Are Crimson Cats more rare...

[2manycars]

Are Crimson Cats more rare than Black Magic Capri's? I see Black Magics mentioned more.

I have a lead on a CC, and was just wondering. The car is an '83 5.0, 4 spd.

[75coug]

Yes. I am sure that someone will present the production numbers in a response in short order.

Do you have any photos or details on the Crimson Cat in which you are interested?

[negusm]

They made Crimson Cats for about 6 months in 1983 (if that, and only about 800 cars).

They made Black Magic cars for 3 years 81-83. The rarest Black Magic would be the 83 since they dropped it to sell the Crimson Cat. About 400 units for those.

Not all got a 5.0 so if you find a true 5.0 Cat, you have something super special....and rare.

-Mike

[75coug]

800 cars in only six months. How many Capris would have been manufactured during that six-month period? So what percentage of the production would have been dedicated to the Crimson Cats? Just curious.

[tlennyrs]

I do have a question about the 6 month thing.
I have seen CC's made in the first half of '83 and the last half of '83 looking at the date and build codes.
And to back this up I have noticed that if the CC was made in the first part of the year they got the 4speed SROD tranny and the last half of the year they got the T5 5speed.
When I looked at a CC in Iowa it had a build month of January and it had the SROD. My CC was build in October and it has the T5. As I have followed these cars on ebay and other places the SROD in the first half and the T5 in the second half seems to hold a little bit of water of what I have noticed.

Any insight on this?

TLennyRS

[negusm]

I do have a question about the 6 month thing.
I have seen CC's made in the first half of '83 and the last half of '83 looking at the date and build codes.
And to back this up I have noticed that if the CC was made in the first part of the year they got the 4speed SROD tranny and the last half of the year they got the T5 5speed.
When I looked at a CC in Iowa it had a build month of January and it had the SROD. My CC was build in October and it has the T5. As I have followed these cars on ebay and other places the SROD in the first half and the T5 in the second half seems to hold a little bit of water of what I have noticed.

Any insight on this?

TLennyRS


Nope, just going by what little literature I have. The early lit for 83 has no Crimson Cat while the later stuff does. I admit "6 months" is probably too short as the literature printed around February of 83 has the CC in it. So from feb-september would be 7-8 months....but who knows? Maybe more.

Digging a bit, I found this from December of 82...
http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literature/DealerOnly/ProductFactBooks/83_MercuryProductFactsBook_27.jpg

So Dec-Aug would be 9 months. Before this I think the Crimson Cat was the "Red Feature Car". The literature from 8/82 (the brochure for 83) makes no mention of this. So somewhere between august and december they must have added it? Maybe as early as October?

If you have specific data, please post it up. Vins and build dates would help immensely.

As for production figures:
roughly 25000 Capris made in 1983. 25000/12 = about 2000/month
800 CCs mad in 1983. 800/12 = about 67/month

-Mike

[tlennyrs]

Thanks Negusm;
I don't have any lit that backs up my therory.
It has just been an observation of mine that if it is a 4speed SROD it is the early part of the year and the T5 is the later part of the production run.
I don't believe there was any check box for a choice of manual transmissions.

TLennyRS

[2manycars]

Here are the buck tags from it.

Any body want to decode some of it?

[2manycars]

Yes. I am sure that someone will present the production numbers in a response in short order.

Do you have any photos or details on the Crimson Cat in which you are interested?



The car is rough, but salvagable. Originally 302, 4 spd car. Black interior. Engine is gone, but the guy I got it from has the SROD & bellhousing for it.

What else would you like to know?

[negusm]

The buck tag says its a Crimson Cat.

The interior is black but the seats should have red inserts.

-Mike

[2manycars]

The interior is black but the seats should have red inserts.
-Mike

Got a picture of the seats available?

[negusm]

Got a picture of the seats available?

Is a dog's nose wet?

http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/Literature/ColorAndUpholsteryBooks/83_mercury_color_book_15.jpg

http://www.ascmclarencoupe.com/OtherCars/Capris/83CrimsonCat_1MEBP79F0DF612799/1e_1.jpg

[fredzilla]

Click on his web site link..Lots of great info and pics there.

79-86 Mercury Capri Online Resource



wow posted at the same time.

[tlennyrs]

The CC in the photo has Electric windows and the standard steering wheel.
The Electric windows is an ordered option.
But I thought a CC came with the leather wrap sports steering wheel.
The standard Steering wheel I guess would have Cruse Control.
The leather wrap sports steering wheel can not provide for that option.
I have always seen the CC with the high-back seats with red inlay.

TLennyRS

[iworkoncars]

there is one over in show and shine, it makes me drool. and the 4 spoke Cruise steering wheel could have the leather wrap on it i have had a couple of them

[2manycars]

So, was CC package only available with the black interior w/red seat inserts? Or could other interior colors be had?

[negusm]

So, was CC package only available with the black interior w/red seat inserts? Or could other interior colors be had?

I believe so. I have no production information to suggest otherwise.

-Mike

[FoxChassis]

It has just been an observation of mine that if it is a 4speed SROD it is the early part of the year and the T5 is the later part of the production run.

I don't believe there was any check box for a choice of manual transmissions.

The T-5 debuted in Dec. of '82 ('83 model year) and replaced the SROD as the standard manual-shift transmission behind the 5.0L engine. The SROD was not dropped but rather became the optional standard-shift transmission behind the 5.0L engine through the rest of the '83 model year. After the '83 model year the SROD was dropped completely.

[FoxChassis]

Here are the buck tags from it.

Any body want to decode some of it?

The car is rough, but salvagable. Originally 302, 4 spd car. Black interior. Engine is gone, but the guy I got it from has the SROD & bellhousing for it.
I'll try to do my best with the pics you posted.

I can tell you that the original transmission was NOT the four-speed SROD. It was the five-speed T-5.

CAPRI = model line
614710 = 14,710th '83 Capri serialized at DAP
61D = hatchback
F = 5.0L V8 engine, 4V, 175 HP
010_
277 = Bright Red exterior
DF
ST
AC = air conditioning
06
RA = lower bodyside protection
HB = rear defrost
S = cruise control
CAT = Crimson Cat
PW = power windows
MBW = T-5 transmission
02 = no hood scoop
ELECTRIC
-A = black interior
NLR

ROAD ABRASION = lower bodyside protection

[85bubblebackboy]

83 black magic w2as rarer but ya got a rare one id say anyways.