Ford Capri heads the list of ‘comeback cars’

“Heroes get remembered but legends never die.” The grandiose, invitation-only summons to Wapping Power Station on July 10 2024, might be touting a new James Bond film – except the “hero” in this case is a Ford Capri.

Manufacturers can’t resist diving into their heritage to revive an old nameplate, especially when it’s easy to criticise the new model as just another soulless SUV. The right historic badge can raise interest and provoke stirring images of a popular car of yesteryear – but that’s far from a given.

Just remind Vauxhall about the new millennium Viva, ask Fiat what happened to the revived 124 Spider, or question Volkswagen’s decision to bring back the Beetle (not once, but twice).

The Capri is a contentious classic at best. A family-sized fastback billed as the European equivalent of the Ford Mustang – some hope – the original version was launched in 1969, the same year man first landed on the Moon.

Back then, Ford promoted the Capri up as a cut-price muscle car for real men. Car dealer Arthur Daley’s tough guy Terry McCann, played by Dennis Waterman, drove a 2.0-litre Mk2 in the hit TV series Minder; John Wayne steered a 3.0-litre GT through London for an epic car chase in Brannigan; and who can forget Bodie (Lewis Collins) bonnet-jumping his 3.0S in The Professionals? Such was the impact of such on-screen activity that the “Bodie Capri” sold for £186,700 last year.

A Capri also featured in the opening episode of Top Gear in 1977, driven by a young reporter called Angela Rippon. Controversial? Perhaps, especially when you consider one Ford advert included the line: “For God’s Sake don’t let a woman drive it. Your Capri is precious. Don’t confine it to an early grave by letting a woman get behind the wheel.”

To be fair, sexist commercials were common at the time. Later, a 2.8-litre fuel-injected Capri focussed more on performance and was advertised as “Going like s ---”. So, how does Ford’s new, family-friendly coupé-SUV Capri relate to that?

Hardly at all, although the EV will be sporty and manufactured in Cologne, where the last Capri was built in December 1986. The £1.6 billion plant is the first in Europe dedicated to EVs and also produces the Explorer, Ford’s latest electric SUV.

Instead of a low-slung fastback in the manner of the original, the new Capri is based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, designed for sensible electric vehicles such as the Skoda Enyaq and Audi Q4. Spyshots also suggest the hairy-chested appeal of the original has been diluted to a four-door coupé-styled saloon with extra ground clearance. 

Angela Rippon loved driving a Capri up the M1 in 1977 but I doubt she would have too much to say about the electric version. John Hill, who runs The Capri Club, has several original examples in his collection, including a four-wheel-drive prototype and a convertible. 

“I can’t see why Ford would dream of using the same name for a family EV,” he said. “It won’t make any difference to the sales figures and only courts controversy. There were so many versions of the old Capri – this is just one blob with different engines. It has certainly been a talking point among our 2,000 members.”

Yet not all comeback cars have flopped. Among the success stories are the Mini, Fiat 500, Toyota Supra and Lamborghini Countach. Perhaps the crucial difference is that these cars, unlike the new Ford Capri, were designed to do the same job as the original. 

Coming back soon

Vauxhall Frontera

A ground-breaking, crossover SUV – or a terrible car? The original Frontera (1991-2004) was built in collaboration with Isuzu and combined a cramped interior with a bouncy ride and lacklustre performance. Surprising then that Vauxhall will revive the name as a replacement for the Crossland, especially as it looks remarkably similar to the smaller Mokka. An affordable, electric seven-seater has potential.

Renault 5

Europeans went crazy for the new Renault 5 E-Tech when it was revealed earlier this year, 50,000 signed up for the city EV in the first week. The revived 5 isn’t due in the UK until early 2025 but Le Car will be equipped with a charming baguette carrier in the shape of a fluted wicker basket. The original, 1972 model was just as much fun – Mini watch out.

MG Cyberster

Already on sale and due in August, MG’s scissor-doored two-seater has been a very long time coming. An electric sports car costing from about £55,000, the pricier dual motor GT version will cover 0-62mph in 3.1 seconds. Built in China, there are few comparisons with the truly iconic MGB of old, although cleverly, it was designed in London.

End of the road

Fiat 124 Spider

Launched in 2016 as a sister car to the Mazda MX-5, Fiat borrowed styling cues from the 1966 124 Sport Spider. Just three years later both it and the sportier Abarth version were dead in the UK – perhaps because the MX-5 was equally affordable and better established. The Fiat convertible is now a used bargain, especially if you prefer turbocharged performance to Mazda’s naturally-aspirated engine.

Volkswagen Beetle

Why wouldn’t Volkswagen want to rekindle our love affair with the cute and curvy Type 1? The multi-million-selling original was an automotive icon – despite links to hippies and the Third Reich. The “New Beetle” arrived in 1997 and despite promising looks and a dashboard vase, proved desperately dull to drive. A new New Beetle followed, but that was stamped out in 2019 too.

Vauxhall Viva

The Viva was a massive success story in the 1960s and 70s, selling in vast numbers as a rival to Ford’s Escort. Estate, coupe and even a sporty version with bonnet scoops gave the model mass appeal. Vauxhall revived the name in 2015 for a car engineered in Korea and sold as a rebadged Chevrolet Spark. The PSA Group quickly said hasta la viva to the city car in 2019 when it took over the brand.