The european ford capri

[jcf]

The Ford Sierra and Scorpio were also briefly sold in the US and Canada under the Merkur name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkur

The Sierra was called XR4Ti, which to me always looked like XRATi. 

[Dork the kit slayer]

I've very fond memories of a girl who had a 3 litre Capri 

I had a 3ltr Capri.........................you keep your sordid thoughts to yerself. LOL.  (LOVED THAT CAR)

[Mossie]

The Ford Sierra and Scorpio were also briefly sold in the US and Canada under the Merkur name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkur

The Sierra was called XR4Ti, which to me always looked like XRATi. 

Ford US also marketed the Ford Escort & early models of the Ford Focus before launching it's own version.  I think the Mercury Lynx was based on the Escort as well.

The XR4Ti just missed out the 'T' over here, being XR4i.  XRATi is a pretty good name for it, it was quite a beast (at least in Europe anyway), I think our local Police had some as armed response cars, although that might have been the even quicker Cosworth version.

[McColm]

Looking at various pictures it is apparent to me that the European Ford Capri and the US Mercury Capri were the same between 1970 and 1979.
From 1979 the US Capri was a rebadged Ford Mustang. I really don't get the point of auto badge-engineering where rival firms sell the same car under different badges with mildly different trims.

Wikipedia states that Capri's were imported to the US from Germany with certain modifications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Capri
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_Capri

Back in the British Motor Company before British Leyland. You could buy an Austin 1300, or the MG, Vandas plas, or Reliey. Same with the mini, austin, morris, wosley, reliey, hornet, and elf. Most of the front wheel drive cars produced by BMC could have four different badges, different spec depending onyour budget.

[PR19_Kit]

Back in the British Motor Company before British Leyland. You could buy an Austin 1300, or the MG, Vandas plas, or Reliey. Same with the mini, austin, morris, wosley, reliey, hornet, and elf. Most of the front wheel drive cars produced by BMC could have four different badges, different spec depending onyour budget.

There was even an Austin America! I helped assemble the prototype even.

It looked just like a 2 door Austin GT (if ever there was a mis-named car that was one!) with two-tone paintwork etc. But it had air-con as standard which reduced the power from the 1275 cc engine to about 50 bhp going downhill. NOT the fastest car on the block!

[jcf]

Ford US also marketed the Ford Escort & early models of the Ford Focus before launching it's own version.  I think the Mercury Lynx was based on the Escort as well.

Yes, as far as the Focus (1st gen in all markets shared the same platform) is concerned, not exactly for the Escort though.

Ford's ballyhooed world car, wasn't.
While the 1st generation US market Escort shared its general appearance and an engine with the 3rd gen European car, they were
actually two different vehicles. The 2nd & 3rd gen US Escorts are Mazda based.

[McColm]

I remember back in 1987/8 whilst on holiday in florida, seeing a small mustang, this looked like the ford escort.

[jcf]

I remember back in 1987/8 whilst on holiday in florida, seeing a small mustang, this looked like the ford escort.

You probably saw an Escort EXP, which kind of looked like the 80s Mustang.

1st gen EXP

2nd gen EXP


83 -86 Mustang


87 Mustang

[McColm]

Thanks for clearing that up.

[lancer]

Going back to the Capri, I saw a 'V' reg one the other day in excellent nick. Diamond white with black cheat line. From the roar I'd guess it was one of the big 2.9's or 3.0 L jobs..Beautiful. I only had a 1.6 model for a while, blaze orange with ther black vynil roof. God I loved that car!!!!

[McColm]

You can still pick up a 1.6L Laser MKIII for under £5000. The 2.8's varry in price from £5000 upwards. The Tickfords go for £10,000. The 3 litre is even rarer.
Usually the Cossie engines are sourced from donor cars.

Other models from Ford/Mercury have come close such as: The Probe/EXP-1993-1997
and the Cougar/ZX2-1998-2002.

[McColm]

Is there a resin/plastic aftermarket kit of the Ford Cosworth engine?
I've seen 'real world' Cossies fitted to the European Ford Capri and Ford Granada / Consul (2 door) and thought I could do a Whiff conversion in 1/24 scale.
I know that I can get the V8 and V6 engines in 1/24, but a Cossie seems a bit rare these days.

Tamiya do the 1/24 Ford Escort RS Cosworth kit, not too sure if there's a detailed engine with it.
I've also seen the Merc  with the Cossie engine, there again not too sure if this has an engine included with the kit.
There are diecast models with detailed engines which I could source as an alternative, but they aren't cheap.

[PR19_Kit]

The question is WHICH Cosworth engine?

Cosworth worked on lots of engines for various manufacturers and in Fords case they did maybe 4-5 different ones, ranging from the relatively common Sierra RS DOHC 16 valve Pinto engine to the 2.9 litre 24V V6 in the Scorpio.

Cosworth's Merc, Chevrolet and Opel engines were totally different and the only thing in common with the Ford engines was the 'Cosworth' name on them.

[McColm]

Thanks Kit,
I think it was the 2.9L V6 Cossie that's in Ford's magazine for April/May edition. Saw it on the magazine rack in WH Smith Woolwich Arsenal store.
The guys from BBC Top Gear also did an episode featuring the Cossie. The Hamster had a BMW, May the Merc and Clarkson the Ford Sapphire.