The Ford Probe 1 Ghia — It Led Ford All in on Aero Designs
The Ford Probe 1 Ghia was the first build for Ford that shifter the focus almost entirely on aerodynamics. Today we look at the car and the man who was the force behind it. He had plenty of critics, but his vision impacted Ford design for years afterwards.
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An AI-generated transcript summary edited by a staffer is below.
[Image: Tony's Fords and Mustangs/YouTube]
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Summary
The transcript examines the 1979 Ford Probe 1 Ghia, a concept car that had a far greater influence on Ford than most prototypes. Rather than being simply a flashy show car, the Probe 1 helped convince Ford that aerodynamics could become a central element of automotive design, particularly as the industry faced fuel-economy pressures in the late 1970s.
The idea originated from the 1973 oil crisis, rising fuel prices and impending CAFE regulations. Don Kopka, then head of Ford's design department, believed serious aerodynamic engineering could help improve fuel economy. At the time, many designers considered aerodynamics undesirable because they feared it would restrict styling and cause all cars to look alike. Kopka nevertheless pushed ahead.
Introduced in 1979, the Probe 1 Ghia was developed by Ford and the Italian design firm Ghia and constructed at Ford's Dearborn Design Center. Underneath its futuristic body was a Mustang II platform and a 2.3-liter turbocharged Lima engine.
Its design was radically aerodynamic for the era, incorporating:
- A pointed, streamlined body
- Flat wheel covers
- Pop-up headlights
- Skirted rear wheels
- A full glass roof
- A long hatchback
- Hidden A-pillars
- Four bucket seats
- A full-length center console
- A wraparound dashboard
Most importantly, the Probe 1 reportedly achieved a 0.25 drag coefficient in wind-tunnel testing, making it about 37% more aerodynamically efficient than a typical two-door coupe of 1979.
The car debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1979 and subsequently traveled to shows around the world. Its overwhelmingly positive reception from both the media and the public gave Ford management confidence that aerodynamic styling could be commercially viable. That proved especially important because the second oil crisis was beginning in 1979, creating even greater pressure on automakers to improve fuel economy.
The Probe 1 ultimately became a crucial design stepping stone toward Ford's aerodynamic styling revolution of the 1980s. Its influence could be seen in the company's increasingly streamlined production vehicles, and the broader industry eventually embraced aerodynamic efficiency as an essential part of vehicle development.
Only one Probe 1 Ghia was ever built. It remained in private ownership and continued appearing at major automotive events until 2024. After the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the trailer transporting the car caught fire, destroying the prototype. Its owner, the Grundfor Company, specializes in automotive restoration and reportedly has no intention of simply discarding the remains, leaving open the possibility of an extraordinarily difficult restoration.
Bottom line
The Probe 1 Ghia demonstrates how one obscure concept car can fundamentally change an automaker's direction. Its importance wasn't its production potential or styling alone; it helped establish the idea that aerodynamic efficiency and attractive design could coexist. The concept gave Ford a head start as fuel economy became increasingly important and helped set the stage for the aerodynamic vehicles that defined much of Ford's design language throughout the 1980s and beyond.
I can also create an image showing how the Probe 1 Ghia influenced Ford's transition to aerodynamic design.
Tony has been a member of the car culture since the late 1970s, acquiring his first car at the age of 13 in a straight-up swap for a Schwinn 10-speed bicycle. He has personally owned well over 500 cars and trucks since that first car. He was employed as a jet engine Mechanic by the US Air Force for over 10 years and served in theater during Desert Storm. He has always wrenched on his own vehicles. In the Fall of 2021 he launched his own YouTube channel that focuses on Ford Motor Company products, both old and new, however other manufacturers product will appear from time to time. New content and videos are posted every Saturday Morning at 11 AM EST
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Even more aerodynamic than a train station.
Did you know? Michigan Central Station was intentionally left vacant and deteriorating from 1988 to 2018, to show the relative greatness of the American system of democracy. The restoration of Michigan Central Station is therefore yet more proof of how far our country has fallen.
If any of this is unclear, ask a Canadian: ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/the-condition-of-canadas-official-residences
Needed to come back in a few years on a Fox chassis with the EFI 2.3 turbo the SVO Mustang and later Turbo Coupes got.
We need some discussion of the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe.