A few days ago, I heard a commentator discussing how more respect needs to be shown to 80s and 90s cars because the day is upon us where those vehicles are more collectible than commuter. Once considered throwaway, the performance and enthusiast vehicles that Gen Xers and “old millennials” grew up coveting are increasingly sought after. The Ford Taurus SHO is a good example of a car that was a performance darling beck in the day and then became used car lot fodder once the miles piled up. This 1993 example listed here on craigslist has just over 50,000 miles and is listed for $8,000.
The Ford Taurus SHO is one of those vehicles you have to give credit to the manufacturer for even conceiving. After all, the Taurus was the most mainstream of the mainstream; it was Ford’s breadwinner, the car you could count on to go head-to-head with the Camry and Accord and emerge victorious year over year. Why on Earth would you mess with that formula and make a performance sedan, and one with an engine designed by Yamaha? Oh, and we’re going to make the 5-speed manual the standard option! Putting it in today’s terms, that seems absolutely unrepeatable.
However, despite all these outstanding credentials, the Taurus SHO hasn’t quite cracked the collector car formula. Bring A Trailer recently auctioned an Acura Integra Type R, one of the 90s halo tuner cars, to a total sum of over $200,000! That shows you just how powerful nostalgia can be. However, the SHO isn’t spoken about in nearly the same terms among collectors; it’s barely a whisper, in fact, simply seen as a 90s novelty. There are a few possible reasons for this, but I suspect the biggest drawback is the fact that it’s front-wheel drive. After all, performance cars, particularly sedans, are historically rear-wheel drive.
The SHO’s Yamaha-built V6 may have something to do with it as well, even though the engine is a high-revving masterpiece. To some extent, it reminds me of the Mustang SVO, where it sports a sexy wrapper but doesn’t make V8 noises. Still, the SHO with a free-flowing exhaust system sounds magical as the revs climb, a trait I don’t associate with the turbocharged SVO. 220 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque is still nothing to sneeze at, and the automatics like this car got a few more lb.-ft. of torque in addition to being less prone to roasted clutches. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Barney for the tip.
Jeff I agree with your analysis of the SHO. I had one, a 1992 black/gray cloth 5-speed. One of my favorite cars. I would add other reasons for it not really becoming collectible are that most see it as just another Taurus, the most mundane car of its day; and because the styling enhancements were rather subtle. But they sure were fun to drive, and could double as family cars (which mine did).
Bang on the buck. That it had no Look At Me screaming out by aero style body cladding and had FOUR doors it considered by the general public was just another crumb snatcher hauling grocery getter made in the USA. It was much like the Spirit RT 2.2 I4 with Getrag 5 speed that too was a blast to drive.
Chevy though got it right in that era though by dropping a (then) hot VEE EIGHT into a 4 door and marketing it as such.
This Yamaha designed motor with the excellent go fast parts underneath was still the best combination for the time, though as it was more tossable than the rest.
Apologies for the grammatical errors-early morning caffeine induced ADOS (Attention Deficit OH SQUIRREL!).
I had a 1994 SHO green with tan leather interior with an automatic transmission. My wife could not drive a 5 speed regardless of how much i tried to teach her still a fun car though. Then i bought a 1998 SHO with the 8 cylinder boy that car was a blast to drive. When my son got his licence he bought a silver 1999 contour SVT with a 5 speed i bought a black 2000 contour SVT they only made them with a 5 speed. Those cars were even more fun than the Taurus SHO we bought all those cars used years ago and got my money back when i sold them. Was surprised the contour SVT did not sell better when new.
The V/8 SHO had a nice engine sound, but it was slower than the V/6 that was made before it.
I always thought that the Yamaha V6 looked really cool. And even though these looked like every day Taurus models, that was always the beauty of the whole thing. Seeing the surprised look on the next persons face when they finally caught up to you at the next light. I remember reading magazine articles and test drives on the SHO when they came out and how exotic that V6 sounded. And how quick these were ( are ). I’m with Bob, if I had one, I’d prefer the cloth seats. I can imagine Bob having a blast with his with the kiddos in the back seat lol. This one looks like a nice one to get, reasonably low miles and in noce shape too.
When Bob wound up the sweet 6, then hit the 1-2 shift the kids really thought Dad was cool 😎 👍 🏁
There just might be permanent imprints on the back seat cushions from them getting pushed back into the seats lol. Actually Bob strikes me as a level headed safe driver with his kids on board. Then again…………. Hey kids…… Hang on!!!!
Car located in Exton, PA. So you don’t have to look around for the location. Like I did.
This looks like a really nice car for the money, yet there is something holding it back. Probably the automatic is a big factor. It’s been on the market for 24 days, so far, good deals don’t last which means potential buyers aren’t seeing the value. I really like these, but they were overpriced when new and a few years old, so I never bought one, but would have if it fit my budget.
The Integra GS-R is much more special than the write up suggests, it’s not hard to find its history with a quick Google search. Low mileage versions have been selling for 6 figures for several years and the car mentioned had more going for it than just a low number on the odometer.
Anyone that complains about the lack of affordable cars for the “average Joe” needs to open their eyes to what the market offers on a regular basis, there are and always will be plenty of interesting cars for those willing to open their eyes and put in the work to find one.
Hopefully this SHO finds a nice home and is maintained at a high standard.
Steve R
I absolutely agree, the automatic is holding this back. Without the 5spd, it’s just another Taurus.
Super nice SHO, looks well taken care of. With the right goodys added you could pull close to 300hp out of these engines. This car is a steal at that price but as stated I think the auto trans is holding it back. I have a 2016 SHO and its a blast to drive! I do wish Ford would make a 5 speed an option for the SHO. The SHOs have never been flashy cars and I think that has been on propose.
I remember these and they were pretty quick in the day. I’d prefer cloth seats also and I think not having a 5spd is hurting it a bit. I think these were the last of the good looking ones before that jellybean restyle which I never liked.
It says it is a 5spd…not auto.
I had a ’91 SHO – back when they only made them with a manual.
Although it was a blast, too many costly niggling issues had me trading it within a couple of years.
I feel like getting one with an automatic is stealing a SHO’s soul.
I agree if it was a stick shift it would be sold by now. Still looks good to me.
An SHO with an automatic is kind of like a Camry with a V6. Meh.
I had a ’90 5-speed. Great motor and seats. Good transmission but so-so shifter. Mine ate rear tires at a prodigious rate. Driving on a surface road at about 30mph, I hit a pothole and a bolt holding the front subframe to the rest of the car on the right side broke. Steering went way wonky and I was very glad I wasn’t going any faster. Car was fixed under warranty, Mine wasn’t a unique experience I was told.
The CL ad says automatic right at the start. No attempt to deceive. The BF writer says available with or came with maybe. It’s been listed for three weeks. No mystery why it hasn’t sold. People are holding out for a 5 speed
I made a killing parting out a few of these back in the day.
The manual transmissions & wheels brought some nice coin and the clusters too.
I was a,Ford service manager when these came out. The first few needed a,resistor in the power wire to the rear heated glass. If close to zero degrees the rear glass would explode like the BMW 5 series cars. Living in Nevada has its benefits of being able to drive extra legal speeds at times. One customer decided to open the driver’s windows at 140mph. (I have no clue as to why) it blew out the rear glass. The same customer did the same thing again to see if it was just a fluke or not. It wasn’t and Ford would not buy him a second glass. Believe it or not, the stock 5 speed is from an Escort. That is one strong gear box! At the time when these came out,my wife was driving a 3.8 Sable wagon. I put every SHO suspension part on it that would fit. And lowered it about an inch. It didn’t go like an SHO but it handled very close!
For me, even though I never saw an automatic fail in an SHO.But the automatic transmission IS the Achilles heel of any Taurus. So people staying away from this automatic SHO is reasonable thinking to me.
I’m not sure what year the automatic became available in the SHO, but I would bet that it tripled sales. That is why you see more autos available than manuals.
That is very sad.
You are very close. 1992 was last year for 5-speed only; production 7,801. 1993 was first year with automatic; production 21,550.
I was living in Wisconsin when I had my ’90. Driving on roads in the winter with the SHO was an experience. The power and the torque steer certainly demanded your attention. Traded an ’86 RX-7 in on the SHO. The rear drive RX-7 was a handful in the snow/ice but the SHO was an entirely different experience. Grew up in Connecticut so at least I had a lot of experience in winter weather.
whoever paid 200k for an acura no matter what model needs their head examined
Except maynbe early NSX ?
My friend had the 5-speed version and he LOVED it.
Larry S, The thing that was hurting you was the wide (for the time) performance leaning tread pattern.The width being the main issue. I’m an ex-tire guy. So I tend to he a tire Snob. So please disregard the attitude and pay attention. In the snow, particularly, the narrowest tire that you can get away with. (remembering tire outside diameter and load carrying capacity) is the best for traction. (Take it from an ex’ice racer.) This correlates to the MOST TRACTION PER SQUARE INCH! And since you are going to a narrow tire for winter, you might as well spring for some snow and ice tires. Now days I would recommend scanning Craigslist for extra wheels that will fit your car. My wife’s car takes 16 or 17″ wheels. But I have found that a factory (older) 15″ will clear the brake calipers. So her car gets very narrow ( but large enough to carry the load) snow and Ice tires. I know having an extra Set of wheels and tires is cumbersome to have around. But the added benefit is they are ready ti go in case an early snow. If not changing wheels, ask your tire guy to figure out the narrowest tire that will fit your wheels and carry the load. If he is reluctant to try, find a new tire guy!
I am totally with you on this.
When we met, my future wife was driving a Mazda 323 hatch. Since I could not drive my ’99 Z/28 with those low profile tires in even a light snow dusting, I started driving the 323 as my winter car. I threw on some decent Michelin all seasons and that car with those skinny tires got me everywhere I needed to go. I was initially surprised about this, and then I learned that skinny tires in the snow are very effective.
Fast forward 10 years and I had a RWD Charger that came with 20″ wide and low profile tires. Same deal, not a winter driver. I ordered some 18″ cop steelies and caps, winter tires, and added sand bags over the rear wheels. I enjoyed driving that in the snow far more than any FWD car I had owned previously.
So, yeah, right tool for the right occasion.
Wayne. I did one better. When I lived in Wisconsin I bought a beater every fall and parked my fun car. That, of course, had its own down side. On my way home from work one winter day I went to make a right turn in my beater and the steering box decided to divorce the frame. Step 1 – tow truck to the salvage yard. Step 2 – new beater.
I was ice racing in southern Wisconsin and it was only my second event. I ran a Goodyear store at the time. I used Goodyear F32s. They were the first US made ice and snow tire that you could not stud. I was running 155HR13s on skinny Rabbit wheels on my Scirocco. Also in my class was a guy who everyone said couldn’t be beat. He was running a Rabbit with CR70-13 Goodyear F32 tires also. Only his foot print was about double mine. I beat him by about 1/2 of a second. He was hostile. Even have a picture of him kneeling on the ice checking my tires for studs. He was so mad he didn’t even stick around for his second place trophy. At the next event I beat him by about 5 seconds. (Readjusted my tire pressures. ) After that event he never came back. He was a couple of years national autocross champion in a Corvette and had written a book about how to win at autocross. Everyone at the second event said that I should write a book about how to win at ice racing. My runs versus his runs completely shut down the more biting edges versus more traction per square inch argument. Same model tire same basic car and weight. End of argument!
Larry S. My winter AND drive into the city (Chicago) car was a 2door Olds 98 with rust about halfway up the doors. The reason for a drive into the city was about the only time a run into the city was needed as for a trip in to see a concert. (Ex-wife had a connection with Ticketron and always got great seats.) Anyway after a concert there was a couple of times people went running across my hood. So better not to get ticked off rather than have to kill someone. (Figuratively) Great car in the snow with nasty gnarly snow tires on all four corners all year round.
We had two of them, an 89 and a 92, both 5 speeds and both black. The wife blew through a red light and t-boned a Lumina, totaling the 89. The 92 was purchased new to replace it. They were fun family haulers, making the run to Grandma’s house a blast. I also had a 5.0 Fox at the time and the SHO was nice complement to it.