The world is now without another beautiful concept car, following a fire after this year’s Monterey Car Week which claimed this one-off Ford.
Owned by the Scott Grundfor Company, the 1979 Ford Ghia Probe I Prototype was being transported back to the firm’s home base when a fire broke out in the enclosed trailer carrying it.
While the occupant of the tow vehicle emerged unscathed, the Ford was destroyed by the fire.
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“It is with utter sadness and a heavy heart that we have lost our 1979 Ford Ghia Probe I Prototype in an accident on the highway late in the day on Sunday after showing the car at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance,” the company posted on Instagram.
“We are a family oriented company, and it feels like we have lost a member of our family today. We are incredibly grateful that our team member driving the trailer at the time this accident occurred was unharmed, and his immediate action prevented this tragic loss of our car from spreading to local foliage and of course to other people who were driving on the highway in Monterey at the time.”
Designed by Ford’s chief designer Don F. Kopka in partnership with Italian design house Carrozzeria Ghia, the Probe I Prototype was underpinned by the ‘Fox’ platform which was also used in the Mustang from the late 1970s.
Credit: Scott Grundfor Company
It was revealed at the 1979 Frankfurt motor show, though never had true influence on a production model, despite Ford later using the Probe name on its Mazda MX-6 based coupe.
Ford owned the concept until 2002, at which point the Scott Grundfor Company became its custodian.
Current Ford CEO Jim Farley offered words of support to the business online, saying “Our hearts are heavy, too. A beautiful car and a piece of Ford history. Thankful everyone is safe. Thinking of you all.”
