When we think of the classic eras of motoring we might cast our mind back to stylish cars of the 1950s, the muscle cars of the 1960s or the super cars of the 1970s. What might not spring to mind however is the motors which were produced in the 1980s - an era which certainly favoured practicality over power, style and sophistication.
But the cars of today owe much to 80s, it was a decade which brought us turbochargers, multi-valve engines and hot hatchbacks, an era of the people-carrier and the rise of the SUV. Digital displays and electronic gadgetry, were the norm as designers pushed the boundaries of of what was capable in a production vehicle.
So let's celebrate the 80s, a period of huge change across Britain as a whole, and one which had incredible landmarks in the motor industry.
Ford Capri 2.8 Injection
Designed by American Philip T. Clark and launched in the year of his death, 1968, the Ford Capri has been variously described as the European Mustang or the Cortina in Drag.
The Capri would go on to sell almost 1.9 million units in its lifetime, with a production run which would stretch for for 18 years. That lifespan might have been cut considerably had it not been for the 2.8 Injection variant which turned up rather unexpectedly at the Geneva Motor Show in 1981.
European tastes had shifted somewhat in the 1970s, where the Capri had killed off two-seater sports cars, the hot hatchbacks of Volkswagen were a real threat to Ford’s dominance of the market. With that in mind, and one eye on stricter emissions regulations, Ford dumped the old Essex V6 engine and added in the ‘Cologne’ a 2.8 litre V6 which would form the basis of the Granada and would come with Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection which helped produce a purported 160bhp.
With a top speed of 130mph and capable of achieving 0-60mph in just 7.9 seconds, the Capri had relaunched itself into a new stratosphere and was now a contender to the likes of the Porsche 911SC, at half the price. It’s similarly priced rivals could not match the Capri’s engine power or reliability. Instantly recognisable due to iconic wide-rim Wolfrace ‘pepper pot’ alloy wheels, the souped up Capri gave the marque a new lease of life, especially in the UK market, where 80 per cent of the 25,000 produced were sold.
The Capri revival continued in the 80s right up until 1986, with powerful turbo engines proving ever popular, the Capri 280 ‘Brooklands’ would prove to be peak Capri, but may never have seen the light of day had the 2.8 injection not added life to the classic car.
Manufacturer: Ford
Assembly: Cologne, Germany
Designer: Philip T. Clark
Did You Know?: Ford marketed the Capri as ‘The Car You Always Promised Yourself’ in an attempt to promote the car as a sportier lifestyle choice.