Despite spending many years at the top of the undesirable chart, the first-generation Ford Taurus is coming back around (for me, anyway). Why? Well, it’s not as if its looks have improved, but the fact remains that this was a game-changer of a car when introduced. Similar to the first Dodge Caravan, it ain’t sexy, but it is an icon. Find this super clean first-generation model here on eBay with a $2,995 opening bid and no action yet.
Most of these were well-used vehicles within a short period of time, thanks both their high visibility when introduced and propensity for becoming the daily transportation for families nationwide. They then became teenagers’ first cars, quickly sliding down the depreciation scale until they were eventually junked or donated, and then junked by the donation offices. This one has escaped that fate, with clean sheetmetal and a minty interior. Even the hubcaps look new.
The Vulcan V6 is said to run well and the automatic transmission is smooth-shifting. While you could get a manual transmission in a Taurus, good luck finding one. A few years ago, someone figured out there were single-digit manual transmission Taurus wagons made, so there’s a quest you can embark on if owning one of the most obscure cars on the road is a lifelong goal. The engine bay presents quite well, too, and the seller has freshened up a few maintenance spots for the next owner. Amazingly, he snagged this car from a dealer that took it in as a trade.
In those instances, I always want to ask the previous owner if they knew how nice their car was. If they had any idea that most of these have been completely trashed, and how the heck did you manage to preserve yours for so many years? Oh, and by the way, did you know you could sell it for a couple of grand instead of the measly $500 the dealer likely gave you? So many questions. This is the Taurus to buy if you’ve been hunting for a non-SHO edition.
Clearly the definition of the term automotive “icon” like so much of present day American language has been defined downward. Dodge Caravan? Ford Taurus? No. Not even a SHO.
This car is indeed an icon because it changed the parameters of what a mainstream automobile could be. Take a look at the cars that came before it and examine what followed. When it debuted, the only thing that looked like it on the road was the much-more expensive Audi 5000. It was a major money-maker for Ford and redefined transportation for Americans.
I remember when the Taurus first came out. It was a huge hit. many family members bought them. My Cousin and his wife drove a gold wagon, until a few years back. They admit that they don’t take really good care of their cars. That Taurus wouldn’t die. A tree fell on it about 5 years ago. The car had the original motor and transmission. Still running well, after 360,000 miles. Amazing!
I can’t see one of these without thinking of RoboCop’s 6000SUX.
Interesting thought, as the police cars in that movie were Tauruses (Taurii?).
They were painted flat black and had the blue ovals removed, but otherwise obvious. I loved one shot where RoboCop took off smoking the front tires.
My ex was tired of driving her ’78 T-Bird (since it was already 8 years old) so a neighbor bought it for his daughter (who totaled it about 90 days later). We bought one of the first ’87 Taurus sedans in our area in the awful gray that is so prevalent now.
She drove it to work, kids to school, we went to CA at least 3-4 times. I don’t remember any major issues with it (except for the annual fender bender that she seemed to have.)
After that, we bought a new Explorer and things just went downhill from there, including the marriage. :)
My aunt traded in one of these at around 290k, and it looked this nice. Obsessive cleaning is the key, lol. And no, the dealer didn’t cheat her, surprisingly. Gave her 2k for it. It ran like a champ. Obsessive maintenance too.
Ugly and outdated
You’re on the wrong website.
This isn’t “House Hunters”.
That ended quickly!
The auction didn’t end quickly- it simply ran its course without any bids.
Oftentimes, when we click an eBay link, the auction has already been in progress….
My son bought one in ’96. His was a wagon of the same year. Nice
car, but he grossly overpaid f9r the privilege of owning it. My wife and I
thought of buying it from him and taking over his payments. That was
’til I found out what the payments were–$475 a month for 48 months!
You could buy a new Lexus LS 400 sedan back then for the same
amount of money per month! Don’t get me wrong, it WAS a nice
car, but we weren’t going to pay that much for it. A couple months
later, we bought a ’94 wagon that was nicer than my son’s and cheaper
too. Owned it ’til my wife passed in 2003. Had to sell it and everything
else to pay medical bills and final expenses. Would put Sis in one today
if I could find a wagon.as nice as this car is. We’re still looking, but here
in Florida, used cars are insanely expensive.
I’ve actually seen one of the manual equipped wagons… guy asked me one day how to get to our local Ford shop. If I was in the market for a vehicle I’d have stopped by in a day or so to see if he’d traded it in. Always thought they should have built an SHO wagon. The Taurus is one of those cars some people like to crap on even though they sold a boatload & they’re essentially good, basic transportation.
Amazing, truly amazing. To think for many years the 1986 to 1995 generation Taurus were popular, plentiful, and everywhere you can imagine. You can look at them today and call them mundane people movers, but they ruled the roads once.
I recall the Taurus MT5 (4 cyl, manual transmission 5 speed) was the sporty model and had the same slotted openings in the grill as the police spec models.
Had one. Fun family car.
It’s been removed. I wonder how many miles it has on it?
According to the original ad on eBay it has 52k miles. It appears that there were NO bidders so it looks like this Taurus sedan did not sell. Wonder if it is still available? By the way, back in the day I was lucky enough to own a 1987 Taurus MT-5 Station Wagon with the 2.5 liter 4-cylinder and a delightful 5-speed stick that also featured a factory sunroof and power everything. Sadly I had to junk the car after several enjoyable years as the unibody had completely rusted out thanks to the brutal Massachusetts winters and the “War Wagon” was deemed no longer safe to drive. Would love to find another one but not likely to happen.
It hasn’t been removed- it simply ran its course without any bids. The completed listing is still there.
Mileage: 52,000
The transmissions scare people away.
Actually it is the cost of repairing it that scares people away.
True Miguel: when my wife and I replaced
the tranny in our ’94 wagon, it cost well
over $2,300–a tidy sum of cash nearly 20
years ago. BTW, my son’s wagon that I
mentioned in my earlier post was a ’90
model just like this one. As I said before,
his was a nice car, but he paid too much
for it. Tried to tell him, but he wouldn’t
listen.
Thankfully it has the 3.0 and not the 3.8.
Too bad it didn’t find a buyer.
The blue hair rinse metallic is one of my favorite colors.
Older bro had several. Always in teal for some reason. I remember blown head gaskets and tranny problems, but they kept buying them.
My brother and his wife are murder on cars, so I don’t really fault the Taurus.
They couldn’t kill their Caravan or their 95 Saturn SL1 though.
the F150 was the highest sellin vehicle world wide 4 sompin like 40 yrs (even beyond the corolla!). I wonder how close these were to that?
Invented that phrase “coke bottle” styling – seen copied from then till today, again, world wide by other manufacturers.
chrlsful, that dat point is only true if you do not add the Chevrolet and GMC truck sales together.
Please!!!! Somebody somewhere sell a 1986 Taurus LX Wagon in medium canyon red! I want to buy and restore one so badly!
How come some MT5s looked different than the regular Taurii but others looked the same?
For instance, some MT5s I’ve seen had SHO-like windows (black surrounds) and others had normal chromed windows like the rest of the Taurii?