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  1. #1

    Arrow 1985 MERCURY CAPRI T-Top GS 5.0L 4V New Jersey

    mostly rewritten post

    A big thanks to my Dad Jerry Groves & my Uncle Jon Groves, both who helped so far a great deal. Uncle Jim Groves would've helped too if he were around today. Still a big thank you!

    Once again, I managed to get in way over my head








    Just few things about who I am & what I got---a quick intro about me and about my other half (85 Capri )




    Small Personal Intro:
    I love 79-86 Mercury Capri cars and I'm from New Jersey.

    My FourEyedPride profile page also reads---"I love Mercury Capri's, I'm male, caucasian, 6'-2", 225-lbs, always single/I never grew up lol/no kids, hetero, 41, online & air aka Foxhunter 351 NJ. Intrests include Mercury Capri, vintage hi fi, high power radio equipment, vintage microphones, occassionally ladies, high quality music & cinema . . . (I like a lot more things but gotta stop typing somewhere!) . I also like a lot of things I can't have, but really want. It seems like I always have too many things going and am spread very thin on time & resources but try to do what I still can for side-interests & hobbies.


    I live in South/Southern New Jersey about 20min from ATCO RACEWAY in ATCO NJ. I have often attended swap meets & car shows locally as well as the larger ones in Englishtown NJ, Maple Grove PA and Carlisle PA.









    FourEyedPride
    I've visited FEP as a guest many times in the past, first visiting the "Mercury Rising" section while it was still active. At the time I was online researching Mercury Capri versions made for foreign export. Also about that time I had run a couple of (unsuccessful---still looking) South Jersey Craigslist WTB ads (a while ago) looking for a nice 3-bar Capri grille/grill---as a result several people (FEP members) emailed me via CL, suggesting I join FEP and that the forum was "right up my alley". It was and still is


    Unfortunately for MERCURY Capri owners, there's not "a sea" or wealth of parts & info available for the Capri like there is for it's cousin the Mustang. I really hate that. It seems only a small handful of websites even exist that are related to the various versions of this excellent car. I hope that changes.


    Why choose MERCURY CAPRI ?
    Although I know the production #'s ratio between the Mustang and Capri were very different, I think it's pretty much disgusting how little is available for FOX/FOXBODY MERCURY CAPRI RESTORATION PARTS (ahem ... vendors, WTF?). The Mercury Capri car has a dedicated following which anyone can see is becoming even stronger with time. For me this isn't a passing phase, I've been committed to owning & improving my existing 1985 Capri hopefully for life and aspire to add at least one of the Capri ASC McLaren or Pace Gran Prix versions in the coming years.



    Regarding the unique, sleek, and sporty Mercury Capri ? I'm from the oldschool of opinion in the interest of preservation that generally an existing untouched 1983-1986 Mercury Capri with the unique sloped-glass aero rear windshield---aka the Capri "bubble" hatch---should be left alone as a bubble hatch fastback car and not converted into yet another Mustang hatch Capri and/or worse yet further converted with the Mustang hood and the later aero nose as well. It's a different story if the car has already had extensive changes made, there's nothing you can do but enjoy it. But leave those original stock or lightly modified cars alone! Save the Capri's! I admit a Capri-Mustang hybrid can look interesting though, for instance the Foxbody Mexico/Mexican Mustangs. But for preservational reasons, I like to see these original cars mainly left alone and I hate seeing rare Capri versions being broken up for parts to maximize profits.




    Previously owned by me:
    1971 Mustang Fastback 351C, brown
    1973 Mustang Mach 1 302/351C, black w/silver graphics
    1973 Mustang Mach 1 351C HO, rare all options, black
    1983 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 351W HO
    1984 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor 351W HO
    1988 Mustang 5.0L HO LX 3-Door Hatchback (Fastback)

    Two other/make vehicles I currently own are:
    2008 Dodge Charger Police Package Hemi Pursuit car, unmarked, heavy-duty/severe service package. My daily driver.
    1965 Buick Riviera GS Gran Sport 425ci rare factory GS 8-barrel car, 1-owner, 50,187 original miles. Stored indoors last 10 years, outside prior. Motor preserved & always stored indoors. Location: Forked Neck Road & RT206 Indian Mills NJ 08088, a barn find 40 years ago. Needs full restoration


    This does get mad street cred . . .












    1985 MERCURY CAPRI T-Top GS 5.0L 4V New Jersey
    VIN# 1MEBP79MXFF603349

    Painfully, 3 years ago, I decided to try and save this once proud 1985 MERCURY CAPRI GS 5.0L 4V from the car crusher. I think many would either pass the problem along to someone else or would've broken up the car up for the parts market.

    Well, in the summer of 2007 I was driving with my Dad and coincidentally was talking about Mercury Capri's when he said "hey look, there's one parked for sale right there!". I thought he was joking because you don't see many of them around and we were right in the middle of talking about an 86 Capri my Uncle Jon had. Well, after some thought I purchased this 1985 Capri for $3600, we found it along New Brooklyn Road in Winslow Township NJ 08009. The previous owner was listed as William J. Greiechen. Purportedly he had moved away to western PA and his friend was trying to sell it for him by placing it out front of the friend's house at the corner of Lakedale RD & New Brooklyn RD. The first bad sign was when the seller later refused to come up with the car cover that originally was included. A few months later I got the worse news while pulling into the parking lot at work. I went to pull off the street and into the driveway apron and the passenger side frame rail snapped in half and the driver's side frame rail developed a split.


    That day my Dad & I discovered that, prior to me buying the car, someone had effectively hid 2 areas of serious frame damage with carefully applied & disguised metal and filler. What a rip-off. For me, the new owner, the car instantly became a near-total loss and facing either salvage or a major restorative operation. The frame rails had cracked in half in less than 9 months after I bought it. I was working 70-90hrs per week at the time, out-of-state mostly and was only driving the car an average of 20mi per/wk. In the end it was like some girlfriends I've had (a tease) and I never really got a chance to even enjoy the car .


    Since, it's been an ongoing project and I'm "into it" $ now about twice what I originally paid for the car. Though it's not really an actual bonafide "restoration", still I am trying to really go over the car as much as I can. The biggest effort has been the complete removal of the engine & trans plus the steering system removed & replaced and the entire passenger side frame rail/fender apron & strut tower and the entire radiator core support completely removed & replaced. It involved drilling-out a couple hundred spot-welds each time as well as prep/fitting/and re-welding all the sections. The same effort & work had to be peformed on a 2nd donor car to provide good condition OEM parts. My Dad Jerry and Uncle Jon did or helped do a lot of work to help me save the car. If there's any interest, and if a number of you have ever contemplated doing a similar operation, I'd possibly post a few tips and things to look out for, geared towards anyone who might someday be thinking about saving a Foxbody Capri or Mustang with frame rail damage or rot.


    The 85 Capri I own was originally built October 1984 as a T-Top Mercury Capri 5.0L GS. It had been somewhat lightly modified by the previous owner, mainly small upgrade stuff.

    From taking it all apart and from the general condition & age of everything the car looks mostly original. It came 302ci 4V with T5 5-speed manual and 8.8 rear & 3.73 gears. Black with charcoal base, red accents. Tail lights have light gray fins. Two-tone gray halo sport seats w/red piping, gray interior. RS air dam w/Marchal 750 foglights. Capri RS raised twin hood scoop panel.

    I rescued the hood scoop from a brown/rust colored 1982 Capri car that was hidden in the woods on Piney Hollow Road Williamstown NJ, at a local salvage yard bordering a NJ State Forrest. There I also found and removed an entire frame rail & strut tower from a blue 89 Ford Mustang that had already been stripped down of most else.


    I'm going to resume working on this Capri soon (during the winter here hopefully Lord willing) and will be sure to add newer, higher-res pic's etc.


    I LOOKING FORWARD TO POSTING IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE FORUM



    EDIT: Looks like I'm going to be ordering a Marti Autoworks invoice for the car. Still, any & all help with deciphering #'s would greatly be appreciated.
    I'd certainly like to post asking for help with my VIN# in the Production Numbers and Decoding forum
    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/forumdisplay.php?f=52


    SLIDESHOW:
    http://s402.photobucket.com/albums/p...view=slideshow


    LAST OF THE 4-BARREL V8'S









    *
    Last edited by Foxhunter 351; 12-29-2011 at 08:07 PM. Reason: additional content

  2. #2

    Default

    Awesome story and awesome car! Keep us posted with plenty of pics!

    Welcome!
    I push my fingers into my eyes......

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Update - 2023 - Looking to buy 81 Mustang, 82/85/86 Mustang GT, and 79 - 86 Capri (No Sunroof). Not looking for all original/show cars or convertibles - I will be modifying. Would be nice if both were - Black Interior, PW, PL, AC, No - or very little rust. Motor/Trans/Axle not important. Options negotiable with price.

  3. #3

  4. #4

    Default

    Thanks guys I appreciate it and I already am cat crazy for sure no goin' back lol don't worry. All the best!

  5. #5

    Default

    welcome from a gt owner, why can't we all get along. LOL

  6. #6

    Default MUSTANG & CAPRI OWNERS UNITE!

    I seriously rewrote my initial post above. The rest should be more short & to the point


    Quote Originally Posted by oldford_69 View Post
    welcome from a gt owner, why can't we all get along. LOL
    Thanks and in my experience so far, we can and nearly always do. I loved my 88 LX Mustang and had great fun with it (except at "the end").

    And when I was driving my Capri, it got a ton of compliments and questions almost daily from all sorts of Mustang guys and other random people all around. The Mustang owners were always encouraging me to finish the car and to bring it to various Mustang events. It was great!

  7. #7

    Default

    Don't get me wrong,I like all the foxes.I have owned 84 gt turbo,85 gt,90 lx .Now I own a 84 rs turbo,my sixth capri.They do turn peoples heads.They are alot coming out of the woods,lately.

  8. #8

    Default

    You've found the place that loves capris. As for repro parts, I don't think we'll ever see them and its simply a matter of economics more so than anything else. However we do have the resources to find anything most members might needs.

    Official FOX-A-QUE Threads
    : 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009

  9. #9
    FEP Super Member IDMooseMan's Avatar
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    Nampa ID 83686
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    Welcome to FEP.
    Craig "IDMooseMan" Peters
    1979 Mustang Ghia Notchback, 2.3L, Holley 5200, 4-spd, 3.08:1 7.5" diff, A/C, PS, PB, AM/FM/8-Track, Sunroof, Rear Defroster
    USAF SSgt 63170 1983 - 1992; Co-Founder, Vice President, Omega Delta Sigma, ID-A 2/2015
    To those that serve and have served, "Thank You", to those that haven't, "You're Welcome"
    2.3L Horsepower Potential Thread
    Buyer/Seller Experience Link
    Build Thread
    The Four-Eyed Game - 2018 Version

  10. #10

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    Damn you got your hands full.. I had help in restoring an 89lx from the firewall forward and many people asked why not just shred it, but now that the car is done and rolling around and running some good ET's it gets mad compliments...







    Best pics I have of it its sleeping for the winter..

    Its all worth it in the end!!! Don't get discouraged.

  11. #11
    FEP Super Member mustangxtreme's Avatar
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    Welcome to FEP. I'm glad you're putting the effort into saving your Capri. Keep us apprised of your progress.
    Dave

    If common sense was common wouldn't it just be sense?

    1983 Capri L T top 5.0 efi aod
    1983 Capri RS Turbo
    1981 Black Magic 400 c6
    93 F-250 351 5sp 4x4

  12. #12

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    Welcome.
    Keep up the great work on that 85.
    -
    FOX ON FACEBOOK - http://www.facebook.com/CAPRI.RS.5.0 (FACEBOOK for ALL FOX cars)
    -
    My "15 minute" 85 Capri RS restoration thread >>>> http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?t=98062
    -

  13. #13
    FEP Super Member bkoons85gt's Avatar
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    Welcome to FEP!! That is going to be a pretty cat
    ~Bryan

    1985 Mustang GT w/ T-Tops, Original Paint, 160,XXX miles
    Mods: 600cfm Carb, Underdrive Pulleys, Subframe Connectors, 4pt G-Load Brace, MM Strut Tower brace, 8.8 rear w/ 3.55 gears & LCA's

    Pics from production of "The Saleen Book"
    http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...&id=1027847075

    http://mustangworld.com/ourpics/News/select1271.htm

  14. #14
    FEP Power Member Hemlock's Avatar
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    Welcome to the Site and good luck on the rebuild!

    Robert
    1984 RS 347 Capri, To many car parts to list, check out my car build page here for the story on my car and a full parts list/setup!:

    My RS in Action

  15. #15
    FEP Super Member cb84capri's Avatar
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    i like it! i haven't seen an 85 with the 84 rs style paint scheme before.

    cale

  16. #16
    FEP Super Member dburdyshaw's Avatar
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    13 Dodge Dart
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    Stock never goes out of style.

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