Saxty's Capri Scrapbook

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mjcapri
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Car(s): Diamond White Granada 24v

Caspian Blue Sierra XR4i

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Storm Grey Fiesta ST200 (actually belongs to the missus!)

Mean Green Fiesta ST-3

Re: Saxty's Capri Scrapbook

Post by mjcapri »

You’re right the 24v Granada is very underrated. It’s actually one of my favourite cars in original form, so much so I bought one back in 2010 for a couple of hundred quid....

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=36563&hilit=Granada+24v

It lives on, albeit it needs a full restoration which won’t happen until I’ve finished the Sierra. I have a load of NOS parts though, mostly bought for pennies as nobody wants them (not the spare engine though, that was pricey!) so it will happen eventually. It will be great to be able to sit back, plant my right foot and go from 30mph to ‘motorway speed’ very quickly and all in second gear once again.

I’ll even replace that number plate eventually! :lol:
Daz-RSK
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Car(s): 1985 Capri 2.8i Special

Re: Saxty's Capri Scrapbook

Post by Daz-RSK »

Fantastic! I didn't realise we had resident people on here who had one!

They really are a tool!

Keep hold of that, whatever you do! That is only going one way in price - even as a box of bits and failed items as well. :)

They were really Ford's only answer to the Autobahnstormers that Opel / Vauxhall made in Monza/Commodore/Carlton/Senator forms, and the German premium breed, like the 6 series BMW and the Merc coupés.

Accepted, the Granada is not a coupé. But it could have easily been one with that lump. It is its ability to munch through miles at high speed, but effortlessly, that coined the phrase the Bahnstormer and that 24V Granada fits right in there. You'd get out of a 200 mile slog down through Germany at 120mph+ more relaxed than the furious Sierra Cossie. The Sierra may have been quicker but was more of a sprint motor. The Granada was the long legged tourer - a quick one at that, with that sort of power under the hood.

Lovely car chap - keep that and make it nice. You'll have something there in the future that is about as numerous as hen's teeth. The last bruiser Ford made, with every bell and whistle.
ESSEXV6ESSEX
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Re: Saxty's Capri Scrapbook

Post by ESSEXV6ESSEX »

Here is some more Granada stuff. This guy has some good vids on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/zwMAFnc6cao

Whoever the chap is giving the speech and review he used to do a lot of Ford stuff and has a voice that triggers nostalgic.
mjcapri
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Car(s): Diamond White Granada 24v

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Stealth Grey Focus RS

Storm Grey Fiesta ST200 (actually belongs to the missus!)

Mean Green Fiesta ST-3

Re: Saxty's Capri Scrapbook

Post by mjcapri »

@Daz-RSK they are certainly pretty rare these days, and I can’t actually remember seeing one at any of the shows we attend, including Ford Fair. I’ll certainly hang onto it, it’s good to hear from somebody who is enthusiastic about the 24v Granada, cheers! 8-)
Daz-RSK
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Car(s): 1985 Capri 2.8i Special

Re: Saxty's Capri Scrapbook

Post by Daz-RSK »

Oh yes - I love all of that stuff. I had a Monza and the evolution from that was a Carlton GSi, from the same family, or one of these. I missed on both unfortunately and went down the Jap path instead. That was about 20 yrs ago.

Years later, I did have the Scorpio - the ugly one - but the styling wasn't a patch on the Mk3 Grandad and one was a diesel version, the other 2.3L. So not the 24V in that either. (But the 2.3L claim to fame ? Yes, it's now in the Focus RS and the new, to be launched Focus ST)

The Granada 24V was a bad miss by me, unfortunately.

Would I get one today ? The issue is that they are so much money. Not Capri money - but a fair few ££
mjcapri
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Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2008 5:23 pm
Car(s): Diamond White Granada 24v

Caspian Blue Sierra XR4i

Stealth Grey Focus RS

Storm Grey Fiesta ST200 (actually belongs to the missus!)

Mean Green Fiesta ST-3

Re: Saxty's Capri Scrapbook

Post by mjcapri »

I know what you mean, I missed out on the MK1 Focus RS and bought a nearly new MK2 ST instead; what was I thinking?!?! Although to be fair I had an ST170 at the time so I fancied the latest model rather than swapping one Imperial Blue Focus for another (albeit quicker and more special) one....

Interesting info re the 2.3 as I didn’t know that. I believe the Scorpio (and Galaxy) version is an enlarged RS2000 I4 engine (based on the interchangeability of components) but presumably it later involved into the Mazda 2.3; I didn’t know that. It’s a good engine, inherently capable of big power, and hopefully reliable now I have correct head gasket fitted!
Daz-RSK
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Joined: Tue Oct 16, 2018 5:23 pm
Car(s): 1985 Capri 2.8i Special

Re: Saxty's Capri Scrapbook

Post by Daz-RSK »

Yes that is correct. The RS2000 2.0L and the Scorpio / Galaxy 2.3L lumps from the 1990's were the same family all derived from Mazda.

The story behind why they didn't shove the 2.3L into the Escort and just develop 180bhp from tuned components, instead of the more measily (but well engineered 2.0L displacement) has something to do with trying to re-kindle that RS2000 badge. There had never previously been a RS2300, therefore, it could not lean on history.

But there was more to it than just a badge, of course. However, through time, you see this re-kindling - the 2.0E Cortina and 2.0E Sierra is one good example.

Also, you have to remember the significance at the time. The RS Cossie Escort was selling reasonably well but was also be stolen at the same rate as sales out of the showroom.

The running joke at the time amongst people in Ford was that you'd see an Escort Cossie for sale and wonder how many owners it had had ? Now, how many joyriders ?

That sky rocketed insurance premiums and the death of the Cossie was premature. It was a sad day to see the Cossie go, working here at Ford. People just could not get insurance. Ferraris were cheaper to ensure than Cossies.

And now those pesky Germans have the nameplate! Great!

So they had to build something that would both assist RS sales and at the same time, try to stave off the grim and final demise of the RS Escort. If they had have made a 2.3L sub 200bhp RS Escort RS2300, it would have killed Cossies sales instantly. But it would also had been a victim of its own success in being a very high performance Escort, still with the badge, still with the performance, still with the Dagenham tooth-picking locks and would have been the next insurance stat out there. So the subdued 2.0L RS2000 was the name of the game.

Still was sought after though by crooks. I know someone who had one and it went walkabout. He came out of his house one morning, drove down the road to fill up and noticed that the locking fuel cap was missing. Strange ? Where did that go ? Did I leave it on the roof when I departed the last fuel stop ?

So he ordered a new fuel cap for his RS2000.

It was a wasted purchase unfortunately. The "busy people" were cutting a key to fit the missing fuel cap, therefore, the door lock, therefore, the ignition.


So if any of you want to wind up a modern Focus RS owner, tell them that their engine derived from the pig ugly Scorpio!

But get ready to run - run like hell!
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