A 50/50 split for the G37 and RX-8 – I’ll count that as a victory for the Infiniti, considering its hated reputation. But what’s worse than a car with a bad reputation? How about one that isn’t remembered at all, and this week the perfect example: the third generation of the Ford Taurus SHO.
Right, I see you making that OOhhh face.
The 1996 Ford Taurus SHO vs nothing because it’s so weird
Super High Output. That’s what SHO means in Ford language, and how this car actually came about is curious. In 1984, Ford signed a contract with Yamaha to make a V-6 engine to place in transverse layouts, and the result was something to behold, with a variable length intake manifold and 7,000 RPM redline.
By the time Ford got to the third generation Taurus SHO, they decided to “upgrade” the engine to a 3.4-liter V-8 that was based on their own Duratec design (with help from Cosworth). But they still had Yamaha massage it, so the engine was built in Ontario, shipped to Japan for modification, and then shipped to Atlanta for installation into the car. No, I don’t know why either.
Perhaps my memory fades, because I was still using 15-year-old me logic that this was was fast, or fun. Doesn’t seem to be. But it is unique. That V-8 was good for 235 horsepower, and bolted only to a four-speed automatic. Lots of tech in this motor too, and it still revved to 7,000 RPM. Did you know it even had an early adaptive suspension? Very weird.
But yea, it got to sixty in eight seconds flat. Woof. It was actually slower than the car it replaced.
Still, we celebrate weird cars here, so lets peep those chrome rims and mini SHO spoiler with an automotive version of “Where are they now?”.
The 1996 Ford Taurus SHO
Though you can find first- and second gen SHOs easily enough, third-gen cars just don’t come up very often; there’s just one each on Bring a Trailer and Cars & Bids dating back to 2020.
I can only offer this current example for sale, the cheapest car I’ve ever featured:
- 135,000 miles
- Pacific Green Clearcoat Metallic…or what’s left of it
- Tan leather inside. The driver’s seat looks like it got into a fight with a Saint Bernard. And lost.
- Lack of chrome wheels causes sadness
- “Aftermarket exhaust” – whatever
- Tints and a lack of overall self worth appear to be the only other mods
- Original MSRP in 1996: $33,000. That’s about $67,000 today, so not cheap.
- Priced to sell, financing available: $1,395
First, be aware that the V-8 had a tendency to blow up because of bad cams. That said, this is the only example currently for sale in the US that I could see. You can find cleaner examples if you wait another five years, though they aren’t much more in price. Where did they all go?
The first and second generations are more dear to the enthusiast heart, but being 41, I don’t remember those as much as I remember this one. My God, this Taurus was everywhere growing up. I think my first girlfriend’s mom had one. The fact that I can’t remember tells you what I thought about the driving experience.
Not this SHO though – it was special. I guess? Just 3,368 were sold in 1999, the car’s final year. I feel as if there’s untapped potential in that V-8. Might be fun to see if we can find it.
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