“great pumpkin”1983 Mercury Capri

The story

this is the story about my capri and is called the GREAT PUMPKIN from the Charlie brown cartoons. like the cartoon , this car is still waiting to show up some day.
she started life a 1983 factory orange carpi with a v/6,C-3 tranny,7.5 open rear end,p/s,a/c car. when i got her 7 years ago. she was parked along side of the road behind a tow truck with a wheel missing off the rear and on her way to wrecking yard for $200.00. it was rust free but she was in bad shape. it had no hood. the front bumper was ripped in two and the chain attached to lower core support. the driver rear quarter panel had big dent. the car was towed to the point the driver rear lower control arm on the axle was ground free. I told the guy, I live just down the block and I give you the $200.00 ,if you don't drive the 2 miles to the wreaking yard.

at first. i just slapped some matching orange 79 parts, so the county would not think it was junk.
then body panels have been straighten, i change the rear tail light panel, so i can install better tail lights. the driver rear quarter panel has been change on account the wheel lip opening couldn't fix to my liking.
I then pulled the complete old drive train. i installed a 1987 V8 302 HO with 1970 351W heads. 1995 mustang 8.8 rear end and front spindles and the 1995 exhaust system. at the same time installed a 88 mustang lx nose on w/ stormin norman hood with rear cobra bumper and GT hatch cover because I had all stock 1986 Capri at the time and the 83 was just something to play with but after I was force to sell the 86 Capri in 2008. I started to rethink my plans for the 1983, I better keep the great pumpkin looking Capri but I wanted the 86 bumpers on it. so after 3 more yrs I was able to do that. off came the non-Capri body parts, in there place. is the factory bubble hatch. a 1983 hood and 1986 front and rear bumper covers
right now she waiting to get painted back to the factory orange , with black bottom.which is this spring i hope.

the great pumpkin has gone through many changes is the 7 years I had her. from looking like heading to the scrap heap, to looking like as a 79 stang, then as a 1988 stang, then back to looking like a capri again but best of all, every thing i got for her is used/swap meet/ebay/junk yard stuff.i did this capri to show the younger kids that not every thing has to be brand new. this is how we did things in the late 70's ,early 80's, when we did NOT have the repop or big aftermarket like the kids now days have. — 1rancheronut