Ford GT V6 Capri owners opininions

[mick taylor]

Anyone who has owned a Aussie GT V6 Capri, what is your thoughts on the car and back in the days how it rated against the rest XW-Y-A Falcons and the big 6 Cortina or LC-J Torana GTR or even a XU-1 or even a Valiant VG Pacer or VH Charger ?

Was the GT V6 Capri the best town runabout on offer back in the day ? as not everyone had the balls to drive a big V8 GT as such is just a bit to much for most average people to handle.

Maybe the spirited dude could drive the Capri as hard as and enjoy such totally but a big V8 GT Falcon could easy get out of control by giving it to much stick and loose it.

Was the V6 a harsh chaffcutter rubbish like the Holden VN V6.

If I had a Capri I would think of putting in a Holden VS-T-X-Y 3.6L V6 5sp for sure.
I would never fit a V8 in to such nowadays as a rego street driven car nowadays but South Africa did have a V8 302 Windsor back in the days nice rocket ship. but a Commodore V6 powered would kill it nowadays overall.

[russellw]

Having owned four of the cars you listed back in the day, there really wasn't a lot to choose between them as they all were pretty standard 70's fare with too much power for their respective chassis.

Having said that, the Capri, while not having the outright pace of the V8's and a top speed only a bit over 110 mph, was a reasonably nimble thing and although prone to understeer it was still capable of giving the larger cars a decent run over some twisty stuff.

On the downside, the brakes were woefully undersized and quickly spoilt your fun in the twisty stuff if you were giving it a caning.

The LJ XGT-XU1 (the 186 version) had very similar weight and power so is the closest comparison and although it was fractionally quicker in the 0-100 sprint it had much better brakes and would quickly leave a Capri behind.

[Capriman]

Originally Posted by russellw

The LJ XGT-XU1 (the 186 version) had very similar weight and power so is the closest comparison and although it was fractionally quicker in the 0-100 sprint it had much better brakes and would quickly leave a Capri behind.

In fairness to the GT/V6 Capri, it should only ever be compared with the LC Torana GTR, with its single carby, NOT the triple carby XU1!

[russellw]

My apologies, I actually meant the LC as I referenced the 186 CID which was a single carb.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by russellw

My apologies, I actually meant the LC as I referenced the 186 CID which was a single carb.

The LC Torana GTR came out with a 2 barrel 161s that is just like a 186s engine with a touch bigger camshaft and stronger valve springs and dual exhaust manifold freer flowing exhaust and then in July 1971 the LC got the big 173s and the big Aussie 4 speed.

But no GTR Torana was a 186 or 186s.

The LJ GTR got the stock as a rock 202 high compression with the stock one barrel carby on it, but such a thing could flog any LC GTR, so the 161 and 173 LC GTR were better revving engines but they could not take on the big stock 202 for it's massive torque.

It would of been good if they did make a 202s with XU-1 head so it could breath with the bigger valves. such a thing would of been in the Ford Capri V6 GT league. but due to the 1972 the Government freaking out that must of caned the big 202s GTR ? and our Capri was finished being made in Sep 1972.

The LJ GTR 202 came out in Feb 1972 with Covid Valves.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by Capriman

In fairness to the GT/V6 Capri, it should only ever be compared with the LC Torana GTR, with its single carby, NOT the triple carby XU1!

What if the Capri had a hoted up V6 with big cam grind spec to take on the LC XU-1 186 and the LJ XU-1 with that Big 202.

The Capri V6 was only a 184ci.