RS or GS Which is which?

[Dberle]

I recently bought a 1985 Capri and I don't know if it is an RS or a GS. I'm new to Capris can you tell me the difference. Thanks.

[evlgt85]

One "for sure" way to determine it is to pop the hood and look in the area of your radiator core support for a buck tag. It could be up high, down low, or not there at all. Give the car a good look over, though, as it's likely to survive unnoticed and unremoved. I ran out to the garage to take some pics of mine for demonstration.

http://www.foureyedpride.com/temp/buck1.jpg
http://www.foureyedpride.com/temp/buck2.jpg
http://www.foureyedpride.com/temp/buck3.jpg
http://www.foureyedpride.com/temp/buck4.jpg

As I'm sure you've deduced, the metal tag with all the codes and such stamped on it is the buck tag. Although mine in the image is upside down, you'll see that in the third row from the top, or the bottom, depending on your perspective, it says "RS" That's pretty much the key.

[evlgt85]

Now, for the second lesson in identification, in case the buck tag is gone. I always refer to the buck tag first, because if someone tries hard enough, they can fake an RS, a GT, whatever. Ford did not put trim level identifiers in the VINs of the cars until the 87-93 Mustangs.

If you have an 85 that is an RS, you should have:
5.0 V8
10 hole wheels or possibly even the TRXs (shown in 85 Capri literature)
Air dam
Fog lights
Charcoal grille, door and window mouldings
RS interior (same as Mustang GT) with halo headrest seats
Black antenna and base as well as black door handles and lock cylinders.



Now, you could get a GS with a 5.0, but in 85, you could not get an RS without a 5.0. Ten holes would be put on anything with a V8, as could the TRX (Metric sized) wheels.

Hope this helps. Please feel free to ask more questions if you need clarification.

[Dberle]

Thanks for the info. I found the buck tag, but where yours has RS mine has TT, it appears to be the orginal tag. The body and interior are as you described, 10 hole rims with Cougar center caps, and it did have the Marcal fog lights, the lens were broke of course and I had to remove them to pass inspection. The body is the orginal paint with all the trim charcoal, now I know the color, faded of course. What could TT mean?

Excellent information, thank you.

[evlgt85]

TT, eh? And no RS on the tag? Interesting. You don't have the body moulding, do you?

Saw what looked to be an 85 RS yesterday in the J/Y. Two piece RS style nose and everything, but no RS moulding. Might have been replaced as it looked as though the quarters had been previously damaged.

You could always go for the long shot and see if the build sheet is under the carpet. Many don't survive, though. One good steam cleaning of the carpet (if it's under there) and it's destroyed. They also commonly show up behind the dash, under the headliner, under the rear seat and other strange places. Not worth looking for unless you're a bit obsessed (as I am) or have the interior apart for some strange reason.

No clue on the TT...unless your car is a T-top?

Hrms.

[Dberle]

Heh, no not a T-Top. I bought the car off the orginal owner, all parts and paint are orginal. It is Canyon Red with faded Charcoal gray trim as you described. I want to repaint the trim pieces and lower body the correct color. The headlinder needs replaced and it looks like it was a Dark Gray, as does the dash. The carpet is very faded and I'm not sure of the collor, it looks like a very faded sun bleached light gray. The interior is Dark Gray trim with a lighter Gray on the lower half of the door panels. I'll look for the build sheet when I remove the headliner and the carpet, sure would like to find that, and yes, I get obsessed with details too, that's why I want to restore the car with its orginal colors.
Thanks for the guidance and information.

[WILLIAMTHOMAS302]

i have a 86 capri but it doesnt say rs just 5.0 on the side..im wonderin if it is an RS becuze it has them 10 spoke rims or w/e and the fog lights and air damn and has the gt mustang seats in it..help me out plzz

[evlrs84]

Unless your car has a Canadian DSO (number that denotes where the car was originally delivered - regionally), it's a Capri 5.0, not an RS. The RS name was dropped in the US during the 85 production year. The Canadians still got a few Capris given the RS badging, but they're few and far between. The 86 5.0 Capri is the same as an RS, just without the RS on the moulding.

[WILLIAMTHOMAS302]

oh ok thanks fo the info