Ford/Ghia concept car catches fire during transport

Imagine Driving this car to the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, mingling with fans and other priceless cars, only to have your dream car burn up before you get home, sounds like a nightmare, right? That’s what happened a few days ago in Monterey, California.

If you think I wish Marmon hadn’t sacrificed himself! You can relax at the thought, but the truth is just as pleasant: The 1979 Ford Probe I Ghia concept car that once graced the auto show’s wedge-shaped display of concepts and prototypes no longer exists.

The Probe I was a collaboration between Ford and Ghia that explored aerodynamics while adopting the then-popular wedge-shaped design. With skirted rear wheels, a prominent greenhouse, and turbo four-cylinder power, the Probe I was a nod to the post-Embargo era’s need for fuel efficiency, and a fast aerodynamic design to meet those needs.

Ford claims the Probe I is “a typical car of the late 1980s or later,” with an estimated 39 mpg at “steady-state driving at 55 mph.” The three-door hatchback, which debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show, has a 105.1-inch wheelbase and an aerodynamic drag rating of 0.25. The four-passenger interior “has a modern living room feel” and features a retractable instrument panel that coordinates with the opening and closing of the doors. “The headrests are fully functional and electrically controlled.” The 188.5-inch body is made of composite panels and weighs 2,750 pounds.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of our 1979 Ford Ghia Probe I prototype in an accident on the Monterey Freeway late Sunday after being shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance,” the company said in a statement on Instagram, along with the above photo. “We are extremely grateful that the team member who was operating the tow truck at the time of the accident was not injured and his quick actions prevented this tragedy from spreading into the local woods and of course others who were traveling on the Monterey Freeway at the time.”