Woody's Probe - It started with a brake line

[w00dy]

I have been an occasional lurker for a while, but after collecting a new motor which I found on the ebay thread, I thought I ought to introduce my cars.

 

 

First we have my '89 Ford probe GT Turbo. One of a handful that exist on UK roads which I've slightly modified to maximise the 80s JAP/US mixed flavours.

 

 

 

 

It lived in storage for a lot of its life and is therefore as nice as it looks in the photos. It's very much a Mazda in a different dress, but I love it.

 

 

And today I collected this

 

 

 

An Espace Quadra. It's pretty rough and needs a damn good scrub, but it drives well and has minimal rust. I'm already a big fan.

 

 

 

If anyone has any tips or advice on the Espace, I'm all ears. Never owned a Renault before despite having a lot of love for retro French cars.

[phil_lihp]

I had my eye on that Espace, it was only down the road from me.  Full review and many pictures please!

[rantingYoof]

Are these GT Turbo affairs pretty rapid then?

 

They sound wonderfully shite, I really want one...

 

[w00dy]

Top RIMZ on the Espace there.

 

I've never seen one of those Probes before but it looks the tits. Burgundy dashboard are door cards are a nice touch.... Whats the score with the vintage pop cans on the dash, just for show purposes?

Are these GT Turbo affairs pretty rapid then?

 

 

They're a great wheel.

 

 

The cans were just something I found on eBay one day and had to have. Not especially quick 2.2 12v Mazda F2T with 140-ish bhp a 180lb/ft of torque, but apparently a bit more can be had with a boost controller and a chip to stop the fuel cut, so i may have a fiddle.

[w00dy]

I had my eye on that Espace, it was only down the road from me.  Full review and many pictures please!

 

 

Will do. It drives well so far, but definitely struggles on full lock, which is probably a viscous coupling issue, which will be a pain. As you no doubt saw from the advert, it looks a little unloved, but a good clean should see it looking much better.

[nigel bickle]

Panhard 65 is your man, for Espace’s .

[bramz7]

Hello and welcome. I love that Probe, but I recently had a yank coupe burn me pretty hard, so I am staying away for good now.

Dial overload or what though....

[jcr]

Quality cars mate... love the wheels on that Espace. More photos inc?

[wuvvum]

I also had that Espace in my watch list.  Glad it's gone to a good home.

[w00dy]

Hello and welcome. I love that Probe, but I recently had a yank coupe burn me pretty hard, so I am staying away for good now.

Dial overload or what though....

 

It's about as Japanese as you can get for a US car really, even has a sticker on the door frame stating it was built by Mazda in the US.

 

I love plenty of dials. The alternator belt snapped and since I had the voltmeter right there to tell me I was able to get it a nice parking space before calling in for recovery.

 

Quality cars mate... love the wheels on that Espace. More photos inc?

 

I will get some this week once I've given it a bit of a clean.

 

 

I also had that Espace in my watch list.  Glad it's gone to a good home.

 

 

It was a terrible advert and the seller was slightly hard work, but I took a punt given the long MOT. I saw it and knew I'd have to have it.

[BorniteIdentity]

Hey Woody. Really enjoy your posts on PH; I found my 190 via the barge thread on there.

 

Welcome over to the dark side (!)

[spartacus]

I reckon in view of what you already owned and what you've just bought you'll fit in well here.

Seeing the words 'Probe' and 'Woody' at the top of the thread appeals to the school boy in me too, snigger.

[Skizzer]

Excellent. Welcome to AS. I have a soft spot for a mk1 Espace (a mk2 Matra Rancho, really) especially with those fabulous Quadra alloys. Great that it’s joined the family on here.

 

Probe GT Turbo is a new one on me but looks ace, like a 1984 concept car. Would.

[The Moog]

Skattard has got an espace to match yours.

 

Welcome and wow

[danthecapriman]

Love the Probe! That interior is something special too, what a lovely shade!

[w00dy]

Hey Woody. Really enjoy your posts on PH; I found my 190 via the barge thread on there.

 

Welcome over to the dark side (!)

 

 

Hi! Big fan of your Sierra as well as the Mercs!  Thought I'd finally achieved a garage that wouldn't be looked down upon here!

 

 

Thanks for the love. I will do my best to pass it on to the cars (no, not like that!)

 

Here's the Probe as I originally bought it.

 

 

 

 

And another recent shot

 

[vulgalour]

Not the Probe I was expecting (careful) and certainly not disappointed.  It's a strange thing, in a good way.

[cort1977]

Welcome, both great cars and look forward to seeing moar.

[stuboy]

1st time i seen one of these probes

[Guest Hooli]

My word what a collection of shite, you'll fit right in!

[w00dy]

Couple more Espace shots

 

 

Separate amplifier with Equalizer functions just about visible, Philips on board computer is suitably crummy.

 

 

 

This stalk has several functions controlled in many different ways.

 

 

[purplebargeken]

Wow! That stalk!!!

[brownnova]

What a great pair! Welcome along!

[phil_lihp]

Just superb.  If you decide to move the Espace along at some point, do let me know.  I reckon I could live with that quite nicely.

[Ghosty]

That isn't what I expected at all when I read Probe, looks bloody ace, shame we have to run front plates(!).

 

Quality selection you have - and they compliment each other oddly well, too.

[w00dy]

Just superb.  If you decide to move the Espace along at some point, do let me know.  I reckon I could live with that quite nicely.

 

I will let you know if I do. I'm hoping it'll stick around for a while, but I may need something bigger and it might not like doing some proper miles (its jst about to flip over to 90k on the clock, but who knows how accurate that is)

 

 

Here's a photo of the bad side of the Espace (not featured in the advert at all). The sweet* side exit was fitted by the mechanic that I bought it from. It has to go.

 

 

 

I was planning on a full (homemade) repaint, with a brighter central colour, but there's more good paint on it than I was expecting so I'll think on it. 

[SRi05]

I have been an occasional lurker for a while, but after collecting a new motor which I found on the ebay thread, I thought I ought to introduce my cars.

 

 

First we have my '89 Ford probe GT Turbo. One of a handful that exist on UK roads which I've slightly modified to maximise the 80s JAP/US mixed flavours.

 

 

 

 

It lived in storage for a lot of its life and is therefore as nice as it looks in the photos. It's very much a Mazda in a different dress, but I love it.

 

I'd probe that, phwoar

[phil_lihp]

I will let you know if I do. I'm hoping it'll stick around for a while, but I may need something bigger and it might not like doing some proper miles (its jst about to flip over to 90k on the clock, but who knows how accurate that is)

 

 

Here's a photo of the bad side of the Espace (not featured in the advert at all). The sweet* side exit was fitted by the mechanic that I bought it from. It has to go.

 

 

 

I was planning on a full (homemade) repaint, with a brighter central colour, but there's more good paint on it than I was expecting so I'll think on it. 

 

Doesn't look too bad - I quite like the shabby chic look of worn paintwork, it's honest!

[w00dy]

So, after 2 days without any catastrophic electrical failure, the Espace won't start and there's no spark nor anything coming from the coil. New coil time? ECP have one for about £30 made by BBT, any good?

[danthecapriman]

I'd probe that, phwoar