Capri drivers, Has It Happened To You?

[B0NE_ST0CK_RS]

Sunday night I was out cruising in my 1984 Mercury Capri 5.0 with the full exhaust on. There's a cop at a stop sign and turns out, follows me for the next two stop lights. Turn on the cruise strip and he hits the lights. I pull over shut the car off get out my license and ownership/insurance. He goes through the procecures " Have you had a ticket/ violation before?, been in trouble with the cops before" so on and so forth
So he looks at my ownership, and tells me I have the wrong license plates on my car. I was shocked for a second, then told him nope, they are the correct plates for the car. He looks at my VIN number on the dash and checks it with the ownership. He then proceeds to tell me it all matches up. He then felt embarassed, Atleast i think so because he told me that it looked like a Mustang and sounded like a Mustang so he thought it was a Mustang.
He was a nice cop and I told him the differences between the Capri and the Mustang, the hatch and so forth. He asked if it came factory with the 5.0 badge and I said yupp. HE asked how many Capri's were in town and i told him I was the only one that ever cruises.

Sorry it was so long but I thought it was sorta funny to see a cop mistake my car for a Mustang.
So Capri guys/gals has it happened to you?

[75coug]

I suspect that it has happened to all of use a time or two . . . or ten, just not with police officers. There have been a few other threads on this issue, and it would seem that aside from those of us who are dedicated to the four-eyes, no one has even heard of the Capri. It is remarkable that a car that was on the market for eight years and sold in decent numbers can be so anonymous.

The worse insult occurred when a friend who knows nothing about cars confused the Capri with an AMC Pacer. It seems that the bubbleback threw him off.

As you mentioned, the 5.0 badge really gives people fits. They automatically think that I am a poser who affixed a Mustang badge to another car in a lame attempt to be cool. On so many occasions, I have had to explain that the engine was stock, the 5.0 badge was stock, the car is like a Mustang under the skin, blah blah blah.

I don't mind doing it, since it is always good to spread the word about the Capri, but just once, I would like to run into a guy who says, "Hey, I remember those cars. They were just like the Mustang, right? Great car."

[not-a-stang]

I got pulled over for having aftermartket blacked-out taillights in my "Mustang".

Its a Capri and those taillights are dark from the factory. Oh, and it really is a 5.0.

[Evil86lx]

Not capri related but sorta the same thing

I whomped a 01 4.6gt that had a few mods in the SVO. Dude leaned out the window and yelled "thats gotta be the quitest 5.0 I have ever heard". We pulled over and I explained to him what a SVO is. He thought it was pretty neat and told me he never even heard of one.

kyle

[reapers85cat]

My favorite experience is when a guy in a 69 chevelle SS w/ a blower actually took me seriously at a stoplight and we raced to the next one I took him off the line for all of half a second then he womped me. It was before I had it fixed up at all the guy yelled out the window "hey get the CAPRI fixed up and make it look good like they used too" told him I was planning on it seeeeee not allll chevy owners are bad hehehe.

[Anonymous]

I got stopped in my old 82 Capri RS, and was told that the plates didn't match the car (the reason he stopped me) the officer didn't believe me when I tried explaining to him that the Capri, and the Mustang were built 'round the same chassis, the cop went all the way to getting the tow truck out there for a call on a "mustang with capri" plates, that's when the tow truck driver explained it to the officer. The officer apologized to me and told me to have a nice evening. He should've just checked the VIN - but this was 10 year ago.

--Dave.

[mytrscapri50]

Who has a Capri that some thing like this hasn't happened too?
I get asked all the time about my Mustang. I just reply "I've never owned a Mustang so I can't answer your question, but I can about my Capri"
Had a guy tell me once he's going to get a real Mustang 5.0, I replied I didn't know they made fake ones.....
Happens all the time, part of being unique!

[SchoolBoy]

Dad and I went to to the mustang round up, where one guy walked around it "twice" then said, "what did you do to a mustang to make it look like that".

[mfpmax]

And thats when you reply:

"I bought it from a Mercury dealership"

[85_Capri_4v]

I have always liked Capris. I never went after one because I was always a Mustang type guy. Mind you I love all Ford Products. It's just as I grew up my 1st car was a 74 Grand Torino and my buddies was a 74 Cougar XR7 so for the longest time I was the Ford guy and he was the Merc Man.

So after I exhausted all my efforts to find my latest Mustang GT (which my choices were 82GT's which are some of my faves and 85 GT because they were the 1st year for the roller last year for carbs etc.) and after I had commited to buying on in NJ and the guy sold it out from under me, and after I drove from Erie PA to Louisville KY to pick up the 84 GT I won on eBay and after hearing it run and knowing it would not make the trip back left it sit. I revisited the URL for the 85 Capri RS that I now own. he had it on eBay with an opening bid of 1800.00 and I was shocked that it never got a bid. He never relisted it and he and I spent time on the phone talking about it and emailing and so on. Finally I decided to drive across PA to look at it. I brought a bunch of cash just incase. "Sweetie", my wife, didn't really want the Capri she wanted a stang. I was thinking I was "settling" for this car. When I go there and he openned the garage and saw the car...("Sweetie" later said she knew it was coming home with us because she saw the look in my eyes LOL ) It was late Saturday and it was a mad dash for the notary but we made it.

I was still uncertain about having a Capri and I decided that if I didn't like it I would sell it. Well all it took was driving it home and stopping a few times for gas and watching people. Now if the car wasn't odd enough it has duals and flow masters on it. Almost half way home she is signalling me she has to potty. Now she has been teasing me all the way telling me I am driving slow. I told her I was getting aquainted with the car. So anyway she needs to pee and we decide to take the Clearfield exit off of I-80. I pull ahead of here and sit at the stop sign. I took off a bit agressively to hear the 60 series tires squawk across the road. I pull in the gas station as if I was innocent of any noise. Capri is saying "rumpity rumpity rumpity" There was a bunch of Mexican type motor heads there and as I got out of the car I noticed they were looking at me and Capri oddly. I didn't think much of it them.

45 minutes later we were stopping in Dubois for 'soline. I got off of I-80 again and along side the road was a 5.0 'stang and an Expedition. I thought "hmmmmmmm" so I did it. I pulled out slowly and as I was approaching them I hit the floor and Capri said "Yes Daddy!" BOOOWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH zooom. Sweetie said the guys in the stang and expedition's heads went SNAPPPP!

So i pulled into Sheetz still acting innocent and I watched the looks on people's faces. They all said to me through looks alone. "Oh a Mustang :) ...no wait :( what is it?" I soon began to fall in love with the confusion people have when seeing these cars.

My Buick neighbor, a real car buff, came over a few days after I brought Capri home. He said, "Hey where did you find the Capri?" :lol:

One night I was at work late and the girl answering phones is walking through the shop as Capri is on the rack running. She turns and looks at it and says ..."Oh my, is that a capri?" She then tells me of her old capri that her hubby and her bought new and how it was a V8 and she received many tickets in it and how hubby was racing someone down I-90 LOL 8)

So there is 2 cool sides of that coin!

Capri

[75coug]

85_Capri_4v,

So you had the '74 Gran Torino and your buddy the '74 Cougar? Excellent. I hope that you guys treated those fine vehicles well. I still have my '75 Cougar, which was my first car. I bought it in 1982 when I was 15. Love that car, even though it does weigh a million pounds and is slow as hell. Even at age 30, it still drives better on the highway than any of my other cars.

[not-a-stang]

My favorite experience is when a guy in a 69 chevelle...()... not allll chevy owners are bad hehehe

*Looks over at 69 Chevelle parked next to '82 Capri in the driveway.*

[RichV]

Also not Capri but...

I'm in the King's parking lot with the hood up on the SVO tweekin the boost a bit. Cart kid comes over:
"Need some help?"
"No, I'm just doing a bit of tuning for the track tomorrow, turning up the boost a bit."
"Cool"
Looks under the hood, checks out the setup.
"Did they put intercoolers on Toyotas stock?" 8O 8O 8O 8O
"Ah...It's a Mustang and yes the intercooler is stock"
"Thanks" I tell him and go inside.

WTF, I get confused for a ricer! Do the SVOs look like rice? :lol:

Rich.

[svo85]

RiceVO's :P

[WHTLTHR79RS]

Schoolboy wrote:
...Dad and I went to to the mustang round up, where one guy walked around it "twice" then said, "what did you do to a mustang to make it look like that".....and mfpmax wrote:..
.And thats when you reply:

"I bought it from a Mercury dealership"

Now to set the story straight: I worked at a Ford Dealer and fought with the sales manager about ordering the car with white leather, so I got mad and went to a competing Ford dealer 25 miles away and placed my order for the Capri with him....he had to order the car from a Mercury dealer 100 miles away, and I had to pay dealer mark-up twice( only 300 bucks), but I got what I wanted. When I went to the Ford dealer to take delivery, the mechanics, who knew me, said: " so you're the S.O.B. that bought the Capri ? wish we sold them instead of Mustangs" That's when the fun started. Oh ya, I took delevery on my birthday, 04/01/79...Happy birthday to Me !!

Neil

[Capri50]

the last time i got pulled over, the cop thought it was a mustang. Then he thought my Pennsylvania 'Collectible Vehicle' tag was a fake. He never saw them before. so that was an issue until he called it in.

then he was trying to find violations with my roll cage and 5 point harness, but there's nothing illegal there.

then he asked 'what's wrong with my engine' because of the blower whine. :roll:

jeez what a night. My car is 110% street legal from front to back, so there was nothing he could really do that would stick. Plus i'm not exactly young anymore, so that helped.

[75coug]

then he was trying to find violations with my roll cage and 5 point harness, but there's nothing illegal there.


Violations with a roll cage and five-point harness. That is so funny. "Why do you have that extra safety equipment, boy? That must be illegal. We can't have you people making vehicles safer than the good Lord and Ford Motor Company intended."

[Ricky C]

then he was trying to find violations with my roll cage and 5 point harness, but there's nothing illegal there.


Violations with a roll cage and five-point harness. That is so funny. "Why do you have that extra safety equipment, boy? That must be illegal. We can't have you people making vehicles safer than the good Lord and Ford Motor Company intended."

:lol: :lol:

[Marz]

then he was trying to find violations with my roll cage and 5 point harness, but there's nothing illegal there.


Violations with a roll cage and five-point harness. That is so funny. "Why do you have that extra safety equipment, boy? That must be illegal. We can't have you people making vehicles safer than the good Lord and Ford Motor Company intended."

LOL

Sounds kida like what I got from cops with my 79 Fairmont Futura I was working on (before it was hit by an SUV and totalled). It had a basically stock granies 302 with better flowing exhaust, was black with tinted windows, a set of Turbines with the incerts blacked out and had a natural rake to it...

As soon as I get off the freeway a cop in El Segundo starts following me and runs my plates. Corse... he can't find anything wrong with my cars plates... Right before I pull into my works parking lot... he tells me to slow down.

Slow down? I never exceeded the maximum speed... which was 35 mph. Hell, if the cop payed any attention to the car... he could have gotten me for illegal tint!

Corse, now I own a Mustang GT... Oh yeah, THAT'LL keep the cops from bothering me. They'll see that "D.A.R.E. to keep kids off drugs" plate frame and leave me alone.

Anyways...

I had a Mercury Zephyr that got mistaken for a Ford Fairmont all the time.

I have lots of stories about my Edsel too.. but this isn't the forum for that, eh?

[Clarko]

Hey this is the General BS forum, so why not?

[LTDScott]

I had a Mercury Zephyr that got mistaken for a Ford Fairmont all the time.

I have lots of stories about my Edsel too.. but this isn't the forum for that, eh?

Quit yer bitchin. If I had a dime for every time someone called my car a Fairmont or an LTD II, well I'd have a lot of dimes.

[anthonydalrymple]

Up until about 2 years ago; I drove a '70 Ranchero both to work & at the drag strip. One day I put in a 351C 4V motor with a big solid lift cam. First test drive through town; a late 70's 3\4T Ford truck pulls up beside me while i'm sitting in a turn lane waiting for traffic to ease up. Guy leans out the window & says,"Man, I love the sound of a solid lift cam!". I said thank you very much; i just put it together & this is it's first time on the road in months. He then said," Sounds good & the El Camino is look'in good too!" :roll:

In the 6 years I owned that Ranchero; at least 50% of the people I would meet anywhere thought it was an El Camino! What blew my mind was how many of those misguided individuals were at the drag strip....

[75coug]

I think that a lot of people refer to any car/truck combo as an "El Camino," regardless of the make. It's kind of like people calling every type of tissue a "Kleenex," even though there are many brands of tissues on the market.

I wonder how El Camino sales compared to Ranchero sales over the years, such that the El Camino name became so engrained while the Ranchero slipped totally from the public consciousness.

[Marz]

I had a Mercury Zephyr that got mistaken for a Ford Fairmont all the time.

I have lots of stories about my Edsel too.. but this isn't the forum for that, eh?

Quit yer bitchin. If I had a dime for every time someone called my car a Fairmont or an LTD II, well I'd have a lot of dimes.

So Scott... How's that Fairmont of yours? Installed that cam yet?


:lol:

:P

[anthonydalrymple]

I think that a lot of people refer to any car/truck combo as an "El Camino," regardless of the make. It's kind of like people calling every type of tissue a "Kleenex," even though there are many brands of tissues on the market.

I wonder how El Camino sales compared to Ranchero sales over the years, such that the El Camino name became so engrained while the Ranchero slipped totally from the public consciousness.

Suprisingly....Roughly 20-25% of the people that looked at my car, asked what make or model it was never heard of a "Ranchero!" :oops:

P.S. It was neat going to route 66, one of the biggest car shows out here in San Bernardino,Ca, & it being the only one (70-71 body style) there....

[LTDScott]

So Scott... How's that Fairmont of yours? Installed that cam yet?


I probably won't have time to install the cam until after the new year. Just don't have time at the moment.

[Marz]

So Scott... How's that Fairmont of yours? Installed that cam yet?


I probably won't have time to install the cam until after the new year. Just don't have time at the moment.

I remember... I was just comming up with an excuse to have a little fun with you.

I guess I also owe you a dime.....

:lol:

[MHISSTC]

KS requires a VIN inspection to be done by the local law enforcement official anytime a car purchased from out of state is to be licensed in KS. The officer was VERY confused with my Capri since the title said it was a Mercury, but it had Pony rims and a Mustang hatch with the Ford oval. The VIN matched so I was OK, but I had to explain the differences along with the changes that were made by the previous owner. It turns out he was a former FOX body Mustang owner.

[4ifreak]

ok now, don't anyone get offensive with this statement, but hasn't it taken all of you alittle time to get used to the bubble hatch and the sunken in tail lights? i myself own an 86 Rs and it's a cool car, but at first i didn't car for the way that it looked with the bubble hatch on it and put on a mustang hatch. now i'm restoring it and am putting on the original hatch, but am using a mclaren wing that i found on ebay. Don't get me wrong i think capri's look way better than mustangs but the taste of the bubble and the rear end is kinda aquired like coffe and beer. shane

[negusm]

ok now, don't anyone get offensive with this statement, but hasn't it taken all of you alittle time to get used to the bubble hatch and the sunken in tail lights? i myself own an 86 Rs and it's a cool car, but at first i didn't car for the way that it looked with the bubble hatch on it and put on a mustang hatch. now i'm restoring it and am putting on the original hatch, but am using a mclaren wing that i found on ebay. Don't get me wrong i think capri's look way better than mustangs but the taste of the bubble and the rear end is kinda aquired like coffe and beer. shane

Yep, when I got my asc, I was a bit taken aback by the bubble. But the wing balanced it out nicely and in a short time I grew to love it. Now I've gotten so accustomed to bubble backs that the 79-82 Capris look naked without it. :wtf:

-Mike

[Capri50]

the bubble backs takes a while to get used. I think it looks better with the Wing though, it needs something to finish it off.

My bb hatch was damaged when I got it, so I decided to put on my 81 Capri hatch that met a fateful, firey end.

it's all a matter of personal preference, that's why there is chocolate and vanilla in this world.

[75coug]

Yes, the bubbleback was a bit shocking when I saw one for the first time. Of course, I quickly got used to its appearance and had grown to love it by 1984.

[MHISSTC]

the taste of the bubble and the rear end is kinda aquired like coffe and beer.

:lol:

I can't remember a time when I haven't liked coffee and beer!

[WHTLTHR79RS]

Now I've gotten so accustomed to bubble backs that the 79-82 Capris look naked without it.

Does that mean that when 79-82 Capris gather at a meet that the drivers should be naked too ??? You don't want to see someone my age showing "my shifter", do you ????

naked Neil 8O

[5 Liter Mustang]

i drive a aero Notchback

aka: Ford Tempo, Chevy Cavalier, Toyota Tercel etc.

nobody thinks it looks like a mustang

[slickshift]

Parked next to an Escort EXP the other day
They still make me double-take
Looks like a mini-aero-stang
I've seen more of those than Capris though
I've seen one Capri around here in the last decade (not including shows)

[negusm]

Now I've gotten so accustomed to bubble backs that the 79-82 Capris look naked without it.

Does that mean that when 79-82 Capris gather at a meet that the drivers should be naked too ??? You don't want to see someone my age showing "my shifter", do you ????

naked Neil 8O

How did you know? Did I see you here?
http://www.notmuch.com/Features/Place/place-071898.html

or ?

http://www.thefourseasons.com/sub-carshow2004.htm

-Mike

[WHTLTHR79RS]

This stuff is better than leaded gas, and less expensive too....

Neil

[SchoolBoy]

Please don't pay attention to him, he hasn't had his meds.....

[GeeTee]

A buddy of mine keeps asking me about my "Mustang Wannabe". I have a problem with my Bronco too, I keep getting asked if I still have that Scout.

[85_Capri_4v]

the bubble backs takes a while to get used. I think it looks better with the Wing though, it needs something to finish it off.

My bb hatch was damaged when I got it, so I decided to put on my 81 Capri hatch that met a fateful, firey end.

it's all a matter of personal preference, that's why there is chocolate and vanilla in this world.

1984 Capri RS - 503rwhp/558 Ft/tq on pump gas

Have you ever run it thru the 1/4 mile and if so what is the MPH and how much does it weigh actually with driver?

[Capri50]

pm me for details.

about weight, I am not sure. Whatever an 84 RS weighs, + the roll cage (~90 lbs if I recall), blower equipment, etc.

I am working out the programming on a 16lb pulley + water injection kit for the winter project. We are just getting started making power.

[frankiesaysrelax]

I went to a car show a few years back and I was walking past yet another supercharged aero Mustang GT hatchback not really paying very much attention to it. Suddenly I spotted the flared out quarter panels and exclaimed "thats a Capri". The owner was standing close by and overheard me and we got to talking. Evidently no-one ever notices that until it is pointed out to them.

[evlgt85]

. Evidently no-one ever notices that until it is pointed out to them.

Yet another reason to discourage aero nose swaps. People do it for the flared fender look, and then lo-and-behold, no one notices the flared fenders.

[frankiesaysrelax]

This guy was all proud that his car confused people. I thought it looked pretty cool, or at least better than a run-of-the-mill aero GT. He even had Mustang badges on it and everything, a perfect GT clone except for the fender flares. I guess that was what he wanted. I'd have just left it a capri myself, but at least the car is getting love from someone. You could tell the guy absolutely loved his car.

[anthonydalrymple]

When the Capri's first came out; they were overshadowed both by the massive advertizing campain for the Mustang & the not so illustrious European Capri's from the 70's. I first took notice of the Capri when I first began to see the "bubble backs" on the streets. I simply thought they were ugly & continued to consider the Camaro's the optimum "looker" & performance vehicle known to man. Funny how time changes your perceptions over time, huh?
I am not a great fan of the Capri for only one reason; I love my little aero 'notch & it is what I am stuck with financially. My reasons are simple.... Readily available parts for everything I need & light weight. If I had the money? I would seriously consider a Capri because I do like to have something different than the rest of the masses to drive down the road. I don't snub my nose at Capri's anymore & I can appreciate the hard work individuals put into restoring them...

[frankiesaysrelax]

I simply thought they were ugly & continued to consider the Camaro's the optimum "looker" & performance vehicle known to man.

Oh God, not 3rd gen Camaros. I thought they were cool too until I owned one. What an abominable POS that car was. Absolutely the worst car I have ever had the misfortune to own. '84 Z28. The most enjoyment I got out of it was parting it out and junking it. DIAF :evil: I still love 1st and 2nd gen Camaro/Firebirds but the turd gens can suck my **** until their lips fall off.

I'd still say the '84 Z28 was better looking than my '88 LX 5.0, but at least the Ford was and is capable of moving over 100 feet under its own power without breaking down. I swear somthing broke every day in that chevrolet.

[5 Liter Mustang]

Parked next to an Escort EXP the other day
They still make me double-take
Looks like a mini-aero-stang


I hate when i'm at a junkyard and I spot a "mustang" down the aisle and it turns out to be an Escort or Tempo :cry:

[frankiesaysrelax]

Parked next to an Escort EXP the other day
They still make me double-take
Looks like a mini-aero-stang


I hate when i'm at a junkyard and I spot a "mustang" down the aisle and it turns out to be an Escort or Tempo :cry:

Oh that really pisses me off too. I feel all dumb. :oops: