Project ST - History Lessons: #24 - Ford EXP

[chapel]

As some of you know, I'm working with fifteen52, Ken Block, and Ford on their Project ST campaign. The project is all about pumping up the new Focus ST in North America, but we're also out to elevate and educate people on some of the serious small performance cars Ford has been offering overseas and some lesser known domestic ones for years and linking that pedigree back to the new 2013 Ford Focus ST. And that's where I come in.

This existed! The Ford EXP

Read More - http://http://www.fifteen52.us/project-st/history-lessons-24-ford-exp/

[Kev-Mo]

I had one of those!

1983 EXP Metallic gun barrel blue hatchback.

1.6l with manual transmission. Performance was fine for that era. Had a sunroof that you actually removed, slipped into a vinyl case and it strapped down to the floor in the back.

 

It was actually a very good little car. I remember having to nurse it home from the old Giants Stadium (I was born and raised in NJ but transplanted to CO, and yes I am now a Broncos fan) one night after a game - turned out to be a carburator problem that was common and was fixed in a snap. I have no regrets owning that car -it was unique and good looking in its day. Got stuck in the snow once in VT on a ski trip. Forever swore I would own 4x4 trucks after that so I sold it and bought a brand new 1986 Ranger STX - have owned Ford Trucks and SUVs since. Now I ski in Colorado instead of the Northeast - life evolves in many ways!

Edited September 20, 2013 by Kev-Mo

[StevenCaylor]

I remember looking at both the Lynx RS and the LN7 back in 1983. With similar equipment, the LN7 was over 100 lbs heavier (with a much smaller back seat), so ordered the RS with the 88 hp EFI engine, 5-speed, manual steering and the aluminum TRX wheels. I was looking for the lightest, quickest and most fuel efficient Lynx available. I remember doing a FE run after it was broken in. I was able to drive from Inglewood (near LAX) to Hearst's Castle and back on one tank of gas (a bit over 500 miles round trip). With the optional extended range fuel tank, it turned out to get 39 mpg on the highway. I remember it being tested in the mags with a 0-60 time of 11.3 seconds.

 

The RS that I had was black on black.

Edited September 20, 2013 by StevenCaylor

[atomcat68]

I had a 1987 red EXP. Before my Mustang, that car had the record for the longest amount of time I owned a car at 7 years, one month. The Mustang is now at 8 years 5 months.

[ZanatWork]

I actually liked the bubble-back turbo models, thought they were sharp as hell at the time...and nowadays, I think what a 1.6 EB drivetrain could do in one of those, along with some brake and tire upgrades...!

[2b2]

I didn't proofread the whole article but think this passage is all off time-wise:

"...and the 2013 Ford Fusion we’ll be seeing here is very much the same as the new Mondeo seen throughout the rest of the world..."

 

 

 

 

 

[Mark B. Morrow]

My first brand new car was an '82 EXP 1.6 5-speed with the TRX tires/wheels. It was dark gray metallic with a white vinyl/gray cloth interior. The EXP replaced my '69 Olds 442 that was killing me on gas. The EXP was a fun car and I autocrossed it with a few wins at the University of South Florida Sports Car Club Series. The only down side to it was the cost of replacing the TRX tires. Nothing else would fit the wheels so i was stuck with paying around $80 per tire as they wore down from the autocross events. They weren't worth much in the rain either.

 

I had planned to get a Mustang GT but the Mustangs weren't available until late in the year ( I think October) and i was leaving to go back to USF in August. I had looked at a used '79 Mustang Pace car but it was the turbo 4 and kind of beat. I wanted the HO 5.0 Mustang. My grandfather had a friend who was a local Ford dealer so i got a really good deal on the EXP.

 

I kept the car until the spring of '84 when I traded it for an '84 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z. The funny thing is that I looked at a 25th Anniversary Mustang before the Daytona, but they would not make a deal on the EXP as a trade.

[silvrsvt]

I actually liked the bubble-back turbo models, thought they were sharp as hell at the time...and nowadays, I think what a 1.6 EB drivetrain could do in one of those, along with some brake and tire upgrades...!

 

 

I think the chassis would need some re-enforcement...heck with the 105 HP Escort GT I had, it had flex with just that...and the rear shock towers liked to rot out!

[Treadhead]

My first brand new car was an '86 EXP! I just graduated from basic training at Ft Knox and had a whole week of leave before reporting to Ft Hood with no car. Luckily I had a nice $4,000 bonus check in my pocket. I wanted the Escort Gt but, there was not a single one to be found in the surrounding states. I loved this thing and drove the heck out of it for five years. Actually piled seven of my platoon mates in it to get them back to the fort one night after their ride left them.

 

[atomcat68]

My first brand new car was an '86 EXP! I just graduated from basic training at Ft Knox and had a whole week of leave before reporting to Ft Hood with no car. Luckily I had a nice $4,000 bonus check in my pocket. I wanted the Escort Gt but, there was not a single one to be found in the surrounding states. I loved this thing and drove the heck out of it for five years. Actually piled seven of my platoon mates in it to get them back to the fort one night after their ride left them.

Mine looked like that except for the pinstripes. It was my first new car too.

[chapel]

I didn't proofread the whole article but think this passage is all off time-wise:

"...and the 2013 Ford Fusion we’ll be seeing here is very much the same as the new Mondeo seen throughout the rest of the world..."

 

 

 

good catch. The boilerplate we use was made last year.

[silvrsvt]

Actually piled seven of my platoon mates in it to get them back to the fort one night after their ride left them.

 

When I was in High School, in my senior year, during finals, a friend and I went up to the local convenience store down the street. When we got there, there was a bunch of cute Freshmen and Sophomore girls up there...we winded up putting them 3 deep in back seat of my Escort GT to give them a ride back to school...I'm surprised I didn't blow the clutch out doing that!!!

[Treadhead]

When I was in High School, in my senior year, during finals, a friend and I went up to the local convenience store down the street. When we got there, there was a bunch of cute Freshmen and Sophomore girls up there...we winded up putting them 3 deep in back seat of my Escort GT to give them a ride back to school...I'm surprised I didn't blow the clutch out doing that!!!

 

LoL, impressive!

[grbeck]

The 1986 and later models, with the "aero" headlights, restyled front and rear bumpers, bigger wheels and revised dashboard, look good today. Ford also improved the drivetrains of these later models. I wouldn't mind having one today - they offer distinctive styling, handy size, a large cargo area and decent performance.

 

I never cared for the original "frog-eye" models. Suggesting that the first EXPs were continuing the tradition of the two-seat Thunderbirds, as Ford initially tried to do, was quite a stretch.

[chapel]

one size fits all

[RichardJensen]

I liked the frog-eye models because they stood out.

 

Of course, I was like eight at the time, so................

[RichardJensen]

 

Check out that old-school doubly unadjusted HWY mileage.... The tests used to generate these numbers? Still used to determine CAFE compliance.

 

 

 

Also, "Sassy"........ When was the last time that was used in a car advertisement?

[Anthony]

I loved the redesigned EXPs (aero). Great looking cars. I always wanted one, but settled on an '86 Escort GT.

[atomcat68]

 

Check out that old-school doubly unadjusted HWY mileage.... The tests used to generate these numbers? Still used to determine CAFE compliance.

 

 

 

Also, "Sassy"........ When was the last time that was used in a car advertisement?

Actually, I did get 44 mpg highway when I drove it to FL from Boston. That car made it to Baltimore and it still had more than a quarter tank of gas. These cars only weighed 2,275 lbs!

[RichardJensen]

Actually, I did get 44 mpg highway when I drove it to FL from Boston. That car made it to Baltimore and it still had more than a quarter tank of gas. These cars only weighed 2,275 lbs!

 

And they were *Sassy*.

[ZanatWork]

I thought they were distinctive, especially with the bubble-hatch. I similarly liked '83-86 Capris more than Mustangs for the same reason, plus I liked the nose treatment on the RS.

These cars were on the Ford lot as I was hitting adolescence, and 200 hp was serious business back then. Nowadays, the EXP Turbo's power is barely acceptable for a stock Fiesta.

[silvrsvt]

I loved the redesigned EXPs (aero). Great looking cars. I always wanted one, but settled on an '86 Escort GT.

 

Good choice! what color? I had my dad's pumpkin red Escort GT...horrible paint...oxidized like a MoFo...was in dark days before Clear coat became popular.

 

These cars were on the Ford lot as I was hitting adolescence, and 200 hp was serious business back then. Nowadays, the EXP Turbo's power is barely acceptable for a stock Fiesta.

 

The Fiesta is a bigger car then the EXP (outside of the length)....and weighs about 2600 lbs, where as the EXP weighed in about 2000lbs or so (at least thats what Wikipedia tells me, I should check my 1986 Escort GT sticker I still have LOL)

[Anthony]

Good choice! what color? I had my dad's pumpkin red Escort GT...horrible paint...oxidized like a MoFo...was in dark days before Clear coat became popular.

 

Yup, it was that red! And half the time it looked pink because of the horrible oxidation. Loved that car though.

 

This isn't the car, but it looked just like this:

 

[grbeck]

I thought they were distinctive, especially with the bubble-hatch. I similarly liked '83-86 Capris more than Mustangs for the same reason, plus I liked the nose treatment on the RS.

 

These cars were on the Ford lot as I was hitting adolescence, and 200 hp was serious business back then. Nowadays, the EXP Turbo's power is barely acceptable for a stock Fiesta.

If I recall correctly, the 500 cubic inch V-8s used by Cadillac through 1976 were barely putting out 200 horsepower (if that) after 1973.

 

My parents had a 1976 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale Holiday sedan with the "Rocket" 350 V-8, and it was a slug. A reliable slug, but still a slug.

[silvrsvt]

Yup, it was that red! And half the time it looked pink because of the horrible oxidation. Loved that car though.

 

This isn't the car, but it looked just like this:

 

 

 

Yep...I had to compound out the car once a year too!

 

Here's mine