I just bought this Probe which belonged to my cousin's late husband who owned it for 13 years and took excellent mechanical care of it. I had no idea I would like this car so much. All it really needs is a new radiator, paint, carpet, air conditioning repair and some new hatch lift supports. This has a 3.0 Liter V6 with a 5-speed and runs very well. This car drives and rides like new.

 

Looks nice. The only thing i don't like is how the seatbelt slides on the door when you close it

 

I dig the 1st generation 5-speed Vulcan Probes! Though I do despise the seat belts of that era!

 

Lol those door vents

 

I always loved first generation of Probe. My buddy had one back in high school, but his was a 2.2L turbo I believe.

 

Sweet! My aunt had a bright red auto/4banger but that was the first car I ever wanted in my life.

Dem pop-up headlights I also recall, as a preschooler, really enjoying the noise the rear seatbelts made when they clicked so I would constantly buckle and unbuckle myself.

 

Yes I hate the seatbelts. I had them on my 89 Tbird and they were so annoying. I found a nasty surprise today while changing the drive belts. The outer pulley on the harmonic balancer was free spinning and sliding off. The only thing that was keeping things together was the tension from the belt. I ordered a new one.

 

Interior blingage...

 

Magenta...

 

Some fun stuff I have done to it

Red stitched gunmetal spoked steering wheel, white face blue glow gauge faces. Red stitched shifter and e-brake boots plus a short throw shifter.





It running great now. I had to replace the harmonic balancer that separated and also the radiator. I had to replace the shifter bushings too and now it shifts like new with no slop.

I have to replace the hatch lift supports and power antenna. I want to get it repainted and replace the carpet then continue working on the less important stuff like the headliner. The seat upholstery is in good shape except for some burn holes. I might redo it later too.

I am also hoping the standard Mustang 16" wheels from the 2005-09 V6 will fit okay because I eventually want to use this style with a set of spinner caps.

 

Those Probes are getting rare.

 

One of the most interesting things is the instrument cluster borrowed from the Mazda RX-7 which is mounted in an instrument pod that tilts with the steering column.

 

The ford probe, wasnt it supposed to be named the Ford Mustang at one point

 

It was designed through and through to be the Mustang replacing the Fox Mustang. The name was changed to Probe at the last minute after the famous letter writing campaign protesting the Mustang against being a FWD vehicle with no V8. The Probe was also built by Mazda Motors until after 1991 when Ford bought half ownership of the assembly plant which was renamed Auto Alliance.

The project started in the early 1980's. The original intent was to use the Escort platform. Pop-up headlights and continuous wraparound rear glass was a set theme.



Notice the original tri-sectioned beveled taillamps. That beveling predates the production 1999 models and of course now the new 2015. Also notice MUSTANG embossed into the rear bumper and pony emblems on the glass covered B-pillars.



The design project ran so long that it was decided the Mustang proposals needed refreshening to bring it in line with advanced themes emerging at the approach of the 1990's. Notice the Mustang nameplates on the B-pillars and left rear under the taillamp.

 

And a few days ago I created a sight gag for you all!





Don't worry it didn't stay this way!

 

There was a significant but completely forgotten concept car that was shown in 1984. The Mustang Ghia Vignale 4WD Turbo. It was based on a RWD Fox Body Mustang with SVO drivetrain. This concept previewed the use of the Probe's wraparound rear glass and the mirrors integrated into the front fender design.

 

I've never seen that concept before!! Thanks for sharing!! I kind of dig it!

 

That is super cool. Any more info on that Vignale 4wd? Never heard of it before either

 

It was called Ghia Vignale.

I remembered that concept on the cover of Motor Trend from late 1984. I had been searching for years trying to find something on the internet about it and finally a few pictures surfaced on Google. I wish I had a copy of that issue so I can read it again.

I remember then that I thought the Fox Mustang was so boxy that it needed a modern smoother look. By then the 1982-style Camaro and Firebird was out with the poor man's Ferrari styling and I was completely over wanting a Mustang because of it's outdated boxy look. I got very excited when I seen this Ghia Vignale concept come out.

When I was young I wanted to be a car designer. I spent hours trying to draw Mustangs that had more of a Ferrari-like look.

 

Oh yeah something else I found while surfing that I never knew existed before...

A Fiesta based Mustang III concept...

Ford Ghia Operations in Turin are showed this experimental car at the Geneva Show. It was based on the Ford Fiesta and was designed to carry four adults in a car 28 inches shorter than the production Mustang II.