Badges of Honor: The Best Imported Cars to Wear an American Badge

-While American automakers have never been above using patriotism to sell domestic cars, they've also been happy to appropriate foreign cars to sell here as their own. So-called “captive imports" have been a ready solution for U.S. product planners stuck with a hole in their lineups and short on cash for developing new models, and they can be an expedient way to offer American buyers cars and trucks that are expected to sell in small volume or are outside of a makers' field of expertise. Small cars are the best example of that, and the peak period for captive imports was during the sudden rush to small cars in the wake of the 1970s fuel crisis. But the breadth of such offerings is surprising, and here are some of our favorite foreign cars sold under the guise of the red, white, and blue.-1991-Eagle-Talon-TSi-1992-Plymouth-Laser-RS-Turbo-Chrysler-Conquest-TSi-1988 Chrysler-Conquest-TSi-2007 Dodge Sprinter Cargo Van 144" Wheelbase, Standard Roof-2007 Dodge Sprinter Passenger Van 170" Wheelbase, High Roof-Merkur XR4Ti-Merkur XR4Ti Interior picture-The 1971 De Tomaso Pantera quickest-1971 Ford De Tomaso Pantera at the 2012 Concorso-Italiano at Pebble Beach-Dodge Stealth R/T trubo was a rebadged Mitsubishi 3000GT-Alas, even in Stealth R/T and 3000GT VR-4 trim—with their all-wheel drive, four-wheel steering, and two-mode suspension—the big-boned duo wouldn’t ever achieve the Z’s cult following. Or even that of the Toyota Supra, for that matter. ---Blame their plus-size dimensions, complexity, and weight—the Stealth R/T weighed as much as a BMW 735i at the time. Making matters worse for the Stealth was the fact that it lived most of its life in the formidable shadow cast by the insane Viper supercar. -Still, the Stealth R/T was impressive to drive and had a honey of a turbocharged V-6 pumping out 300 horsepower, and would be a cool car to see today, although finding one in good shape today might be harder than solving a Rubik’s Cube in the dark. —Steve Siler-Carroll Shelby poses with his new 1964 production Cobra and his new Cobra race car.-Carroll Shelby poses with his new 1964 production Cobra and his new Cobra race car.-Plymouth Arrow by Mitsubishi-Plymouth Arrow by Mitsubishi-Ford-Lotus twin-cam Cortina engine-Ford-Lotus twin-cam Cortina engine-Launched in 1969, the Ford Capri was a “mini-Mustang” of sorts for the European market, not only in product demographic but also in development. Where the domestic Mustang was built on the bones of the humble but popular Ford Falcon, the Capri was based on the hardware of the wildly successful—in Europe, anyway—Ford Cortina. ---Sold in Lincoln-Mercury dealerships beginning in 1970, the Capri arrived with but one engine option: Ford’s venerable 1.6-liter 71-hp “Kent” four-cylinder. At the time, we reported that its performance was, “no better than the Beetle,” although we acquiesced that its exterior looked like “it would suck the doors off any of its competition.” ---It was a given that the Capri would be a favorite with college-aged individuals, but the Capri’s European flair also attracted forward-thinking professional types; it shared its Euro-chic personality with the likes of Saab, Volvo, and Volkswagen, but sidestepped counterculture associations by technically being a Ford product. Better yet, it came with the kind of assurance that can only be provided by a well-established nationwide dealer network.-The horsepower issue improved quickly, first with arrival of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder in 1971, leading C/D to proclaim, "It certainly is no stone, as astonished owners of Fiat 124 coupes, Porsche 914s, BMW 2002s, and fuel-injected Alfas will begrudgingly attest.” Later, the appearance of the 2.6-liter “Cologne” V-6 gave the Capri the kind of grunt even Americans could relate to. In 1975, the Capri switched to a larger, hatchback body style, which was dubbed “Capri II” when it debuted stateside as a 1976 model. Discontinued in in 1977—leftover cars were sold as 1978 models; overseas production continued until 1986—to make room for the arrival of the 1979 Capri, a Fox-body Mustang twin, it was around this time that secondhand Capris began to hit their stride, and the car's status elevated to that as one of the best “beaters” available. Heavily depreciated and simple to work on, high-school parking lots filled with Capris as first adopters moved on to marques like Audi, Porsche, and BMW. ---As a former owner, I have firsthand knowledge of just how easily a well-driven V-6 Capri II could shame a non-turbo Porsche 924. Even now, more than three decades after the last Capri was sold in the U.S., owners still gather annually at the “Capri Swarm,” an event held to celebrate their love for the nameplate. —Andrew Wendler-Pontiac G8-Chevrolet SS Sedan--

 

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