Porsche tried to replace the air-cooled, rear-engined 911 with the water-cooled, front-engined 928. We all know how that worked out. Likewise, Ford tried to replace the Mustang with the Probe, following the same pattern of total reconfiguration of what was a wildly successful predecessor. (Is this where the saying “don’t mess with success” came from?) The new model would be front-wheel drive, derived from a Japanese car (the Mazda MX-6), and outfitted with a four-cylinder. All these “features” were seen as shortcomings by Mustang buyers, so the whole notion of nudging the Mustang off the market in favor of this interloper was dead on arrival. That’s not to say the Probe didn’t carve out a slice of the market – it did. Launched in 1988, the Probe managed to sell almost 700k units worldwide. Here on craigslist is a 1989 Ford Probe GT looking for a new home, priced at $8750. The new owner can drive it home from Omaha, Nebraska. Thanks to Barney for finding us this sleek two-owner coupe!
While the base model Probe suffered a dearth of horsepower thanks to a normally aspirated 2.2-liter four, the GT was equipped with a turbocharged version of the same 2.2-liter. Output rose to a respectable 145 hp. The GT’s four-wheel disc brakes were another plus, but Ford tuned the Probe’s suspension to the softer side, a demerit that keeps the model consigned to the “sporty” category – and no match for the Mustang. This example has traveled only 78,191 miles. Gearchanges are courtesy of a five-speed manual, worth bonus points over the also-available four-speed automatic. The seller has renewed the brakes, replaced the clutch, changed the oil, and installed new fog lights. The car is said to run and shift well.
While not identical to the MX-6, the Probe’s cabin is very similar to its sibling’s, with cloth-covered buckets, a fat three-spoke steering wheel, and a sleek center console. The upholstery probably wears like iron, though these seats could benefit from a good cleaning. For this top trim level, air conditioning was available as an option; this unit has a new condenser. Externally, this car has a spot of rust above the windshield and areas of peeling clear coat.
Ford styled its first Probe as long ago as the 1970s, when Don Kopka from Ford’s design team partnered with Carrozzeria Ghia to create the Probe I concept car. The similarities to the modern version are unmistakable. This GT is kitted out with body moldings that clutter the lines somewhat; the base GL and mid-range LX are less embellished. The wanna-be Mustang successor ceased production in 1997, when fewer than 20,000 units were sold. Today, the market views these as not much more than used cars. A few low-mileage first-generation GTs with the turbo four have sold in the $5500 to $7800 range, implying this seller’s price might be a bit aggressive.
In 1992 my dad bought my mom a new phone red Probe GT with this same interior that she wanted for their 50th anniversary, in lieu of the red MB he’d promised her when he was stationed in Germany the 1st time; MB in comparison had gotten stupid expensive by 1992 at almost 5 times the cost (accounting for inflation).
She loved that car and she had fun driving it though she only had 2 speeds-full gas or full brake. Her 1st accessory? The shoulder fuzzy wrap around the automatic seat!
Great car for, one she drove until colliding with the right side of a 3500 Cummins that suddenly had swung left to turn right into a driveway.
Sad to see it go tho it gave her the impetus at 86 years old to have us boys drive her wherever from then on.
Nevadahalfrack, I can still see your Mom driving her Probe with her personalized license plates. With a big smile on her face!
She bought that car from the dealership I worked at.
When I was able to get my hands on a 5 speed car I took it for a ride on a very twisty road at about 8/10ths. Our office manager was with me as were going to lunch together. As soon as we got to the restaurant she ran to the bathroom and swore she would never ride with me ever again. Well she did, but not in anything with a manual gearbox. It wasn’t a bad car to drive. But it could have used about 10% stiffer suspension. I don’t remember these giving the service department any grief.
Amazing the connections we find here at BF!
Bought one new in 89 for around $13 or 14K. It had big turbo boost, lots of torque steer, and needed a lot of tires. Still loved the car and would strongly consider this one if the price was more appropriate.
I owned one of these that I bought used in the early 90s. I bought it because I was a big fan of Bob Glidden (and I still am today). He was the nicest guy when I met him several times at the US Nationals. I quickly discovered the difference between his car and mine! I’ve never owned a car with so many mechanical problems. That was the only car I’ve ever owned that I’ve truly hated. I went through more head gaskets / exhaust gaskets in that one car than all the cars I’ve ever owned. Good riddance to my car and the entire probe line!
I’d forgotten about the Probe. As I recall, Ford first made a concept car that they really pushed, and I think the propaganda was fixated primarily around aerodynamics. Sure don’t see these on the road any more, guess most of them have been turned into cubes.
Ford made a series of one-off concept cars named Probe I thru V as radical aerodynamic studies, but none of those were related to or even styling previews of this production model or its next-gen successor.
The only one at all close to a production model was the Probe III, which previewed or influenced the styling of the Ford Sierra (a version of which sold here as the Merkur XR4Ti).
The Probe I concept car provided styling details that were actually part of the original FWD Mustang prototypes dated around 1982. The engineering program ran so long that it was decided to update the styling with smoother lines during this process. So some of the basic look is intact with the wraparound rear window, popup headlights and flared-in aero side mirrors. I’d post the pictures but I’d have to sign up to become a member to do so.
There was no “V4”! These so called “automotive journalists” these days can’t decern a inline four cylinder engine or L4 without calling them a V4 which is nothing like an actual V engine configuration engine like a V6 or V8. 🙄
Thanks for the correction. Sometimes this “automotive journalist” is tired and makes an error but it’s not because I don’t know what I’m talking about.
Seems like more than a simple “error” if you truly know what you are talking about. There are almost no V4’s on the planet outside of SAAB
and a couple of European Fords.
Hi Larry, I guess you’ve never made a mistake in your life, especially when you are writing at 11 pm for the entertainment of readers like you. Obviously you are not entertained so maybe you can just read some other publication.
And I guess you know nothing about Vittorio Jano and the V4 he built for Lancia. Maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to criticize others.
Seems to me that we’re seeing some Monday Night Quarterbacks evolve to BF, Michelle but if they were worth a freeze dried cow pie as automotive experts maybe they’d be writing their piece in their own automotive forum..
Grace and a little understanding is in short supply these days.
Nevada and Todd, you said it. If they only knew – Michelle is truly on another level. It’s not surprising, really, just typical 2025 angry, smug, know-it-all, never-makes-mistakes, if I had the time I’d show you all how to write, social media-like comments meant to get a reaction, leaning toward being purposely hurtful and mean just for the fun of it. The “Watch this!” syndrome that we live in today. The way the comments were written speaks volumes about society today. Purposely trying to make someone feel bad for whatever reason. Sadly, it’s the new normal.
Does anyone even remotely living in the real world really think that automotive “writers” for famous magazines or other websites don’t have editors to catch mistakes?
Nobody here knows more about cars than Michelle; it’s that simple. A few of us wish we did, and some of us know our genres fairly well, but she’s the real deal. Decades of experience in owning almost every type of vehicle, from motorcycles to Pebble Beach-quality exotics. Not to mention, running a successful business for decades and working 10-12 hours a day there. She comes to Barn Finds in the evenings to share her knowledge and have some fun, and gets nailed for one mistake. Thanks for nothing, 2025. I can’t wait to see you go away.
Probe
Where’s it going?
Where’s it been?
Hey ” Larry n Russ ” 🃏 🤡 lol… maybe just browse a.i. sites. 👋
Owned an 89 LX and 90 LX with the 3.0 Vulcan V6. The 89 was red inside and out, and the 90 was dark silver with grey leather interior. Both were 5 speeds, and both were a hoot to drive. Never had a problem with either. Ida bought one by now if I hadn’t jumped on a 91 Reatta posted to Barn Finds last summer. This Probe isn’t bad by any stretch with the mileage, but pricewise it needs to be more immaculate to warrant the asking number.
Back in 2013 I bought a 91 LX 3.0 V6 5-speed that I bought as temporary transportation and ended up keeping it several years. It was quick and so much fun to drive. It had the patina brown like dead leaves. I sold it with 230,000 miles on it to someone who kept it going.
Almost bought one these in 1990. The trucking outfit I drove for had a sale on used ones that the salesman turned in.
They sold cheep and were still in very good condition. I just missed out. Gone before I got there.😮💨
My brother had an 89 with the v6 and 5 speed. Pretty quick little car, I’ve thought about getting a similar spec to do an SHO drivetrain into.
89’s only came with NA or turbo 4’s, 1990 saw the Vulcan 3.0 V6 as an option. Now putting the SHO drive train in would have made for all sorts of fun!!
Slip in a 5.0 and RWD and then you’d have a car.
Or you could buy a Mustang!
Was the Mercury Cougar that was out for a few years during the same time the same as a Probe? My Brother In law had one for a short time and it looked something like this.
Excellent point, the Cougar was introduced as front wheel drive and “took over” the assets dedicated to the Probe after it was discontinued.
Michelle, thanks for the info!
The front wheel drive Cougar came out for 1999 and it was originally designed to be the third generation Probe but former Probe sales tanked against the more popular Mustang so the design was given to Mercury to sell but didn’t fare much better being sold by salesmen in leisure suits that could only sell the Town Car and Grand Marquis to the elderly.
I bought a new Civic in 1990 and a friend, one of these. His was obviously a cooler car, but it was always in the shop, while mine was amazingly pain free. He hinted more then once that we should trade cars, saying I would have a much cooler car. I didn’t take the bait.
It’s funny to see the comments regarding the Probe’s reliability. I drove my ’89 GT well past 100K miles and only changed the oil and a set of tires. It got good mileage despite my heavy foot and would absolutely keep up with the 5.0 Mustangs. The suspension was electronically controlled, so you could dial in more stiffness if you wanted. It had variable boost power steering, too, which was pretty unique back then. The only new car I’ve ever owned. I should jump on this one, but then I’d have to find a place in the garage for it.
I picked up a hot pink ’93 GT for $600 about 15 years ago. 2.5 V6, 5 speed. That was a little rocket. I taught one of my sisters to drive it, she enjoyed it for a few months until she got a bigger car(hard to haul a kid in it.) I gave it to my parents and they loved driving it. It had 250K on it when I bought it and it came with a bunch of extra parts. We didn’t have any problems until the 270K mark, and it just wouldn’t run anymore. I sold it to the pick and pull for $400. Everybody still remembers it fondly. I thought the ride and handling was a good compromise of the two.
I’m always amazed how few of these we see on the roads anymore – and even fewer MX-6s.
Just a little tid bit a out that 2.5 V6 left and right pistons are not the same. Don’t ask me how I know!