Ford Revives Capri Legacy With Retro Detective Social Series

Quick listen: Ford revives Capri nostalgia with a retro detective campaign — in under 2 minutes.

Ford is bringing back the swagger of its classic Capri through a new retro-inspired campaign. 

The automaker and Wieden+Kennedy London have launched "How to Capri," a series of short-form videos that use a 70s-inspired detective to teach viewers the features of the all-electric Capri.

Shot with quick cuts, a throwback soundtrack, and deliberately degraded visuals, the films pay homage to the detective dramas that made the original Capri famous.

“We’re absolutely delighted with this latest milestone in our wider Mischief Rewired campaign,” said Irem Yeloglu, brand content manager at Ford in Europe.

“Once again, the spotlight is on the New All-Electric Capri, carrying on the legacy of mischief that the nameplate is known for with this social-first work.”

Meanwhile, Wieden+Kennedy London Creative Director David Colman shares the inspiration behind the series' look and feel, taking cues from TV shows like Starsky and Hutch, Magnum P.I., and The Professionals.

"Digging through those vintage cop dramas, we unearthed some of the wildest car stunts of the era," he added. 

A Little Throwback Action 

The first episode sees a detective demonstrate a step-by-step process on "how to Capri," approaching the car with style, sliding on it with panache, and checking on your 'stache in the front mirror. 

Meanwhile, the second spot shows viewers how to "carshare like a legend," with similar wacky steps on how to look cool with Ford's all-electric vehicle. 

The creative team even built out a full backstory for the fictional detective, Terry Shoulders, who guides audiences through the action.

The four-episode campaign is part of Ford’s ongoing "Mischief Rewired" platform, which aims to reintroduce its heritage models with modern twists.

The series was produced by Arts & Sciences and will run across Meta, TikTok, YouTube, and other social platforms in Europe over the next three months.

In a first for Ford in the UK, the campaign also includes a brand partnership with GIPHY, recutting moments from the detective-led videos into GIFs that can be shared on messaging and social platforms.

Overall, this push is designed to expand reach and reinforce Capri’s re-entry into European markets with a lighthearted, shareable approach.

Reviving the car’s pop culture history helps strengthen its brand identity while connecting with younger drivers who never experienced the original Capri.

Our Take: Can Nostalgia Drive Relevance?

What I like about this campaign is how it uses humor and retro pop culture as an entry point, rather than just showing off car specs.

The decision to anchor the story in a quirky detective character makes the message easy to follow and enjoyable to watch, especially to fans of old detective shows.

If Ford can keep finding creative ways to tie its heritage models to modern aesthetics, it can stand out amongst its competitors that take more traditional approaches.

In other news, Range Rover teamed up with architect David Manica to mirror his design philosophy with the Sports SV.