Whats up with that?

Ok, first of all I would like to make it clear that I have nothing against ford probes, they are good cars. But has anyone ever wondered where and when they decided to call it a probe? I just dont understand why they could name a car that, dont ask me why, it just strikes me as odd. oh well.

Uh... because it's meant to be a pain in your ass? :D

actually its called that cause they designed the probe to replace the mustang, and it was supposed to be called a mustang, but they decided to keep the mustang as a rear wheel drive, so they had this car they needed a name for, well they had a promo vehicle on tour and it was called a probe, the demo actually became losely based on the taures.

Um, the Probe replaced the EXP.

no, it was designed to replace the mustang, go to performanceprobe.com, then go to INFORMATION on the side bar, then click on HISTORY. It will tell u the life story of the probe down to the designers names. its a good read, but its long as hell.

Ah yes. You're right. I read on multiple EXP sites that it was the precursor to the probe. Probably based on that the EXP was discontinued in 88 and the Probe was officially released in 89.

As a Mustang enthusiast, I can vouch for the Ford's original plan for the Probe. Fortunately, the gigantic backlash Ford was unable to predict was enough to avert the stupidity.

A FWD Mustang is just wrong.

There was an earlier Ford Probe, though I don't know the exact years, there was an IMSA GTP project that Ford ran in the early 80's that was called the Probe. The car was designed to compete against the Porsche 962/956 and the Corvette GTP program (run by Hendrick Motorsports, currently of NASCAR car ownership fame). IMHO, Ford probably was thinking that they could link the on-track performance of the Probe to the street car after it was determined that it was not going to be a Mustang.

More info on the Probe GTP (1985-1989) and the Ford Mustang Probe that came before it, as well as some pics from a race at Charlotte in 1985 (not it's most successful outing) are at

http://www.fastdetails.com/historics/85Probe.htm