The Collins Dictionary describes subtle as “not open or direct.” It seems that Ford took one look at this definition and proceeded to hurl their Collins into the nearest trash can when they released a V6 engine that they dubbed “SHO.” That acronym stands for Super High Output, so you can see immediately why the dictionary earned a trip to the landfill. This 1992 Taurus is the special edition that the company fitted with the SHO engine, and it is a tidy survivor. It has always been garage-kept, but the owner has decided that it needs to find a new home. Therefore, the Taurus, located in Depew, New York, has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has crawled to $3,500, but this remains short of the reserve.
This Taurus is finished in Silver Metallic, and while the supplied photos aren’t the greatest, they reveal enough to suggest that this is a survivor in above average condition. Silver paint has a reputation for deteriorating and developing a matte appearance as it ages, but that problem hasn’t occurred in this case. It still holds an impressive shine, and there is no evidence of patchiness. The panels are straight, and there are no signs of rust. The owner has kept the vehicle garage-stored when it’s not in use, and this would help to explain its overall condition. The exterior trim and plastic are in excellent order, as is the glass. The original alloy wheels haven’t been impacted by stains or physical damage, and these combined factors should allow this classic to turn heads wherever it goes.
While Ford enjoyed a long history of producing powerful engines, it has never been afraid to utilize outside consultants to develop something special. They turned to Cosworth to develop the DOHC turbocharged four that found its way into the Sierra Cosworth and the firebreathing RS500, while Lotus worked its magic on the Cortina Mk I. For the SHO, they joined forces with Yamaha, and the result was a 2,986cc fuel-injected DOHC V6 that pumps out a respectable 220hp. In the Taurus SHO, that power gets to the road via the front wheels and a five-speed manual transmission. By today’s standards, the ¼ mile ET of 15.6 seconds might not seem particularly impressive. However, it would’ve marked this car as something special in 1992. Potential buyers are flying blind if they rely on the listing to provide information on this classic’s mechanical health. The owner indicates an odometer reading of 66,000 miles, so we need to hope that he is willing to answer any questions that a buyer may pose.
While the SHO acronym may not have been particularly subtle, the interior of this Taurus meets that definition. There are few features present that would indicate that this car has sporting pretensions, but that doesn’t mean that it is lacking. The bucket seats look incredibly comfortable and supportive, while additional safety and comfort features include a driver’s airbag, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, and premium stereo. The overall condition of the interior is acceptable for a driver-quality car, although it isn’t perfect. There is some wear visible on the edges of the front seats, although it isn’t bad enough to justify the expense of new covers. The front carpet has wear on the outer edges from scuffing feet, and I’m not sure whether the buyer could address this to return the presentation to a factory appearance. With a new carpet set costing a mere $140, replacing the existing set would be a cheap way to boost the interior. Beyond that, the plastic and other upholstered surfaces are in good order, and I can’t spot any problems with the dash.
The Taurus SHO has been a forgotten child of the classic scene, but it could be because many buyers find its appearance to be a bit bland and unexciting. It is saved from mediocrity by that great V6 motor, but even that is not enough to protect its value. These gems have been riding a rollercoaster for the past few years, and values have dropped notably over the past year. Whether they have reached rock bottom isn’t clear, but the harsh reality is that they can’t really fall much further. I hope that the bidding on this car is getting close to its reserve because even ultra-low-mileage examples struggle to top $10,000 in today’s market. It might not be the most exciting classic on the planet, but if you are looking for a practical vehicle with a fizzy engine that could serve as a daily driver, this Taurus might be worth a closer look.
I think Adam has characterized the SHO very well. I had a 1992, same as this one. Bought it new, had it seven years but only 52K miles. Manual transmission (the automatic didn’t arrive until 1993). In summary, it had some styling tweaks but still looked fairly bland. The underpinnings of the car were pedestrian Taurus, which mean it exhibited the bread-and-butter of a family sedan. But, oh boy, that engine. Coupled with the manual transmission, it was a blast to drive.
Check out the upholstery; mine had the same cloth as this example. It has subtle threading which matched the limited exterior color choices. I always thought that was cool.
Today, like Adam says, kind of a forgotten performance model. If you can commit to the necessary engine maintenance and don’t mind the middling look and underpinnings, there’s a lot of fun here without sacrificing practicality.
I bought an 88 Taurus GL with 65000 miles on it in 1995 and the 3.0 was junk due to the oil never having been changed. The valley and other surfaces looked like roof tar. But with a new long block, Monroe SensaTrac struts, a new transmission electrical switch, the car would hustle on the back roads and cruise the highways. Ford was pilloried by the motorsport press for not building a two door version for NASCAR, something that Dodge would later endure when they campaigned the new Charger.
Bottom line is that the Taurus was a good car.
I’ve always had a soft spot for these cars, particularly the first-gen models. I hope they stay relatively cheap so that I can pick one up someday and enjoy life 1989-style again :). For now, a pristine intake from the yonke as wall art in the garage will do.
There’s what looks like a nice, blue 1995 auto for sale, in NH, on Facebook, with low miles. Asking $5K.
These were quick in manual form. I would like to see this one up close. The timing belt is likely in immediate need of replacement, but if it has no rust, 4K is a bargain.
Never knew they came with cloth seats! Also 65k is closr to that major service.. wonder if it’s been done.. still this is a bucket list car for me!
I’ve always liked these cars, I’m a fan of subtle. This one is nice, but I question the paint, it appears the car was hosed down for the pictures. The pic of the rear section looks dull. 66k for mileage means it’s due for a timing belt, and I would think the seller would mention if it had been done already.
Depew NY is a suburb of Buffalo.
Thank Yamaha for that great engine.
The block was all Ford though.
I knew someone with one. He loved it. We had regular wagons for field service work and carried a lot of weight. The standard seats sucked but it was fun to drive. With the weight I used to drift it in the rain. All it needed was cruise control and a seat with lumbar support and it would’ve been great. Not heavy enough for field service. I hit a pot hole that broke the rack. The one they replaced it with leaked and had to be replaced. I got in trouble for the expense. Now I’d tell them to shove it. We have 2500 4×4 trucks made for the work.
I was just wondering when it was repainted? One of the pictures shows a white trunk lid.
Thanks.
I’ve been told a clutch replacement in these can knock a big hole in your wallet. Anyone else heard that?
Transverse mount FWD is a pain, but well worth for saving the car from the crusher. I’ve done a few of these. They get quicker and better with repetitive jobs.
Piece of cake. Just drop the entire engine/trans assy. while still attached to the subframe. Then separate them, change the clutch and replace the entire assy. back in the car. I performed this exact service on my 89 in my garage over a long weekend. The following week I got a recall notice from Ford for the clutch release bearing. Doh! This was, however, a dandy time to change the timing belt. They were not easy to work on but they were great cars in their day.
These were great Yamaha 225HP motors and well built cars for the period. Clutch wear tended to be high. Overall a blast from the Past!
the sound of this engine is music to the ears. And when the car finally dies, you can pull the jewel of an engine, clean it, and put a clear piece of glass over it and you have the world’s greatest coffee table. It`s a win win.
will catch the ford guys eyes. This is not the top motor tho (no turbo?). Didn’t that have the yamaha logos 2?
These engines never came from the factory with a turbo.
I owned a ’91, bought it used in ’92 with very low miles from a Ford dealership.
Fun to drive, yes. Fun to own, no.
One of these was enough – just too many $300 repairs in the 2 years that I owned it. Traded it for a new Maxima that never went back to the dealership for a repair.
I have had an ’88, and am now on my second ’92. A more modern equivalent to the Volvo PV544 Sport – lots of fun, practical easily modified (Konis, Qualfi Posi, suspension braces, anti sway etc) Overall great value and well respected by several generations.