Fun to drive, low gas mileage, incredibly
versatile – these are the words that best describes Mercury Capri. This
vehicle can be best summed up as a special interest “sporty”
convertible, styled by Italians, built by Australians, with Japanese
mechanicals. Well, to be exact, Mercury Capri body parts came from
different people’s ideas. The exterior was styled by Ford’s “Ghia”
design studio. The Capri interior, engineering and folding roof were
done by “Ital design”, an Italian engineering/design firm while its
chassis was a modified 323, mechanicals (engine, transaxle, brakes,
suspension and steering) were also from a modified Mazda 323, produced
by Mazda Motors, a Ford Asian partner.
Mercury Capri came about because Ford of Australia (APAO) had an
interest in building and marketing an export project automobile. Capris
were manufactured in Melbourne Australia from 1989 to 1994 and marketed
as Ford Capri in Australia (1989) and in late 1990, in the United
States as Mercury Capri. From the time it was introduced, it had an
optional removable steel hardtop.
Like any other vehicle, the Capri has also its adversities. This hot
little car was not an immediate success. Ford targeted first year sales
of 30,000 but unfortunately less than 21, 000 were sold plus production
decreased each of the three succeeding years. Regardless of good
reports from the automotive press, it still suffered from initial build
quality problems, auto recalls, poor marketing support and the worst
one is the negative article in the April 1991 issue of Consumer
Reports.
Because of that, the manufacturer of the Mercury Capri worked hard to
recuperate its busted identity. Manufacturing continued until the 1994
model year, having a total world wide production reaching 66,382. It
was on May 19, 1994 when Capri rolled off the production line, but it
was retained by Ford. If you still have this small piece of Australian
export auto, preserve it. If in need of replacement Mercury Capri body
parts and Mercury Capri accessories, let the internet be your place to
look for those Mercury Capri parts.
