Ford/Mazda

Got a Question. Does ford own Mazda. I heard 33% or something like that. I'm not a huge Mazda fan, but I think they are ok. Isn't a Probe made out of Mazda parts. It looks like a Mazda.

I'm not sure whether Ford owns Mazda, however, I can tell you that the engine in a Ford Probe is made by Mazda. The Ford Probe shares the same engine as the Mazda 626, & the MX6. The automatic transmission in the 626 & MX6 is made by Ford.
Also,the next generation of the Mazda 626 (the Mazda 6) will have a Ford engine. http://www.mansun-nl.com/smilies/cool_shades.gif

the ford probe is the same as the nissan 240sx actually if you look at the two all that is different is the badging.

-GTi-VR6_A3

A probe looks nothing like a 240 sx, nothing at all, and no they are not the same. Ford has no ties to nissan what so ever. and for owns alot more than 33% of mazda.

uhh yeah ive seen this one year probe and 240sx next to eachother today and they were the same damn car. well at least i could see no diff. does anyone have pix of the years im talking about?

-GTi-VR6_A3

i believe its the 1996 240sx and probe around that era. take a look you'll see what i mean

-GTi-VR6_A3

sorry i cant find any pics for u to compare a 96 probe has a much shorter nose than that of a 240 sx also the 240 sx has a longer wheel base yes they are both hatch backs but ive seen many different forms of both and stock to stcok imo they look nothing alike

we should ask a probe or 240sx guy they whould know.

-GTi-VR6_A3

1st gen probes are completely different than 240sx's. Probes are Front wheel. All the internals are mazda. Infact, I believe everything on the 89-92 probes (with the exception of the lx - which had a taurus engine in it) were 91% mazda.

However, the cars do look similar - it was ford's body design for the probe, and mazda insides. However, look at the 1st gen Talons, Eclipses, and Lazers... when Ford unveiled the prototype body of the Probe - it helped shape what other automanufacturers modeled their car's after. Cars like the probe and the 240sx definitely helped shape the way cars were styled in the early 90's.


- A

This is a first. I've heard hundreds of arguments about one vehicle being (or not being) related to another. I've never heard anyone make the connection between the Ford Probe and the Nissan 240SX.

There is no actual connection between these two vehicles.

Ford owns 34% of Mazda. The two companies formed a joint-venture (the jointly own another company) called AutoAlliance International. AutoAlliance operates a manufacturing plant in Flat Rock, Michigan.

Ford and Mazda co-developed the Ford Probe. It was based on Mazda mechanicals (platform, suspension, engine, transmission, many other parts) and Ford designed the body. One story I like says that the two didn't work closely enough on these two designs and when they mated the body to the chassis, they didn't fit...note the bumps on the hood for clearence of the strut towers.

AutoAlliance produced the Ford Probe along side the related Mazda MX6 and Mazda 626. Nissan never came into play with this vehicle.

Nissan and Ford worked together on the minivans that would become the Mercury Villager and Nissan Quest; Nissan designed them and Ford built them. But Nissan never worked on the Probe design.

i now realise my stupidity after looking at the two closer in depth. i definately like the 240sx much better. dark gray with the simple spolier.

- GTi-VR6_A3

Originally posted by GTi-VR6_A3
i now realise my stupidity after looking at the two closer in depth. i definately like the 240sx much better. dark gray with the simple spolier.

- GTi-VR6_A3

Why now, do you decide to (excuse me for being ghetto for a second) 'hate' on the probe? Tell me this car looks "much worse" than a 240sx. I dunno man... I dunno. Looks pretty decent to me. :rolleyes:


- Al

Ford does own some bit of mazda is what i heard. The Probe in my opinion is a Mazda.

Originally posted by APHEX TWIN


Why now, do you decide to (excuse me for being ghetto for a second) 'hate' on the probe? Tell me this car looks "much worse" than a 240sx. I dunno man... I dunno. Looks pretty decent to me. :rolleyes:


- Al


no no man im not hating on the probe. maybe a few years ago i mgiht have because i hated all 80's and early 90's cars but i never said i dont like the probe i think its pretty cool looking. i just prefer the 240sx is all. sorry to offend man.

-GTi-VR6_A3

Look at my pic in my profile... My car does not look like a probe. I think older probes and s13 240sx's look more similar than newer probes and s14 240sx's. Also from a distance I think older probes look kinda like 2nd gen rx-7's... MX-6's and Probes are basicly the same car, but not probes and 240sx's.

Er, saying the 1st gen probe and any model 240sx are the same is like saying a VW GTI is the same as a v6 mustang. 240's are RWD, probes are FWD. The first gen Probe gt's were turbo, unlike the same year 240sx's. Different engines, different trannies, different bodys. Yes they can look somewhat similar at times, but they are not even close to being the same car :wink:

:cool: The Ford Probe (first generation) had all Mazda underpinnings and powertrain. Ford continued to work closely with Mazda (and yes the are invoolved financiallly with the company) Look at the Dreaded mercury tracer and mazda 323 All the same with some exterior and interior trim differences. Ever looked closely at the Mazda B series pickups and the Ford Ranger? That should be proof enough. Nuff Said...
Cheers

Both generations of Probe were mechanically Mazdas. The first generation had an optional Ford V6, but otherwise was mostly Mazda (aside from the styling). Ford's US-market Courier from the 1970s was built by Mazda. The first Tracer, as stated, was a knock-off of the Mazda 323 and the later Escort/Tracer was heavily based on the next generation 323/Protege. And, yes, the current Mazda B-Series is a rebadged Ford Ranger built by Ford. A number of Mazda and Ford products share parts (engines in the Mazda6 for example) and designs (including the upcoming Ford Futura which is based on the Mazda6).

Ford acquired about 1/4 of Mazda (then Toyo Kogyo) in the early 1970s. Their interest in Mazda has risen and fallen over the years but today, Ford holds about 1/3 of Mazda's shares.

There was nothing "dreaded" about the first-generation Tracer. It was a very nice little car.

Someone tried to say that the new 6 is equipped with a Ford engine...

That's not really true. The 3.0L DOHC V6 in the 6S is *based* on the 195 hp Duratec V6 formerly seen in the Contour SVT, although the new 3.0L V6 in the 6S has variable valve timing, a tighter compression ratio, and more power (220 hp). More importantly, no Ford-branded model will offer this engine (despite rumors about a new SHO Taurus that was supposed to have it).

So while the original architecture of this wonderful new engine has its roots in a Ford product, it's very, very evolved from its predecessor. Certainly no one could claim that the 302 V8 in a 1972 Boss Mustang had much in common with that "same" 302 in the 1993 Mustang GT, could they?

You see the silliness of this now.

And to put this all to rest, Ford entirely owns 100% of Mazda Motor Company (made plain the first few pages of my 6S's manual). The Mazda 6 is manufactured at the same plant in Flat Rock, MI, where was made the Probe, MX6, and 626 for years. The Cougar is also made there now.

Someone else said that Ford has no connection with Nissan. This is also not true. In Avon, OH, the Ohio Truck Assembly Plant is the home of both the Mercury Villager and the Nissan Quest minivans. My father works there. ;)

Cheers,
--Scott!

my ford courier was mostly designed by mazda, yet was built by ford and thatw as back in 74