PHOTOS  

     Ford never made a production SHO version of the Taurus wagon - but they should have!  With the popularity today of performance SUVs and wagons, Ford could have been one of the first in this market.  The vehicle pictured here is a one-of-a-kind SHOwagon built in California in late 1998 or 1999. 
     I have been trying to collect details of the build and the history, but have not had much success.  Here is what I  know so far.  The SHOwagon was made by welding the front of a 1998 SHO with the back of a regular Taurus wagon.  According to stories,  a brand new '98 SHO was totaled on a test drive.  It was hit hard in the rear.  Someone came up with the idea to use the front of this car with the back of a 1997 wagon.  Both vehicles were sectioned and welded together near the B pillar and sunroof.  For added structural stability, subframe connectors were welded underneath.  It was finished for the 1999 SHO convention in Atlanta, GA ... the 10th anniversary of the Taurus SHO.  Many custom touches have been added by various owners over the years, myself included.  Some of them are:  chromed and polished engine components (cams welded - see http://www.v8sho.com/SHO/autoweek_online_cam_story.htm for details on SHO cam problems), performance computer chip, Magnaflow exhaust, lowered performance suspension, custom interior mods including upgraded speakers and a small subamp.

If you have any information on this vehicle or the build of this car, please email me by clicking here.

As far as I know, this is the only Gen III (1996-1999) SHO wagon ever made.  Do you have any information on another?  Please let me know.

WHAT IS A TAURUS SHO?

When does a great sedan become one of the sweetest running, pure fun, superb sounding sports sedan?

The answer is when you combine a great ridged chassis with one of the finest motors ever produced for an American car. The end result is the Ford Taurus SHO.  Ford has been making V-8's since 1932 with the original flathead, 60 hp, 3.6L engine that stayed in production in one form or another for 22 years. It wasn't until replaced with a modern OHV V-8 until 1954 (1952 in the Lincoln).

Until 1996, you couldn't get a V-8 in a Taurus.  The are other things that separate the super high output (SHO) from the standard Taurus, but the main difference is the engine. This is the second generation SHO, the first one being a 220 hp OHC V-6. I like the first V-6 SHO, but is was lacking the polish, the sound and the smooth powerband of a V-8.  Ford fixed that with this jewel of a V-8. As with the previous SHO engine, this motor was a joint collaboration with Yamaha. The engine also shares much in common with the 2.5L Duratec V-6 of the Contour. The engines use the same pistons and connecting rods as well as bore spacing. You could say it's a V-6 with two more cylinders. The four-valve head design is that of Yamaha's.  The result is one of the finest V-8's I have ever driven. With only 3.4 liters, it puts out 235 hp at 6,100 rpm and 230 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. These aren't the highest output numbers of any engine, but the way it performs is what makes this car so good. (from "The Ford Taurus SHO, A sedan ready for NASCAR" by Larry Weitzman)