Have you ever had a car on your radar screen as being enormously tempting but just not enough to actually buy one? The Ford Taurus SHO is one of those enthusiast vehicles that seemingly everyone will acknowledge is desirable in some way, but it doesn’t seem to trigger an immediate “Buy” response in many of us. The 1992 model shown here on eBay is desirable not only for having the preferred 5-speed manual but also because it’s one of the very few I can recall seeing in “survivor”-grade condition, with just under 50,000 original miles. The seller is asking $19,500 with the option to submit a best offer.
The SHO should check all of our respective boxes: great performance out of the box with the Yamaha-designed V6; a true 5-speed manual gearbox; somewhat limited production (you certainly don’t see them on every corner; celebrity ownership, thanks to Conan O’Brien; and, in my humble opinion, muscular good looks. The car is still quick by today’s standards, with 0-60 times typically in the upper 6 and low 7-second range for the first- and second-generation SHOs. The car was expensive when new, but the motoring press loved it, and it gave America a true high-performance sedan to compete with the range of fast four-doors from Europe.
The later cars more or less carried over the gorgeous Yamaha-kissed mill from the first-generation models, but the 3.0L V6 (3.2L in the automatic-equipped models) made the same power – 220 horsepower – but torque was bumped slightly to 215 lb.-ft. The Vulcan V6 looked nothing like it did in standard Taurus models, with an absolutely stunning intake manifold that was downright exotic in appearance. It also sounded like something conceived in the hills of Italy, and when you truly uncork one of these on a long, straight road, you’ll swear you didn’t pay enough for an engine note like that.
Body cladding, wheels, and subtle badges let other drivers know this was not the same Taurus found in the rental car motor pool at the airport. The thing is, we’re funny about four-doors in this country, and you almost wonder if that alone is the reason these cars are not more sought-after. It also doesn’t help that most examples we see on craigslist and Marketplace are in fairly poor condition, or modified in some way. This seller may be waiting a while for the right buyer to come along, but there are enough enthusiasts out there who know – and appreciate – how special a survivor SHO like this is.
I have commented before about my black 92 SHO 5-speed. It was a fun car. Easily one of my favorite vehicles I have owned. Jeff is right, it doesn’t seem like there are many left in clean original condition.
“Ran hard and put away wet!” Too many got driven into the ground, literally in some cases. Good to see a nice survivor.
Real businessman express model. Wonder if anybody ordered one of these as a “company car” Taurus, and snuck it by the office brass. 5 sp makes it. 🏁
I owned one that I purchased because I wanted something that with 4 studded snow tires would be safe and fast enough to pass campers pulling a trailer loaded with snowmobiles on an uphill 2-lane road in winter snowstorm on the way from Portland, Oregon to skiing. Front wheel drive, plus although not cheap, it wasn’t M5 money, and I wouldn’t get depressed from being blasted with the pea gravel they used on the roads in icy conditions. Two (relatively minor) gripes: 1) It had a subtle, weird ride motion that would nauseate anybody (including me) in the right front seat when the car was driven briskly on a windy road. 2) the front seat bottom didn’t extend forward enough to provide good thigh support.
Yamaha had a long relationship with Toyota. Originally, Ford contracted with Yamaha for cylinder head design but ended up buying complete motors. I think I have fewer warranty claim trips to the dealer than I have had with any car I’ve owned.
These cars shift great. Don’t know about $20000 for one though.
You’d be hurting to get your face rearranged when you went to resell it, if you paid this much. Especially if you actually drove it. But is otherwise very nice.
Wonder how much a clutch replacement would cost these days??
I owned two 89 models, Ebony and Ivory, both 5 speeds. They ran like the wind. My then girlfriend liked them so much, she purchased one for herself. I’m sure service on one of these isn’t cheap (wasn’t then either). Good to see one in this condition. Didn’t see many in red. Black, white, silver and green seemed to be the favored colors.
I ordered a new 89 LX Taurus with the 3.8 and all options as my company car. In the SHOroom (see what I did) what a maroon SHO staring at me. I almost changed my order but the salesman said it might we a long wait. I still look at them and can see from the pictures this one looks great. Most I see are beaten into the ground with 150K on them. Tempting.
lot of money for a sho bag.
SHO Central lately!! This one is a stick, so even better!!
I owned a white ’94 with the matching wheels. Looked fantastic and boy was it a fun driver. Stealth baby. Some time later I picked up an ’87 Regal WE4, basically a Grand National that weighs less. Super stealth baby. Well, one morning heading to work I pull up next to an SHO. Same gray haired semi-senior citizen as me. He knew what he had but didn’t know what I had. Light changed, SHO lit up its tires and all it saw was a band of red lights from the back of my WE4. Set my mood for the day!