---
title: "Historic Ford Ghia Probe Concept Scorched In Trailer Fire After Monterey Appearance"
description: "This historic Ford design was once a forecast of a futuristic 1980s. Now, it's a charred steel frame in a trailer."
date: "2024-08-19"
modified: "2024-08-19"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/historic-ford-ghia-probe-concept-scorched-in-trailer-fire-after-monterey-appearance"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "concept car"
  - "Coupe"
  - "fire"
  - "Ford"
  - "Ghia"
---

# Historic Ford Ghia Probe Concept Scorched In Trailer Fire After Monterey Appearance

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Snapinsta.app_456264110_421359197586717_8968596839276597749_n_1080.jpg>)
*\<em\>@scottgrundforcompany on Instagram\</em\>*

The one and only 1979 Ford Ghia Probe I concept car is no more after a trailer fire following Monterey Car Week. The historic Ford's owners hope the car can be restored, but it's a long shot for a one-of-one concept that's 45 years old.

The Ford Ghia Probe I was the first in [a series of Probe concepts](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/40700/the-aerodynamic-1981-ford-probe-iii-concept-changed-american-cars-forever>) dating back to 1979. According to [*Motortrend*](<https://www.motortrend.com/news/1979-ford-probe-1-concept-car-fire-monterey-car-week/>), it meant to preview commuter cars of the 1980s, with an aerodynamic body and heavy digitization—it even had keycard entry. The Probe name eventually came to adorn [a captive import Mazda MX-6](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31004/recharged-ford-probe-is-the-most-quirky-electric-car-conversion-yet>), which [Ford](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/ford-news>) briefly considered replacing the [Mustang](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/ford-has-secretly-shown-a-mustang-sedan-to-dealers-report>) with. In 2002, the Ghia Probe I was bought by a California car restoration firm called the [Scott Grundfor Company](<https://www.instagram.com/p/C-24tdYvinI/?img_index=1>), which displayed the car at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Unfortunately, it may have been the Ghia Probe's last outing.

![The 1979 Ford Ghia Probe I during and after the trailer fire that destroyed it](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Snapinsta.app_456328880_1025761768946084_7964887511946935757_n_1080.jpg>)

![The 1979 Ford Ghia Probe I during and after the trailer fire that destroyed it](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Snapinsta.app_456242576_523700180118895_4707149941694467980_n_1080.jpg>)

![The 1979 Ford Ghia Probe I during and after the trailer fire that destroyed it](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Snapinsta.app_456311405_3836366666642824_8612634912011340862_n_1080.jpg>)

![The 1979 Ford Ghia Probe I during and after the trailer fire that destroyed it](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Snapinsta.app_456196863_487043580942923_7549477265925714717_n_1080.jpg>)

> [View this post on Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/p/C-22du4JZYA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading>)

> [A post shared by Supercar Fails (@supercar.fails)](<https://www.instagram.com/p/C-22du4JZYA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading>)

On its way back from the week's events on Sunday, a car passing the truck towing the Ghia Probe alerted its driver to smoke coming from the trailer. The truck slowed and was detached from the Probe's trailer, though [*KSBW 8*](<https://www.ksbw.com/article/1-million-vehicle-destroyed-california-fire-monterey/61916914>) indicates it took slight fire damage and that one firefighter was injured. But the Probe? Up in smoke, burned to a husk, and the trailer with it.

The Grundfor Company reportedly says they hope the Probe can be restored to rejoin its later brethren, the Probe IV and V concepts, which Grundfor also owns. But it was understandably noncommittal about rebuilding the car from scratch, as much of its construction was one-off work from decades ago. It'd be the project of a lifetime to resurrect what remains of the 1979 Ford Ghia Probe I, and it's hard to say if there's anyone other than [Ford](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/ford-reviews>) capable of taking it on.

*Got a tip or question for the author? You can reach them here: james@thedrive.com*

## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)