A Different Fox Body: 1985 Mercury Capri RS 5.0
More often than not, it seems like when you hear someone in the car circuit talking about Fox bodies, they’re usually referring to the third-generation Ford Mustang. But also back in ’79, the Mercury Capri lost its European styling from the earlier years and joined the revised Mustang on the nearly new at the time Fox platform, which had been introduced a year earlier with the Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr being the first cars to utilize this chassis back in ’78. And while the third-generation Mustangs had a long lifespan that lasted all the way until 1993, the Fox-body Capri called it quits at the end of the 1986 model run, so these cars fewer and farther between. If you’ve been looking for a nicely preserved example, this 1985 Mercury Capri RS in Woonsocket, Rhode Island might be worth checking out. It can be seen here on eBay with a buy-it-now price of $18,500.
The seller says his Capri was a California car until 2018, and that it’s rust-free and wearing the original paint, which is claimed to still be in good condition. The body looks straight from every angle we can see, and the finish really does appear to be well-preserved, especially for a car that’s been driven over a hundred thousand miles. The RS is currently riding on Cobra wheels with Nitto high-performance tires, but a set of factory wheels also comes with the sale.
The 302 is said to run well and has had quite a bit of maintenance and upgrades as of late, including new headers, a new Flowmaster exhaust, a rebuilt Holley 600cfm carb, plus some other attention under the hood by the current and previous owner. Outback, the factory rear-end has been changed to an 8.8 with 3.73 gears, and the 5-Speed has had the transmission fluid changed in the not-too-distant past. The seller claims his Capri is a turn-key car and ready for the next owner to enjoy.
Not a whole lot of specifics are mentioned about the inside, but judging from the photos most everything in there appears to be in very nice shape, and those front buckets look really inviting. The seller does mention that the driver’s side door pocket needs some restitching and the rear cargo shade doesn’t retract, but if this is all that can be faulted in there I’d say for a 37-year-old car that’s pretty good! The car is also equipped with T-Tops, which the seller believes do not leak, although he doesn’t ever drive the car in the rain. I’m really liking this Capri RS and can think of way worse ways to spend $18.5k. How about you?
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Comments
Does he not wash or go to the car wash to see if it leaks? Weird
This car is exactly how I’d want a Capri RS 5.0 to look sitting in my garage except maybe the color, I’d have to have a red one. $18,500 is a little outta my price range but if I had it I’d buy it right now.
I always thought the Capri RS looked better than the Mustang GT. I had 2 friends that owned 1982 (pre-bubble window) Capri RS 5.0s, one black on black, one white with red interior, red & yellow stripes. Like most, I didn’t really get the “bubble back” rear windows when those were added
Believe it or not that BUBBLE BACK WINDOW helped keep the rear end planted better than the Mustang out of the hole and running the gears. I made a world cruise in 83 with the Navy. Came home a single man and a week before my birthday. PLUS some change in my pocket, Drove 3 Mustangs and two Capri’s I took a Capri home
With the demise of the Mercury division of Ford, would this model (or this well kept Capri specifically) be considered a valuable asset in the next 20 years?
I do not remember the Capri’s having that hood with the large scoop. Was that factory?
I am guessing it was an RS option. The black 82 owned by one friend did not have it, but that car may not have been an RS, although it was a 5.0 manual (can’t recall if it was 4 or 5 speed. The white on red 82 RS 5.0 that my other friend had did have the “bulge” hood on it. It is a non-functional add-on that fits around the vents on the hood that all Capris did have. The pics taken from down low really make it look bigger than it appears from normal view. I agree, it adds to the sporty looks, along with the flared fenders.
That hood scoop was used on 79-82 models. No 85-86 Mustang or Capri came with hood scoops. It is a good looking piece thou.
I am not sure if it is or not. It does look cool and menacing though. Love the back bubble window they had on these Capri’s.
Is that hood correct? I do not remember the large hood scoop.
I’d love this car! These are rare, and there aren’t many left in this condition. The price isn’t too out of line, considering that Fox bodies values are skyrocketing.
I always thought these were better looking than the mustang. Same fix body with better looking quarters, front fenders and front end treatment. The rear hatch a so so, have seen a couple with the mustang hatch. Strange they don’t bring the money the Mustang does. The 8.8 upgrade was a good move.
I remain mystified why Ford didn’t transfer these handsome boxflared fenders to the Mustang for its ’87 facelift, since they were canceling the Capri at the same time anyway.
Because the rounded look was coming into style and going backward is not what designers tend to do…plus, it would’ve been a Capristang then.
The Capri RS did have a big hood scoop bolted to the top of a standard Capri hood. On my 83 Capri RS it looked more like a Boss 429 scoop, about 2 inches high from one side to the other. And that green house bubble rear glass gets hot inside in the summer. I had to get mine tinted with ‘limo’ tint, helped a little. I’m not sure I believe the original paint thing, there was a decal on the front fender that said CAPRI RS in big letters, not the chrome 5.0 emblem. And on the rear hatch also. But still a nice car for the price.
Incorrect, it only had the RS decals til 1984, 85-86 Capri’s never had that.
Wrong.
I have a 85 Capri with 49k miles showing with many upgrades but needs freshend up what’s it worth these days?
Probably very little, David. You can just drop it off at my house. I will freshen her up ; ) Love me some Capri!!
Whatever someone will pay for it…and how could anyone tell you what it is worth without so much as a picture? It could be so bad that you’d have to pay someone to take it. Or, it could be worth $25K. Is this really even a question that you actually expected an answer to?
You answered him, chip dip. Not very politely, either. Christmas spirit already gone?
Looking at the eBay pictures I was reminded of the dual drain plugs in the oil pan. What a blast from the past for me, a 30+ year auto tech.
I had a fox body so I’m partial to these cars I sold my 88 worst decision I made. I did alot of changes to the suspension and motor only two I did to the interior was a momo wheel and a Hurst shifter with a t-handle I’d change the shifter in this car and call it good and drive the wheels off.
I owned a 1980 RS Turbo. It was black w/red and orange stripes along the quarter panels. It had RS Turbo decals on the front quarter panels, moon roof, red interior and a 4 speed manual. The turbo’s at that time didn’t have cooler, so you had to let it idle before you shut it down. It also had the larger hood scoop, which made the car look pretty hot. The exhaust system that it had gave it a nice tone.