andyw
North East
Posts: 238
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Wow! I will be completely honest, as a Ford fan I had never given the Probe a second look, I was in the 'it's not a proper Ford and wrong wheel drive' camp but your fine example has opened my eyes, what a cracking looking car! And I was trying to figure out why the back end looked familiar and then I realised, Ford appear to have used the top of the bootlid and rear glass from a mk3 Granada;    The first generation Probe also had the wrap round rear glass styling - they came out in late '88 in the US. Non of the glass is interchangeable though - I have spare glass stashed away, just need a rear windscreen now as they aren't available new  |
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Last Edit: Nov 11, 2016 8:45:37 GMT by andyw
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,513
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The OCD in me likes the symmetry of the dash dials...  Oh, I like the colour too. |
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Last Edit: Nov 12, 2016 9:59:17 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles)
'99 Alfa 166 (3 litre V6, 89k miles)
'01 Mini (#869)
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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zx
Part of things
Posts: 235
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Nov 12, 2016 23:47:26 GMT
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As a fellow Probe nut, I tip my hat to the time and effort you've put into yours. It looks remarkable and I've never seen that red look so deep except for the brochure. You've worked a miracle. The spoiler sets the rear off nicely and it's good to know I'm not the only one with a broom handle to hold the boot open!
I've spent quite a bit of time over the autumn on my 24v addressing various issues big and small. It's not a patch on yours in its appearance but a lot tidier than when I picked it up a few years ago. It's back to being a fun car to drive now there's not a giant hole in the sunroof letting the outside in!
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,513
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As a fellow Probe nut, I tip my hat to the time and effort you've put into yours. It looks remarkable and I've never seen that red look so deep except for the brochure. You've worked a miracle. The spoiler sets the rear off nicely and it's good to know I'm not the only one with a broom handle to hold the boot open! I've spent quite a bit of time over the autumn on my 24v addressing various issues big and small. It's not a patch on yours in its appearance but a lot tidier than when I picked it up a few years ago. It's back to being a fun car to drive now there's not a giant hole in the sunroof letting the outside in! Thanks. Nice to read. I didn't realise you were a Probe fan dude. Sounds like you've done some good work on it. Any pics? As a Maxima owner, and previous owner of tons of Japanese tin, I've followed your Sapporo/Galant adventures with interest over the years. Have you still got the orange Sapporo and brown Corona? |
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CURRENT FLEET
'99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles)
'99 Alfa 166 (3 litre V6, 89k miles)
'01 Mini (#869)
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Nov 13, 2016 11:05:29 GMT
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Some lovely work has gone on here, it looks great  I drove a few of these back in the late 90s without ever giving them a second glance when I parked...but these days they've really grown on me. Very stylish cars. The first gen Probes had quite an effective security system it seems... |
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zx
Part of things
Posts: 235
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Nov 13, 2016 12:20:09 GMT
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On the road Probe:  Got lucky finding this one as it's my fave colour. First thing I did was fit a spoiler. Not had any MOT problems but I went digging this year and found some rot to address. The fibreglass sunroof took hours to get right and I'm still not chuffed with the final result. Begrudgingly accepted it's better than a waterfall and wet bum! I've got some later swirlies for it now. Almost finished Probe:  Tan leather like yours. Pretty tidy all round and I have a spoiler to fit. Lathered it in oily gunk so fingers crossed it will keep any rot away. Again it has holes in the sunroof and I'm debating what to do - fork out on another repro and be disappointed or try and repair an original one. Apparently this is a very rare colour. There's also a "Probe I will one day attend to" that 20 years ago was a shiny Rio red. The paint then fell off and it continues to whiten everyday. My instincts told me to take it home. History is vague but it appears to have covered 30,000 miles in its first 3 years and then vanished from the road. Underneath and in the arches it's clean enough to lick if you were so inclined. This lickability warranted its rescue and one day will be repainted. Don't hold me to when this day will be! The Sapp is still with me. The Corona has found a new home as I was starting to get a bit itchy over a few 90's cars I'd like to own before I'm priced out of them. |
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,513
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Nov 13, 2016 20:05:40 GMT
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Two unusual colours there. Long, early bump strips on the lighter one, whilst the darker one has the shorter, later ones.
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Last Edit: Nov 13, 2016 20:06:12 GMT by Geordie
CURRENT FLEET
'99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles)
'99 Alfa 166 (3 litre V6, 89k miles)
'01 Mini (#869)
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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Nice car. Looks great. I had an old one about a million years ago, but it was a bit junky. I've wanted another one for a while now. I'd like a V6 with a manual box, would be fun. Nice work on yours. |
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they where that bad a car , they sent them back here in n ireland to ford they couldn t give them away , they where so bad
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,513
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they where that bad a car , they sent them back here in n ireland to ford they couldn t give them away , they where so bad You know, I carried the 20+ year old reviews in my head, and thought they were bad too. Until I bought one and made up my own mind!! |
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CURRENT FLEET
'99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles)
'99 Alfa 166 (3 litre V6, 89k miles)
'01 Mini (#869)
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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andyw
North East
Posts: 238
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On the road Probe: Got lucky finding this one as it's my fave colour. First thing I did was fit a spoiler. Not had any MOT problems but I went digging this year and found some rot to address. The fibreglass sunroof took hours to get right and I'm still not chuffed with the final result. Begrudgingly accepted it's better than a waterfall and wet bum! I've got some later swirlies for it now. Almost finished Probe: Tan leather like yours. Pretty tidy all round and I have a spoiler to fit. Lathered it in oily gunk so fingers crossed it will keep any rot away. Again it has holes in the sunroof and I'm debating what to do - fork out on another repro and be disappointed or try and repair an original one. Apparently this is a very rare colour. There's also a "Probe I will one day attend to" that 20 years ago was a shiny Rio red. The paint then fell off and it continues to whiten everyday. My instincts told me to take it home. History is vague but it appears to have covered 30,000 miles in its first 3 years and then vanished from the road. Underneath and in the arches it's clean enough to lick if you were so inclined. This lickability warranted its rescue and one day will be repainted. Don't hold me to when this day will be! The Sapp is still with me. The Corona has found a new home as I was starting to get a bit itchy over a few 90's cars I'd like to own before I'm priced out of them. Seafoam and an Alpine Green. Very nice. Did you join UKPOC? If so what is your forum name on there? |
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zx
Part of things
Posts: 235
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Nov 14, 2016 14:43:05 GMT
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I'd never noticed the different bump stripes! They were registered 7 days apart but must have come over from the 'States at different times.
I'm on the UKPOC forum but not an overly active member.
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Geordie
North East
Course I'm out of my mind...........it's dark and scary in there!!
Posts: 2,513
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Dec 16, 2016 11:52:23 GMT
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CURRENT FLEET
'99 Ford Mondeo Ghia X (60k miles)
'99 Alfa 166 (3 litre V6, 89k miles)
'01 Mini (#869)
'06 Audi A6 (18 year old 'modern' daily)
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