/2016 at 16:20

I’m not real familiar with those cars, but that might be a good one for what you’re wanting. Reading the Wikipedia page, it looks like the engine is the 2.3L Ford SOHC Turbo. They have a good reputation for reliability and can be built to hold a good amount of power, as far as I know. Also, the RS was a special package with the paint and trim, but also heavier duty swaybars off a 5.0 HO, and a 3.45:1 rear ratio with limited slip.

One thing to watch out for, they came equipped with TRX wheels, the weird metric sized rims, which are hard to get tires for. You may need to convert it to standard wheels, or maybe that’s already been taken care of.

Party-vi > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/28/2016 at 16:22

It came with a 4.9L straight-6 engine ?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
10/28/2016 at 16:31

DON’T YOU START WITH ME . NOT WHEN A DEAL JUST FELL THROUGH MAN.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Snuze: Needs another Swede
10/28/2016 at 16:32

Plan is to buy a set of tires/wheels for whatever I buy.

At 3k it’s over budget because I need the above mentioned wheel/tire set, and frame ties, strut tower brace and probably rear control arms before racing.

This is why the Capri listed at 1800 for tomorrow was such a good deal.

crowmolly > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/28/2016 at 16:43

50 shades of MEH

The factory wheels are cool and it looks clean but an ‘84 turbo motor isn’t the greatest. It’s not an SVO, even though it seems like it would be.

I’d go for something with a nicer paint job if you can afford it.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/28/2016 at 16:45

Well, doing a second look at the picture I don’t think those are the factory wheels, odds are they aren’t TRX either (because they’re so damn hard to get tires for these days). But I know you want to Rally or RallyX this thing, so I can understand wanting to buy the right wheel tire package.

As it stands I think that Capri is a bit of a gem, apparently they aren’t too common, which is why it’s more. And personally I get a little sad when people buy rare/unusual cars and butcher them up. I wouldn’t tell you how to spend your money, but for the reasons you pointed out, and the rarity/cost involved for this RS it may be best to let it go.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Snuze: Needs another Swede
10/28/2016 at 16:51

Probably wise.

I should probably wait it out and see if I can get a trailer next weekend for the one I’m passing on tomorrow. Just have to roll the dice and see if it’s still there.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > crowmolly
10/28/2016 at 16:52

Harsh lol. you’re probably right on holding out though. I should probably wait it out and get a trailer for next weekend in hopes the guy still has the maroon V8 one a week from now.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/28/2016 at 16:53

Best of luck!

crowmolly > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
10/28/2016 at 16:53

I had a buddy with an SVO and while it was nice it was also kind of a pain in the ass. So I may be a bit jaded.

jovimon7 > Snuze: Needs another Swede
10/28/2016 at 17:01

1978 Fairmont Futura 5.0

Kinja'd!!!

Yes those are TRX wheels. I had several sets back in the day, at 390mm they were almost 15 3/8in. which was a improvement over the standard 14in. wheels of 1979.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > jovimon7
10/28/2016 at 17:07

Very cool! I wasn’t sure what the stock Capri RS wheel looked like, and I thought the wheels pictured looked like a lot of bad 80's wheels I’ve see, so I wrongly assumed they were aftermarket replacements.

And you’re right, the TRX wheels were a big improvement for their time.

jovimon7 > Snuze: Needs another Swede
10/28/2016 at 18:45

Out of curiosity I searched for TRX tires and found single new ones for $150. each and sets of 4 used for $500.00 on ebay but Coker Tire still produces them using “authentic molds” and “today’s techniques and materials” for $302.00 each for the Mustang size. I didn’t know they also came OEM on BMW 7 series (1977), 5 and 3 series, CX 2400 GTI (1977), 604 (1975), R30, Ferrari 308 GTS and GTB (1977) and 512 BB (1976), Alpine A310 V6 (1976), Renault 5 Turbo (1979), M 635 (1984), 205 Turbo16 (1985). I learned something today. LOL

Snuze: Needs another Swede > jovimon7
11/01/2016 at 11:42

Yeah, I’d heard Coker was still making them. And they were revolutionary for the time, but modern tires are just as good, and you have way more selections in terms of tread compounds and designs. But they were an interesting idea, and it’s amazing to me they stuck around as long as they did.