Updates on the 1991 Mercury Capri XR2

Gentle reader,

It's been a while since I've made a post to the blog. Been very busy with various things. Including taking an NRA course on personal protection in the home. That was Nancy's idea, and a good one. We learned a lot and shot a BUNCH of rounds. Being a guy, naturally guns interest me, but I never thought that I'd own a real one. Don't yet, but will. She's got FIVE of them!

But I digress from the title of this blog. You may recall when I bought the 1991 Mercury Capri XR2, if not, here is a link: The Robb Collections: TT is GONE and Austrailian Ford takes it's place! And here is when I put the new wheels and tires on it: The Robb Collections: Baby's got new shoes! 

I've not been driving it for almost a month because the driver's side window regulator broke and I sent it off for repair to Brooklyn, New York's: Window Regulators USA. At least I thought I'd sent it off, turns out the a certain shipping company who's initials are F E, employs automatons that are only capable of ready F E generated shipping labels and not the back-up label RIGHT BELOW it with the address in BOLD 24 POINT FONT. So, it sat in Maspeth, New York for almost a month. The guy at W-R-USA told me that he never received it. So finally F E sent it back. I re-sent it USPS Priority Mail and just received a UPS tracking number that it is fixed and on it's way back to me. YAY!

Now, in case you didn't read the historical blog (above) on the Australian-built, Japanese-powered, Italian designed Capri, a brief history can be found here: Capri Convertible : History 

SO, the body was a Ghia (of Italy) design, the interior was designed by Italdesign (of Italy), the mechanicals were Mazda (of Japan), it was tested in various places, preproduction, including the USA. Various parts were made in various countries.

To celebrate the car's Italian roots, I have added certain touches to the car. Some time ago, I added the "turbocharged" emblems, these are made of Aluminum and are Ford products having been made for the Turbo Thunderbird. Next, I added the Ghia emblems below those emblems. These are Ford products as well for the non-USA Zepher. Lastly, via Mr.Fiat.com, probably made in China, but came here via Italy is the "DESIGN GUIGIARO" emblem I placed on the dash. If curious, see their site: Italdesign Giugiaro I wanted an emblem that reads "ITALDESIGN", but all that I could find were used and very expensive. The one I have, while small fits nicely on the dash.  

Below is the two emblems on the right (passenger) side of the car behind the front wheel. Look stock, don't they?

 Below is the left (driver's) side.

 Below is the Italdesign emblem on the dash.

 Below is the Italdesign license plates I was able to get. 

Note, also the new driving lights. The car came with fog lights made by Hella (of Germany). Both lenses were cracked (no surprise after twenty years), so I replaced them with DRIVING (not FOG) lights I found at Harbor Freight. Now those were the same size as the original Hellas but mounted differently so I had to make adapters. They worked well but did not have precise beams. The lenses cracked pretty easily, so I needed replacements. I'd found a set made by APC, but they were too small, weak beamed and, well, crap.

I've put Hella driving lights on my: Subaru WRX wagon, Porsche 924S, Camaro Z28, Ford Ranger pickup and now this Capri. All but the latter are from Hella's FF, or Free Form design. 

These are "Micro FF" and to my UTTER delight mounted EXACTLY like the original fog lights! They are a wee bit narrower and come with plastic covers, but the covers fit very tightly on the lights and are a b..... to get on and off. Since these lights are in holes, there is no way to comfortably apply and remove them. Pity as I am afraid these too will get hit by something and crack. I suspect the Hella lenses are much tougher than Chinese made Harbor Freight models.

FYI, Fog lights are designed to spread a wide low beam allowing you to (hopefully) be able to see through fog. Driving lights put out narrow, long beams to aid seeing what's down the road and hopefully prevent a collision. To my knowledge, no car maker provides driving lights. Many provide fog lights. But the most effective one's I've ever had were on my Subaru WRX.

The widow regulator should be back early next week and I look forward to getting back into my baby. Speaking of my baby, take a look at another one on YouTube:Restitution leader - YouTube 

I have NO idea what "Restitution Leader" is about. It's like a movie trailer, but a search by me just now, finds nothing.

Thanks for looking,

Scott