The following power and performance specs were considered very good in 1983: 175 hp, 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds, and a standing quarter-mile time of 15.9 seconds at 89 mph. Those are the figures of the 1983 Mercury Capri RS, the rebadged, 5.0-liter V8-powered version of the old Fox body Mustang. Because Mercury's previous muscle car, the Cougar, turned into the rebadged equivalent of the Ford Thunderbird land yacht, the now defunct premium division realized it needed a smaller sports car.

Rebadging the Mustang was the obvious solution, and this was done from 1979 until 1986. Aside from the typical design and packaging tweaks (no standard air conditioning?!) done for purely price gouging reasons, the Capri was no different than the Mustang save for one somewhat unique thing, the "Bubble Back" rear glass.

Actually, it was kind of convenient because it allowed for some additional vertical storage trunk space. That was apparently important for Capri buyers. But what's really funny in this latest Motor Week Retro Review is the publication's then staff gushing about how much they love the Capri. Was everyone that cheesy in 1983?