NO Funeral for a Friend: Beloved Capri XR2 has moved to Massachusetts!

Gentle reader,

I am pleased to announce that my beloved 1991 Mercury Capri XR2 (built in May, 1990 and delivered in June) has NOT met her end!

A Capri lover in Massachusetts has purchased her and she is joining another Capri up there. The new owner and his brother (he sounds just like "Click and Clack, the tappet brothers" of Car Talk fame. "Don't drive like my brother!") are running the auto repair shop their father started. He's very happy to have the car and will keep me posted about her new life in New England.

Being a very old and never very watertight convertible, when it's going to rain or snow, I don't drive it, and keep it covered up. I had another cover that fit better, but a couple of cats thought it was a comfy bed and claw sharpening device. That cover fit much better and I used a waterproof tarp under it to keep the interior dry. This is a recent purchase and is allegedly waterproof, but isn't so much.

We finally had a dry day and I uncovered her and tried to start the engine. This car has ALWAYS started right up no matter how long it may have sat. I cranked it and cranked it and finally it stutters to life and is running very rough. I opened the hood thinking water may have soaked the ignition or something and revved it up, that's when I heard the death rattle! Sound's like a connecting rod bearing knock. NO! I've NEVER in 43+ years of driving and taking care of my cars had an engine knock! So, I checked the oil and it was there, but I decided to change it anyway and see what I could add to the new oil that might help.

From day one, I have used only synthetic oil and premium oil filters. I change it regularly and take pride in the car. It gathers much attention by all generations. So, I used Pennzoil (made from natural gas) synthetic and added a bottle of STP which is supposed to quiet engine noises and stop leaks. Well, is IS a lot quieter, but the noise is still there and I dare not drive her for fear of ruining the engine. The day the car shipper called to tell me they were on the way, I took her for one last spin and couldn't hear any negative sound! Guess that STP stuff works.

A list of things I've done to her to make her better is below*

When I bought this car six years ago, it was pristine:

Previous owner had her beautifully repainted. Much brighter red than originally applied. Turns out their prep work was less than stellar, however.

Previous owner had covered the hardtop holes with duct tape! Idiot! I found in the "HELP!" line of car parts, (available at Advance Auto Parts and other fine retailers) they have a three pack of black plastic plugs that almost completely covered the residue and all three holes.

The only flaw with the interior is a small hole on the left upper bolster on the driver's seat. I found that I could fold over the fabric and carefully had sewed it so it doesn't show.

Engine compartment shows it's age, at 20 years but only 84,000 miles. That's 4200 miles a year! All the original owner's papers were in the glove box and I contacted him. He kept the car covered in his garage and only drove it when the weather was nice. So she's truly a survivor.

Here are links to my previous posts about her:

The Robb Collections: TT is GONE and Austrailian Ford takes it's place! 

The Robb Collections: My car made the cover of Autoweek, & Car & Driver &..... 

The Robb Collections: Baby's got new shoes!  
The Robb Collections: Testarossa XR2?

The Robb Collections: It jumped up and bit me!

The Robb Collections: Whole new look for the Capri XR2 interior! 

The Robb Collections: Updates on the 1991 Mercury Capri XR2 

As you can see, 84,507 miles after twenty years!

The emblems above and below are genuine Ford parts. The Ghia is from a Ford Zepher and the all aluminum turbocharged ones are from a Turbo Thunderbird.

I hated the original wheels and wanted something sharper. These came from Tirerack and resemble the wheels used in international sports car racing. They are 15" and slightly wider too. I have since replaced the tires with Kuhmo all-season high performance tires as a piece of road debris punctured the left rear and they no longer carried these tires. So, I have three still very nice General Exclaim tires that can go with the car.

Below, all the way from Italy, is a Design Giugiaro emblem from Italdesign, they designed the car's interior for Ford of Australia.

Above, the dull gray interior. Below, the new look: Console/armrest, new red and black seat covers. Since these images, obviously the wrinkles are gone.

I needed more light and tried various driving lights to replace the factory Hella fog lights. Finally settled on these Hella Mini FF driving lights that mount exactly the same way. I made Lexan covers to keep them from being damaged by rocks. The license plates mean: Italdesign or Italian Designed, since Ghia did the outside.

*THINGS I'VE DONE TO HER:

The Mercury emblem on the hood fell off, so I found a "Powered by MAZDA" emblem to replace it. Other things I have done: Cold air intake filter. All new ignition parts and E3 spark plugs. New timing belt, water pump, thermostat, all water hoses. I even have a new ultra-rare lower radiator hose for it. The A/C did work, but there is a leak where the tubes attach to the compressor. ALL-aluminum radiator. New cat-back exhaust with Magnaflow muffler. Brembo front brake rotors, rebuilt front calipers, all new brake hoses and ceramic brake pads. I know there's more but that is all I can remember now.

I carefully removed the remnants of black crinkle paint from the cam cover and repainted it bright red. New gaskets as well, of course. Since then, I've carefully sanded the area surrounding DOHC and 16 VALVE back to bare aluminum. 

Thanks! And thanks for looking.

Scott