SHO Off:1992 Ford Taurus SHO
Ford Exec’s circa 1984: “Man…other than the Mustang our line up is B-O-R-I-N-G!!! We need to have some fun with a sedan, throw some smack down on them-der Germans ya know. Screw the Europeans…let’s get a Japanese company to massage us a proper engine for shits & giggles!” Find this 1992 Ford Taurus SHO for sale in Scottsbluff, NE for $3,000 via craigslist.
Yup, the idea all started in 1984 when Ford signed a secret agreement with Yamaha to build a high output version of their new compact Vulcan engine. It’s muddy as to why the project was started, some believe the engine was originally developed for a mid-engine prototype code named GN34, and some believe it was intended all along for the Taurus FWD platform being developed. Regardless, once the SVT team at Ford got their hands on it the SHO Taurus was born.
Production began in 1989 and was intended as a one year limited edition model. Sales blew the doors off Ford’s projections and production would continue for 10 years. Ford brought back the SHO again for one year in 2010. Originally, SHO’s could only be had with a 5-speed manual until 1993 when an AT option was introduced to boost sales. Ford had carved out a niche in the sporty sedan market and wanted to keep the streak going.
This example is claimed to have an unbelievably-low 82K miles from new. The exterior looks good but Earl Sheib was flogging cheap re-sprays during this era and many a family sedan went through the paint wash booth. Being as a dealer posted the ad, it is possible the car was sparing used and traded in on something a little younger.
While the outside pictures look good, pictures of the inside are poorly taken. Not quite sure what the heck is all over the speedo glass, did someone sneeze right before snapping the pic? Although weary of the low mileage claim, if it turned out true the 3K ask could be good value for the sum of the parts.
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In 1981 I drove one of these puppies at the Ford dealer in Cottage Grove, Oregon. They were the only dealer who had one for sale. My experience started out kinda ho hum on the small town city streets. Once we hit the entrance ramp on I-5…weeeeehaaaaa baby, it was thunder road, Woodward Avenue, moonshiney fun. Until the salesman said, something like, "uh, Mr. Katz, you might want to slow down a tad."