I love it when someone does a full-tilt Pro Street build on a front-wheel-drive 1980s or 1990s car. I consider it justice for seeing these cars as rear-drive race cars in competition, but as a front-wheel-drive disappointment in real life. Dodge Daytonas, GM W- and N-body cars, and Fords like this 1993 Probe suddenly make the transition from a random throwback to suddenly purposeful, wicked machines that remind us of the cars we saw in NHRA Pro Stock. And in the case of the Probe, it even proves that the Mustang faithful were right to pressure Ford into keeping the pony car rear-wheel-drive, instead of allowing the nameplate to move to the front-wheel-drive platform that was shared with Mazda in 1989. The Probe wasn’t so much a bad car, it just wasn’t up our alley.
2.5 liters of Vulcan V6 was passable, if not interesting in 1993, but this is 2016, where even the OEMs are drunk on power. So out came every aspect of the Probe that wasn’t pleasant, like the front-wheel power unit, and in it’s place a 520 horsepower crate motor Ford 460 was installed, which should go to great lengths to shake the 2,800-ish pound Probe as it tools around town. That nitrous-enhanced big-block is backed with a beefed-up C6 automatic trans before heading out to the narrowed rear.
We have to admit that we’d never expect someone to retain the pure 1990s aqua paint color, but once you get past the go-fast mods, a lot of this Probe looks restored. With mileage claimed to be less than 10,000 on the odometer, chances are good that this Probe was kept clean instead of being restored to original. The interior is mostly stock and the builder refrained from adding more than was necessary. And yes, we are putting the Pro Stock-scoop into that category. If you shoved a 460 into a Probe, you’d need engine clearance room, too, and it reminds us of Bob Glidden’s Pro Stock Probe in execution, which is not a bad thing.
With only 500 or so miles on the car since the build was completed, we urge whoever goes after this Probe to do the right thing: take it out in public and let them experience the greatness that it can offer. Let the rumble of that mighty powerplant thrill onlookers. Don’t be afraid to take this Probe to the limit at the track. And please, whatever you do, keep this Probe cleaned. It’s well-built and has been well-loved, so take care of it and keep it clean.
eBay Link: 1993 Ford Probe
Message form Mrs Chevy Hatin’ Mad Geordie.
My husband has exploded looking at the picture of this car. After I’ve finished cleaning what’s left of him off my carpet I’m coming to the USA to give you naughty boys a good slapping…
Nice car but needs a LS transplant.
hell, that would slow it down better than a parachute
Very nice car!!
Please check your OE facts though. The 1993 model was the first year of the 2nd Generation Probe. The 2nd Gen Probe shared the same power train with the Mazda 626 and MX-6. The V-6 engine in the 2nd Gen was the Mazda KLDE, 2.5 L engine. All three cars were built at the same factory in Flat Rock, MI.
The Vulcan engine, 3.0L, was only available In the first Gen Probe and would not even fit under the engine hood of the 2nd Gen Probe.
Does this mean that Georgie will no longer annoy the rest of us on this site? Georgie is gone! There is a God!!!