The Ford Taurus SHO is one of the predominant sports sedans to come from the U.S. in the 1990s, and it’s also a bit of a sleeper in the emerging class of collector cars from that same time period. Ironically, despite its impressive performance credentials, it remains one of the more affordable 90s classics you can buy, and if nothing else, it represents an awful lot of performance for your dollar. The SHO shown here is a desirable second-generation model with the preferred 5-speed manual and it has been with the same owner since 2000.
The second-generation SHO corrected some of the shortcomings of the first-generation model, which were thankfully fairly minor. When the iconic SHO rolled into showrooms, it looked little bit too much like the standard Taurus for some car shoppers, so Ford redesigned the next iteration to stand apart from the bread-and-butter mid-size sedan. This included a revised front fascia, additional body cladding, and a rear spoiler. What made the SHO inherently distinctive, however, was its Yamaha-sourced, 3.0L V6 engine, which produced a healthy 220 b.h.p. The interior of this example is in fine shape, and of course, it has the desirable manual transmission. Don’t expect Recaros and alcantara, however – this is your standard Taurus cockpit outside of the gearbox.
The collaboration with Yamaha was a brilliant move on Ford’s part, allowing the company to put a stillborn motor to good use. Ford had worked with Yamaha on developing a high-performance version of its workhorse Vulcan V6 but with the original project DOA, the boys at the blue oval were sitting on engines that needed a home. Unlike the heavily sanitized version of today’s auto industry, the engineers were able to get the engines appropriated for use in the Taurus, thus creating the Super High Output – or SHO – version of the company’s big selling family sedan. The intake runners remain a work of art and the rev-happy nature of the Yamaha-designed mill changed the very nature of the iconic Taurus.
So many of these SHOs have succumbed to years of cheap owners chasing cheap thrills that it’s hard to find a car worth buying. The engines do require a fairly intensive service at around 60K miles, and many of them have gone without this crucial investment in maintenance. The bulk of the cars I see for sale have not been cared for, so finding one that’s been with the sale owner since 2000 is a treat. The fact that it’s also seemingly been looked after is an added bonus, and the hunter green paint is as period-correct as it gets for a 90s hot rod like this SHO, which is listed here on eBay where bids sit at $2,550 with no reserve.
Good write-up Jeff. We reviewed another green SHO with similar miles in similar condition a week ago. The theme of the comments was that it wasn’t a bulletproof car (it was a bread and butter Taurus underneath), and the engine needs maintenance, but the outstanding engine performance covered the ills. That would also be the summary statement for me and my black 1992 5-speed.
I agree, as a fun car for not much money, these are hard to beat. And finding one in good condition isn’t easy.
I enjoyed reading others’ experiences with the SHO, chime in….
Bob, my buddy lost a light to light drag race in his LX 5.0 one time. He wasn’t alert and, never caught the SHOgun 😲 🚥 Thats when we learned about how quick they were. Screaming V6 & 5sp. 😱
When the first Taurus SHO – one not already sold, I suppose – showed up on the lot in 1989, my friend and I went to B. Miller Ford in Boone to have a look. We were 17 or 18, and we took neighbor who was maybe 12 . We just wanted to look at the car. The paint was probably called silver titanium, or something similar, seems like the interior was black leather. Sales dude must’ve liked driving it, because we didn’t exactly have ready-to-buy vibe going. He loaded us up, fired the engine, and wound it through the gears around the neighborhood street above the shop. I thought it was pretty awesome – I’d love to have been able to own one. Never came close, but I once drove a friend’s’95 SHO, same color as the featured car, same interior – Band-Aid Taupe, apparently. I swapped my ‘91 MR-2 with him for the drive to eat after work – the Taurus was the more interesting and refined experience. I wish more SHOs were still around.
Was offered a Taurus as a company car back in my working days. Was told to pick one off the local lot, but when I suggested this, I got a big fat no! So cruel! This engine should have been offered in a more sporty car.
The interesting thing is that the 3 liter DOHC v6 non turbo motor in the Mits 3000gt puts out almost identical HP & torque, tho the SHO motor visually looks more exotic.
Mitsu is a lighter car too I bet.
This is an era customers looked to europe for lux+sport.
Ford tried w/the (dwn szed) fox bodied LTD-LX (a 1/2 yr?
or yr’n a half?). This was the follow on when changing to “coke bottle” (they called them) platform’n styling. The tarus/mystek (was it for Merc?) was a world beater in sales. In some ways others copied that style till today (many are the same but w/huge grill).
I’d buy it then or now over what it was made to challenge (beemer, etc).
I loved my ’91 that I bought after reading the Car & Driver a few years earlier (Dec 88, Csaba Csere) with cover:
“America’s Best Sedan!
220 hp, 143 mph, $20,000.”
Kept this issue here… but not the car, unfortunately.
Joined SHO Registry Club in Atlanta and we rented track time at Little Talledega Racetrack, Alabama … murderous motorcycle track (look it up).
No car I have ever owned pulled hard to 7,000rpms blast to 100mph+ on straights and could handle a tight, bike track with 180 degree turns.
Ownership history is so important – this one has it.
At the time (1989) when the SHO came out I found with mine that it met the claim on Car & Driver’s article (pg 36):
“The fastest four door sedan you can buy for $50,000.”
This is worth looking into if you are a true enthusiast and caregiver willing to do b the maintenance.
Not a fan of the Band-Aid colored interior, but these were a great offering from Ford with the 5-speed. The supercharged 3800 V6-powered GM front drive sedans offered around this time were a similar concept that might be a better alternative if you can find one.
Jeez, did no one read the end of that ad? Your going to put 5 grand in that car MINIMUM before you can enjoy it without the engine shaking apart and blowing whole top half off and destroying the bottom. Also, why not say the air doesn’t work other than you have to convert it to make it work. Watch this,,, the air doesn’t work. Easy nough.
Yes nice car, love the sho’s but your going to put a chunk of money in this BEFORE its road ready.
had two hard to find parts greatcar
I’m still chuckling about his comment about the “secondaries kicking in” as if it’s a 4-bbl-carbureted engine. Perhaps he’s referring to the variable length intake runners.
Had one in midnight blue back in the day. Loved that car. On my way to the dealer to have $2,200 worth of service work done on it I got T boned in an accident at 60 mph. I’m still trying to decide if fate had that car save my life or save my wallet………..
If yours was headed down the road that mine was, then maybe the accident saved you some $$. Mine nickel and dimed me to death, to the tune of at least $300 a month!
SOLD for $2,600.
For the minor issues that the seller mentions, this looks to be a great deal. Hopefully nothing major breaks right away, or you get into a minor fender bender because the insurance company will total it.
Mine was a ’91 – loaded with same color interior and sleeper metallic tan exterior. It was fun while it lasted.