Ever hear that phrase, “rare does not mean valuable”? If you have, then either you spend way too much time in antique stores or you like weird rolling stock like I do. Just because there are only a few left, or there were only a few made, doesn’t mean that people want them, cherish them, or care that they are disappearing. Only the die-hard fans are the ones who will mourn their loss when the last ones return to the Earth as rust flakes.
The Ford EXP was one of the first cars I remember knowing by sight as a little kid. From the front, it was an automotive frog. From the back, it was a sporty little coupe. And growing up in Colorado Springs, they were like automotive fleas…everywhere, yet unwanted, it seems. Ford had good intentions when the EXP and it’s Mercury twin, the LN7, were introduced: sporty front-drivers that gave good fuel economy. Guess which one they actually excelled at? Fuel economy…sporty isn’t the word I’d use for a 80-horsepower car that’s bigger than an original Mini. Throughout production, Ford did bump power up, peaking at 120 horsepower with the first-generation Turbo versions. At least it had independent suspension at all four corners and a relatively light weight. And this particular model had one other, major feature added: a chopped top. Commissioned by Ford as one of eight cars sent to Dynamic Conversions for beheading (presumably for a case study or possible pre-production testing), this EXP has managed to survive thirty-four years without folding into a pile of twisted metal, rusting to nothing, or any of the other maladies that these little two-seaters endured.
For that alone, the car deserves a second chance, and we have just the idea for it: that stupid little nagging “Pro Commuter” build in my head. It’s strange to say, but the EXP looks better topless than it did with the fixed roof, so other than a cleanup and visual restoration, we wouldn’t change the outside looks…ok, maybe some larger wheels and tires to clear some better brakes would be in order. No, we’d look straight to the engine bay. That rinky-dink 1.6L four and four-speed can hit the dumpster in favor of the drivetrain from a Ford Fiesta ST: 1.5L, turbochared four-banger, six-speed transaxle, 197 horsepower and 202 ft/lbs of torque. In the heavier Fiesta, that means a 15.2 quarter mile. In a droptop EXP, that means a throwback freakshow that will perform well enough for daily use without too much hackery, and will return excellent mileage if you can behave yourself. That would add to the value…or, at least, give the car another reprieve.
Craigslist Link: 1982 Ford EXP convertible conversion by Dynamic Conversions (#002/8)
(via Malaise Motors)
Why is it that most convertibles look like shit with the hood up?
Either way this would look a bit better with larger wider wheels and a lowering job to go with that Ecoboost swap. Or there again its to fugly for words – I guess the jury’s out on this one.
Usually, how it looks with the top up was an afterthought and the stylists just wanted to be sure the top can, in fact, stay on. I’m not sure if this looks better as a convertible; the bubble tail fastback makes the back look as ridiculously ’80s as the front.
I’ve been thinking an EXP might be amusing with a drivetrain swap too; not sure if I’d try swapping an Ecoboost or simply a Focus SVT motor.
Crush it man, just crush it.
I know all about race not meaning valuable… my 61 Meteor wagon and a few of my other cars exemplify that.
I think that EXP would be worth saving, the 197hp may be perfectly adequate but the SVT one would make for a whole lot of fun.
Hmmm,
Like a friend of mine says,
“Some cars are rare because they were expensive..”
“Some cars are rare because they were limited/part year production…”
“Some cars are rare because nobody wanted them…”
Not even Bob Glidden could make one of those look good ;^) My recollection is that they weren’t popular when they were new. They were odd looking. I would agree that a convertible version should be saved for posterity, just to show that they were actually made (this one is the first I’ve ever seen). But IMHO, they’ll never be desirable or particularly valuable.
“Glidden chased Lee Shepherd for the 1980 Winston title all season, leading the points standing only after the final race.[4] He won his fifth overall and third straight championship at the final event. He caught a break when Shepherd broke his transmission in the second round. Glidden set the low e.t. and top speed in his final round win to earn the maximum points and the season championship.Shepherd won the 1981 to 1984 Pro Stock championships. When NHRA went to its new 500 c.i. limit in ’82.Bob was caught off guard.He was having chassis builder Don Hardy building a new EXP for the season and was planning on running a 351 Cleveland engine in the car.With the new rules he was forced to use the big Boss 429 Ford engine in the short wheelbase car.The results were as Glidden put it,”the worst handling race car he ever drove”.He went on to state that it drove like a fuel altered.In spite of this,he still won one event,the NHRA Springnationals,and was runner-up in another three events.After that season,both he and Ford teammate Rickie Smith debuted new Thunderbirds at the 1983 season opening”
Just my .02
I have never heard of the EXP before. I think it needs the Euro Focus RS motor, trans, diff, brake, and suspension swap.
They were built with the suspension parts of 1970’s Euro Carpi, and Escort. Very nice for the time but it doesn’t handle half as good as a 1st gen Fusion. The rear end loves to slide out around hot turns making it awefully fun and more “sporty” than they appeared to be.
I looked at this very car this morning, floors are rotted out and the carpet is soaked due to the top not keeping out the elements. Has not run for a couple of years, no clue on condition of engine,trans, etc.
I am the new owner of this car. The article says it’s “not a pile of rust”, kind of… it was undercoated many years ago but it had scraped a few things under it and water eventually collected inside. The floor pans need complete replacing. It hasn’t been started in the last 2+ years until the past weekend when we got it home and it fired up like a new car. It will get a complete restoration like my blue 1982 EXP and both will eventually get a newer ford engine with 165+ HP so it has the power-to-weight of a new Mustang GT. When I replace the rotted seat mounts, tires, and brakes I’ll see how it drives on the road.