As someone who obtained his driver’s license in the 1990s, the cars and trucks from this era are permanently stitched into my memory bank. After all, every day was spent observing vehicles you could very well be driving some day, and you had your list of vehicles you’d absolutely love to own and ones you didn’t want to be seen in, dead or alive. The Ford Taurus was the dominant family car, right up there with the Toyota Camry as a vehicle you didn’t want to own, but you would begrudgingly accept if your parents let you use it. The second-generation model is one I used to see everywhere, making this low-mileage survivor listed here on craigslist for $3,950 a welcome flashback.
Truth be told, I miss seeing this era of Taurus on the road. We used a wagon version to move my brother down to college, and I can still recall sitting in the third-row rear facing seat staring at oncoming traffic (I don’t think as a parent today I’d let my own kids do that given the current state of driving in America.) The clean lines of the Taurus’ second act represented a smart evolution from the smash hit first-generation model, which was a big reason why the next era “jellybean” design failed so hard – consumers weren’t expecting it after the Taurus shown here, which was like sliding into a new set of moccasins that were the same model you’ve bought from L.L. Bean for the last decade.
The seller hits on the fact that this Taurus is nothing fancy, and certainly not luxurious. This is truly a base model, even down to having crank windows. He claims it to be senior-owned with just 51,000 miles on the clock, but this is such a base spec I’m surprised to learn it wasn’t owned by a municipality as a fleet vehicle. Regardless, this was basic, reliable transportation, a demographic that sadly doesn’t exist in the automotive world anymore, since we need 16 airbags and three touchscreens in every new vehicle no matter if it’s an “economy” car or a luxury model. The interior is in fine shape, but the carpets would benefit from steam cleaning.
The second-generation Taurus is the model that managed to topple the Accord as the best-seller in its class, owning to its smart evolution, modern design, and packaging that appealed to families. As much I was partially joking about this Taurus being owned by a small town in the Midwest, fleet sales were a huge part of its success, and why you saw so many of these sitting in rental lots across the nation. The 3.8L V6 wasn’t thrilling but it was reliable and cheap to run, offering 140 horsepower and a healthy amount of torque, clocking in at 215 lb.-ft. Even today, this clean 1993 Taurus would make for an excellent first car or commuter. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the find.
Excellent write-up Jeff, especially the analysis of the Taurus being the absolute center of the automotive market at this time. Enthusiasts like us might snub our noses at them (then and today), but they were a very important car in their day, and Ford sold a bazillion of them. As you note, fleet sales– a segment of the market typically dismissed as unexciting– was an important component. Interesting how this market segment (affordable non-descript mid-size sedan) has largely disappeared.
This looks like a fine survivor. It even is white, and has crank windows. “Just a used car” price.
Brings back memories of four Taurus company cars that I drove in that time frame. While this one is indeed very basic, the 3.8 v6 was an option as the 3.0 Vulcan v6 was standard.
What a great deal on this Taurus. These cars were great, as we owned several of them in the 90s. We never had even the slightest problem with any of them. My son tried to kill two of them but couldn’t; that right there tells you how well- made the Taurus was.
How much does a new Hyundai or a Kia cost nowadays? 15K? 20? For 4K you could drive this Taurus for the next 10 years I am sure. And you could put a collector plate on it! Winning!
Rex, just within the last week I saw an article that Nissan was stopping production of the Versa, due to low sales (and, I’m sure, little profit in the sales that did occur). The article noted that it was the last new vehicle in the US for less than $20k sticker price.
A collector plate on a garden variety Taurus, that’s a fun thought.
The Versa is also the last cheap base 5 speed car. Most other manuals are now only offered in higher or sport trims. End of a era.
If they had a more powerful 4 and weren’t so ugly id buy one.
Question.. doesn’t the collector plate limit how many miles you can put on it in a year?
Who’s checking, Troy?
In Nevada a Collector/Vintage plate limits you to 5000 miles a year AND requires Collector/Vintage car insurance. It also makes you exempt to a smog check in Washoe (Reno) and Clark (Las Vegas) counties. Because in those counties they have smog checks for vehicles all the way back to 1963. (Sniffer up to 1990)
They were tough ,stood the test of time,even the older 80,s models.
I love seeing these regular survivors here. A decade ago, we would have been roasted over an open fire for showing a car like this Taurus. I’m glad that sentiment has changed over the last few years.
I look back at this time period with a lot on fondness. Newly married. Small kids. And these were everywhere. I always liked the Taurus and Sable too. Bobs point about Nissan stopping production of the Versa is news to me, but I’m not very surprised. I drove a rental Versa last year and lets just say I didn’t walk away wanting to buy one. The car was fine, just not for me. And as tonwhat Scotty said, I’m glad you writers aren’t getting roasted for putting a Taurus or a Cavalier, or what have you on here. Cars like this are a genuine part of our past, heck Rex had four of these. Please keep them coming!!!
And the fact this wasn’t a fleet car is something else. I personally think someone older ordered it this way. Many older folks didn’t like power windows and cruise control, more stuff to break in their eyes. This of course is just a guess, as for me, I’d totally get a set of Historic plates and use it on nice days. Great write up and find Jeff!!! Keep em coming!!!
-Dave
My Sable wagon had the 3.8 engine. It did it’s job just fine. I don’t remember continually griping about wanting more horsepower. (But I always want more horsepower.) It went 186,000 .miles with only 1 injector and one powersteering hose replaced. (Besides performing a transmission service every year) I sold it when I replaced it with a turbo Volvo sedan. (The kids were no longer showing dogs in 4H.) So a wagon was no longer needed and I got a 740 turbo at a steal.
As long as it has cold AC which it probably does being a Ford, good by me!
If we were back in 1969, this would have been a Ford Custom with no chrome trim, an optional 302, cruise-o-matic, heater but no air, and an AM radio with dog dish hub caps and vinyl seats. White of course, unless it was dark blue and looked like a Dirty Harry detective Callahan car. My have we come a long way! This car is quite luxurious by comparison.
I. Like it. I don’t even remember what the first gen Taurus looked like and haven’t seen one in decades but this generation had some style for a family hauler. The White doesn’t make it look like a rental at all. Put some nice wheels on it and you’re cruising.
Amazing how in eight short years the Taurus went from the most contemporary looking car to meh. Don’t get me wrong, I like a basic vehicle. Someone else did, too. Largest engine and lightest options, in white. Nothing but practical.
I remember seeing a handful of these and Sables in camouflage at a park n ride at US-23 and M36. Was quite a sight in 1984. They looked like nothing else on the road.
The amazing thing to me is how automotive design language has barely changed since the introduction of the Taurus in 1986. Take for example this photo of a 2000 Nissan Altima. It is 14 years after the ’86 Taurus, and yet it still looks very similar.
My wife drives a 2004 Volvo wagon, and even though it’s 21 years old, the design does not really look dated in modern traffic. I’d say this ’93 Taurus would barely look dated in traffic even today.
Automotive design language seems to have become frozen, with almost no innovation over the last 30 years. Imagine if cars had tail fins for 30 years running! Old designs have been re-hashed (Mustang, Camaro, Challenger, Bronco) but the only real divergence from the norm has been the Tesla Cybertruck, which looks like a dumpster.
That was always a running joke between me and my ex-wife (not a car fanatic). I’d see a car on the road that I liked and ask her what she thought of it. Her response, invariably, was, “It looks like a Taurus.”
I had a few Taurus/Sables over the years. All of them good, trouble free and comfy cars. I still have an eye out for the last Taurus SHO edition.
The 3.8 Liter was plagued with head gasket failures. Ford had to redesign them in later years and offer extended warranty coverage for this engine and this year Taurus. Unequal cooling of the engine left the back bank of cylinder to run hot. Cast iron block with aluminum heads lead to different expansion rates of the metal and the gaskets failed.
I never saw a 3.8 blow a head gasket that had not overheated for another reason. ( blown coolant hose was the most popular ) 10 years as service manager at a Ford store. 1985 to 1995. I have seen many 3 8s go 300K with no issues. As I told my uncle a out his 3.8 Mercury. The engine will out live you providing it has never overheated. If you ever overheats the engine it’s done. Sure enough, at 380,000 miles the heater hose let go. The problem with this engine is when it over heats it warps the heads and dumps coolant into the crankcase. Engine bearings don’t react well with ethylene glycol. So if you have one is these, and it overheats, the engine needs an overhaul and the cylinder heads replaced/repaired. Great engine until it gets too hot!
I worked at a Ford Store for 23 years and you can goggle Ford 3.8 Liter head gasket issues and see all the TSBs and extended warranty coverage Ford had to provide for them. It was very common.
This body style is where Ford started going from the 5 digit odometer to the 6 digit I don’t remember what year they made them all 6 digit. Either way good maintenance and this could last a long time for little money
priced right. 3.8v6 makes a great hooptie. plenty of miles left
Correction: The Taurus only toppled the Honda Accord because it became the the main car of many rental car company fleets. Nothing to do with its smart evolution or modern design.
I had a 95 mustang with the 3.8 and it blew the head gasket. Ford paid for the labor I believe, I paid for parts. The mechanic told me there was some kind of a recall but wasn’t really advertised