Ford projected the EXP to sell 200,000 in its debut model year, but it could only get half of that number out the door. The vehicle failed to achieve its intended purpose of being a fuel-efficient alternative to the ever-popular Mustang. Its struggle to tap into the market could have been due to there already being too many other choices in the same category, like the beloved Toyota MR2. However, Ford did not give up on the EXP after its initial failure.
A turbo model was introduced in 1964 with a fuel-injected 1.6-liter engine producing 120 horsepower. This gave it a 0-60mph time of around nine seconds. Additionally, it featured some trim adjustments, such as a spoiler and turbo badging, alongside TRX tires.
However, it wasn’t enough, as Ford discontinued the EXP in 1988. The vehicle did have a second lease on life on the drag strip. Bob Glidden famously supped up an EXP for drag racing. The vehicle was popular on the strip due to its aerodynamic design and compact size.
For everyone else, the EXP wasn’t seen as something to keep around as a collector’s item. As a result, it’s hard to find one in working condition today. It can be argued that the EXP is a case of Ford’s misunderstanding of what the public wanted. Its failure could also be due to the car looking flashy but not having the power to match.
