1981 Turbo RS Capri

[5LiterFoxFan]

I used to have an 81 Turbo RS Capri back in the 80's......



Loved the looks....blue on blue with t-tops....TRX wheels.....nice interior…..



It was mostly original paint....had Turbo RS decals....but the turbo had been removed.....Also it had an automatic trans....Thought that was odd for a turbo car....Always wondered if it really was supposed to be turbo charged.



Turns out 81 Turbo RS Capris are rediculously rare......I’ve often wondered if they really built Turbo Capris in 1981. I have never seen another one like it...... I’ve read that Ford dropped the carbureted 2.3 Turbo after the 1980 model year and didn’t reintroduce the engine until 1983 with fuel injection in the Mustang GT Turbo. Did Mercury still install the carbureted 2.3 Turbo engine in 81 & 82?



Has anyone on this site had experience with the early carbureted turbo engines????

Can these be built to run and perform well????

In my early days I’ve been more of a V8 guy but these Turbo 4 cylinders are starting to intrigue me! Would really like more information about this unusual car. .....Thanks.....Scott

[arj]

The original sales brochures will answer some of your questions. http://foureyedpride.com/fep_bild/v/img_arch/capri/

[2112COBRA]

Love that car!!!!!!

[85vert]

I had an 80 Turbo RS that the turbo had been removed on.
The VIN will tell you if it was really a turbo car. Either way- nice car!

[FoxChassis]

The 2.3T was supposed to be limited to cars sold in Canada. Options in Canada cars were also a lot different than in the US. With the turbo engine, only a manual was available in the US, not sure about Canada.

For the '81 model year, I have 174 Capris VINs built in Dearborn w/ the 2.3T. (Both were also built at San Jose that year, and I'm not done with the VINs for that plant yet.) Also have 233 '81 Dearborn-built 2.3T Mustang VINs. All except one of the Capris, and all of the Mustangs, were built after the first half of the model year.

Capri
011 - GS
163 - base/RS/Black Magic

Mustang
023 - base coupes
002 - Ghia coupes
024 - Ghia hatchbacks
184 - base hatchbacks

[FoxChassis]

Also, there was a turbo engine in Canada in '82. I have 263 '82 2.3T Capri VINs and 371 '82 2.3T Mustang VINs...

Capri
022 - GS
241 - base/L/RS/Black Magic

Mustang
009 - GLX coupes
044 - L/GL coupes
046 - GLX hatchbacks
272 - GL/GT hatchbacks

[FoxChassis]

All done with the '81 San Jose-built Capri and Mustang VINs.....no "T" engine code (2.3T) VINs found.