Here’s a niche-y corner of the collector car world: Ford’s Escort-based “sport” coupe, called the EXP, or if you were a Mercury fan, the LN7. The EXP was an effort by Ford to downsize in the wake of fuel crises and regulations that rocked the automotive world from head to toe. The company’s flagship Mustang had become bloated and expensive. The new offering was aimed at the youth market, with two seats, a hatchback, and good fuel economy. Unfortunately, despite the two-seat layout, the EXP was 200 lbs heavier than the Escort thanks to its larger dimensions and heavy hatch assembly – but it labored down the road with the same tiny 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Its price point was higher than the Escort, too, restraining sales. No wonder these are a rare sight. Today’s example is brought to us by numskal, and it is garaged in Huntington Beach, California.
When the EXP was launched for model year 1982, the only engine option was the Escort 1.6 liter cam-in-head four. It was barely capable of 70 hp, resulting in sluggish performance even with an optional five-speed manual. A high-output version of the same four cylinder arrived in late ’82, generating closer to 88 hp, and turbo versions were available later. This car’s original head was cracked, so a replacement engine was built with high-compression pistons and a performance cam; the starter and other minor components were also refurbished or replaced. The seller indicates that despite an oil leak, the car runs and drives fine. The engine bay was painted in the car’s original color before installation. Detailing would bring the underhood view up a notch, but a lot of the hard work has been done here.
Ford paid particular attention to designing the EXP’s interior, giving it an electrically actuated rear hatch, full carpet including for the rear cargo, and comprehensive instrumentation. Both brakes and steering were power-assisted. The options list was long, too: cruise control, air conditioning, rear window wiper, an AM/FM radio, among other niceties. Accompanying the sale is an AC unit from Nostalgia Air worth $1400 new.
The seller notes that the rear louvers cost him about $400 and took two years to find on eBay. A paint job in the original Light Academy Blue Glow would do wonders for this EXP. Overall, the car’s styling did it no favors, and together with the poor performance and high price, served to suppress sales in all but the model’s first year of production. On the other hand, rarity and the opportunity to goose performance with a wide variety of aftermarket parts make Ford’s EXP intriguing. This one is advertised for only $2000 here on craigslist. What do you think of this oddball from Ford?
My sister bought a brand new LN7 in the fall of ’81. Black with black interior, and the optional TRX suspension. A good looking little car. But yes, severely underpowered. And those Michelin tires that came exclusively with the TRX suspension were absolute terrors on anything more than dry pavement. Driving the car across a tall 8 lane bridge in the rain, a gust of wind blew me 3 lanes over, at 70 mph. When my heart started up again, I swore I’d never drive that thing in anything less than sunshine. She had a couple white knuckle experiences with it, too. Traded it in on another POS, a Dodge Shadow. Ironically, I just this summer, finally junked the TRX wheels that Ford sent her to replace the ones that wouldn’t hold air.
I prefer my 1986 Escort 1.9 white 4 speed hatchback with no radio.
Posting expired. There truly is a butt for every seat.
These definitely have their charm. I had one as a kid, a Matchbox-size diecast from Ertl, in this same metallic blue with a tan interior instead of the usual blue one that accompanied real ’80s tin painted blue.
Speaking of the color, I think it’s *Medium* Academy Blue Glow, non-Glow “Light Academy Blue” was a pale robin’s-egg color, my Aunt Betty had an Escort wagon in that inside and out. I’d rather have the wagon, though, for the cost new and the weight.
I prefer my Escorts RWD, thankfully we never got a FWD Escort, just the Mazda versions.
There was a legend within Ford that stated this vehicle originally was to have a back seat, but apparently an executive tried to sit in it and he banged his head against the rear glass, hence it became a two-seater.
Thank you Michelle for reviewing this mostly-forgotten Ford. It was, as you describe, an attempt to use the then-new Escort platform to position a sporty model into the line-up. (Though your note about the “big” Mustangs would have been a decade earlier, and given the tidier Fox-based Mustangs had already been in production for a few years, probably didn’t apply).
I was in the market for a sporty economy car when the EXP came out. It was a “no” for me because of the lack of a back seat. The frog-eye styling isn’t appealing to most but for me it was okay. They are rarely seen today, though I have a friend who has one in his collection. I’m glad to see one but probably not much of a market for a rough example like this.
Those 1.6 engines all developed cracks in the heads, right between the valves , which doomed these Escort/Lynx cars to an early demise. Back in the mid 1980s we had these cars coming into the junkyard in droves, all with the same problem. They usually developed cracks at around 50k , and being a pretty much disposable car, many people weren’t willing to put a new head on them, even though they really weren’t very old. As I was reading the ad I was wondering about the head , and sure enough , this one head a cracked head too.
I remember them when they were first introduced. A couple of guys at work each bought one. They claimed that it got better fuel mileage with the windows rolled up with the A/C on than with the windows down A/C off. I never liked them, but I wholeheartedly agree, there is a butt for every seat.
They were right. It’s even truer today.
but depends on MPH.
That’s around 45 ~
I seem to remember reading an article about these when they came out. Maybe it was in Car and Driver. Anyway I believe the article said Ford initially wanted hidden/pop-up headlights – but they were too expensive.
Would have changed the whole look for sure
I had one with the turbo. It was a nice little two seater, good mileage, and comfy as it got you down the road pretty quick. I liked it until some woman mashed the front end.
Did that improve the look of the front end?
I had the face lift 86 model with the wing on back. I actually like the frog eye , just because it’s so weird it’s cool. I also heard it was cause the pop up lights were too expensive. I think if Ford had went that route and more power , they may have really had something , course it would have cost as much as a mustang ….. Oh the head on my 86 cracked too. Put a new one on
I had an 1985 EXP. it had a bubble window hatchback, it reminded me of a go cart (i was used to driving F-150s) had a nerghbors tree onto my property and i used the EXP to pull it back on his property, i pulled out the rear platform and saw the indentations for rear seats,but decided not to go that route,had a baby coming so i traded it in for a Volvo wagon (POS) I liked the EXP and had no problems with it
“Ready for Finishing”. Michelle, your heading says it all. The EXP was finished before it ever started. Poor design and worse engine. And those TRX wheels and special sized tires was another flub up.
Early Escorts/Lynxs were notorious for cracked heads. I bought a really nice ‘88 Escort wagon new, being told that the cylinder head issue had been rectified. Yeah. No. Head cracked. Still under warranty. I knew what it was because I ran an automotive business that included auto repair. The dealer claimed that they checked the head, and it was good, so they replaced the head gasket (in other words, put it back together) Same problem. Dealer then decided that the block was cracked-not the head. Couldn’t find a short block, so they replaced the complete engine at 60k. Problem solved. We both knew we were right. 😏 Traded it straight up for a ‘77 Mercedes 240D.
All in all, not Ford’s best effort.
Hard pass on this embarrassment in engineering.
I bought a New 84 model.
Red, with 4 speed manual.
84s came with the bubble back rear hatch.
Mine ran good but would start ti get hot in bumper to bumper Summer traffic. I took it back to the dealer and they told me that’s normal for that car!
Drive it from Detroit to L.A. in 1986 and was amazed to not see ANY on the roads.
One dealer told me they didn’t sell well.
Ended up trading it for a New 87 CHEVY TURBO SPRINT.
I went from 4 cylinders to 3 with that little 1.0 liter in the Sprint but it moved pretty quick and got 50mpg on the freeway!!
When I first saw pictures of the EXP I fell in love and made sure I would be there first to get one. When it finally arrived at my local Ford dealership and saw one in real life my expression was like a 5 year old kid expecting a new bike and getting underwear instead. It was tiny, and underpowered. And cheaply made. I was expecting something about the size of a 65 Mustang. Needless to say, I passed on the EXP, fortunately. I had a friend that bought one, and traded it in for something else after having it only 3 months. He hated it that much.
I worked at the Ford Plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, when the EXP/LN7 was launched. Here’s a story not many people outside of the company knew:
Initially, the EXP was designed with a back seat. When the plant completed the pre Job #1 build, a launch review was scheduled to be held at the plant. The big shots from Dearborn flew into the London airport. They were greeted at the airport by the plant management team, each driving a pre Job #1 car. Since most of visitors had briefcases, the back hatch was open to store their luggage. One of the Dearborn managers got into the back seat of an EXP, and when the hatch was closed, he was knocked out colder than a mackerel. And that was the end of the rear seat for the EXP!
I remember this car very well, my friend and I graduated from high school in 1981 and he got a job with the post office couple months later, he started out making 9 bucks an hour and I thought he hit the jackpot. He then bought this exact car model and I rode in it with him and thought it was a really cool looking car, it definitely was different and it was a perfect car for him, so it brought a smile to my face seeing this today, I remember it like yesterday, these are good cars to have and show. Tony Youngstown,Ohio
I used to race an SCCA Showroom Stock Fiesta.
I got $50 from Ford for placing in a race (See- there IS –
money in racing!).
I noticed that if you were the highest finishing Ford
in SSB,Ford would pay you $200.I thought about racing
an EXP,as the Ford money would make the payments.
Somehow this brilliant idea never came to be.
A EXP would be fun to own just for the rarity of them.
U NEVER see them on the road even though they were made from 82 to 87.
Cars and Coffee would be fun to go to, nobody under 50 would know what it was!!
BTW……I’ve been looking for a fair condition running good one for years.