1982 Mercury Capri RS

Description

This 1982 Mercury Capri RS represented a little welcome consistency in a time of great change. As it was rolling off the line, Time Magazine bestowed its Man of the Year honor to a computer, the telecom industry was about to be broken into many smaller pieces and Ford's revered nameplate was on the verge of losing a big part of its drivetrain identity to the front wheel drive revolution that was sweeping the industry. Mustang loyalists objected, Ford relented and continued its vaunted rear-wheel configuration with the Fox Body platform, and Mercury doubled down on that vision (and the same platform) by introducing its first Pony car since the 1970 Cougar. This rare '80s muscle car greets the present wearing its original colors still proudly displayed both inside and out, with only 48,885 believed actual miles on the clock and a dialed-in presentation. If you want something off the beaten path, and a traditional Fox Body isn't quite your speed, then take a look at this unique and dialed-in Capri fastback.

Competing against its own successful cousin (the Fox Body Mustang) was no easy task for the 2nd generation Capri, but by 1982 this was a seriously good-looking car. The Capri came styled with its own front fascia, a vertically-mounted grille, doubled-up headlights, and horizontally-ribbed and tinted lenses that made this 3-door hatchback look really stinkin' cool. That giant hood scoop might be a little much for some people, but it lets everyone that there's no wheezing 4-banger under there, but rather a big V8 that's ready to party. You can see Ford was emboldened to forge a stronger, more definitive appearance by this second generation's sportier form and while it's yet to have ventured inside a restoration shop, this is more of a "thriver" than a survivor. Up close you'll find some subtle evidence of its 40 years of service, but its red exterior has held together pretty darn well. A freshening of the paint would bring it to a new level (although it's not needed, this is a good-looking driver as-is), but its body panel alignment is very much on point and all badging and trim sits securely in place. T-tops are a welcome sight - it was a far less common feature back in the early 80s and they continue to seal well while offering the option of driving with just the blue skies above you when you so choose. Louvers cover the rear window out back, and RS badges and factory pinstripe work are period-perfect '80s style, finishing off this Capri perfectly.

The red interior mixes vinyl and cloth and remains in its stock, original condition. Time hasn't extracted much of a toll inside, largely because this '82 has reportedly only logged 48,885 miles in its substantial lifetime. The front bucket seats still look a lot like they did at their start (save for a small tear on the driver's seat) and the rear bench seat appears even fresher while both the door panels and the '80s loom-and-pile red carpeting show surprisingly little wear for a car of this age. Things are looking impressively clean up for a car this age, but with only 2-owners since new and sub-50K miles, she's certainly still a looker. The dash area still has its original deep red hue and features a collection of clear, functional gauges in the black cluster beyond the original steering wheel. All control knobs and switches are present and accounted for and work as intended, and save for an upgraded Alpine AM/FM/CD player, everything is stock inside. Options include cold factory air conditioning, power locks, cruise control, and a center console with an automatic shifter and a super-cool retro-'80s information and Quartz clock installed inside. The T-Tops are an awesome features, while in back the storage area under the hatch is both substantial and in very nice shape.

Ford's 4.2 liter V8s of this era, like the one that sits in this refreshingly clean and stock engine compartment, have forged quite a reputation over the years for their rock solid durability, so it's not a surprise that this powerplant is in good form, starting promptly and running very smoothly. It pairs with a 3-speed automatic transmission that makes driving a simple pleasure, while the lively rear end in back offers surefootedness in bringing power to the pavement. Power steering combines with power brakes that include discs up front to make this vintage Ford easy to navigate and stop on its 14" stock wire-wheels wrapped with 195/70/14 Firestone tires at the corners.

Put some classic '80s style in your garage with this super-cool and super-rare 1982 Mercury Capri RS survivor. Call today!