The legendary Ford Capri is celebrating its 40th birthday. The car was incepted in 1969 as the European version of the American Ford Mustang.

The Ford Capri sold nearly two million units in just eighteen years and achieved iconic status with its target audience. The Capri was one of the greatest muscle car of the Swinging Sixties. The Sixties was an era of irresponsible excess and flamboyance and the Ford Capri was aimed at a style-conscious generation.

The Ford Capri was available in a range of engines for the economist and the enthusiast; in fact it was the choice of a wide range of customers. The car was initially called the Colt when it was introduced for the first time at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1969.

Ford began selling the Capri outside Europe in April 1970, in the North America, South Africa and Australia. The Capri proved highly successful, with 400,000 cars sold until 1970. Ford revised the Capri in 1972 with new and more comfortable suspension, rectangular headlights, enlarged tail-lights and new seats.

Ford Motor Company witnessed the highest sales of the Capri in 1973 with a total of 233,000 units.

The global oil crisis of 1973 failed to hinder the sales of the Capri and in 1974 the Mk II was launched. The new version of the Capri had smoother design lines and simplified option packs. The Mk III was rolled out in 1978, with several special editions such as the Calypso and Laser.

The last Capri, limited edition Capri 280 also known as the Brooklands Capri, was made on 19 December 1986 and 1,886,647 cars had rolled off the production lines from Ford.
The Capri is remembered for the classic advertising slogan “The car you always promised yourself”.