Originally Posted by jeff denton
I believe the Capri has a "2.6" badge on the fender. Makes it a pretty hot little number. You don't see them around much anymore, huh?
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Actually it would be a "2.8" V6, Cologne version IIRC. I had a 1976 Capri II. The earlier version (pre-1976) with the 2.6 had a bit more of a "notch" in the rear roof-line and was actually British-built for many that were imported, which interestingly made them MUCH less reliable than the German versions. The Capri II's were all German, and while "quick", it was certainly no muscle car. Mine was bought brand new by my brother (of the Austin Healey persuasion) and I acquired it when my Opel GT ate it's camshaft in 1986. Which led to the the past twenty-two years of Opel restoration madness...
Anyway, the reason you don't see many is their propensity for corrosion. From the inside out, not to mention weak suspension components, troublesome carbs, a tendency to plug off their catalytic converters and other Ford-like ailments. Mine suffered the ultimate indignity of having its vinyl roof (yes, this WAS the seventies!) peel off in a car-wash, with the driver of the car behind me doing the following:
Several of these have donated their drive-trains to Opel GT's, but the engine isn't particularly strong unless quite extensively re-worked, what with the low compression, emission-hampered engine design or their era.