A classic Ford concept car appears to have been destroyed in a fire on Sunday night during Monterey Car Week. Although nothing has been officially confirmed, indications suggest that the Ford Probe I concept car from 1979, designed by Ghia, met a fiery end.
TikTok user Exoticsimage posted a video showing a car trailer engulfed in flames, but it's challenging to discern the contents. Commenters on the post identified the car as the Ford Probe I concept, prompting us to find a post in the Monterey Car Week Facebook group displaying the aftermath. The car is still hard to identify, but the wedge shape and solid wheel covers resemble those of the concept.
This led us to the Scott Grundfor Company on Instagram, which confirms the car was present at Pebble Beach on Sunday. According to the Scott Grundfor Co. website, the company owns the concept. It was one of several Probe concepts built between 1979 and 1985, designed to demonstrate advanced aerodynamic designs with a focus on fuel efficiency. The Probe I was not just a prototype; it utilized a modified Fox platform that was slightly longer than the then-new 1979 Mustang. A turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine powered the rear wheels, and the interior featured a full setup with digital 1980s technology.
Ford eventually produced five Probe concepts with Ghia styling, paving the way for a more aerodynamic future that influenced the Ford Taurus and the Probe production car—originally intended to be the new Mustang. It all started with the first concept in 1979, and it now seems the car has been lost forever.
We are awaiting confirmation of the concept's destruction and details about how the fire started. We will provide an update as more information becomes available.
