Flip Fodder: 1995 Ford Taurus SHO MTX – SOLD!

February 1, 2023, Update – With what appeared to be a very clean and well-maintained example offered for only $4,000, we’re not surprised to confirm the seller deleted their “Classifind” so quickly, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

When perusing the classic car classifinds, do you ever come across a car that reminds you of a relative?  The green over tan color combination of this 1995 Ford Taurus, last listed in January 2023 on Craigslist in Seekonk, Rhode Island, immediately reminded me of my father and one of the last new cars he owned.  While the example he owned featured the same exterior color and the tan leather sport seats from the SHO, the powertrain was Ford’s regular V6 mated to an uninspiring four-speed automatic.  It was a nice-looking and comfortable mid-size commuter car as he quickly neared retirement.

The SHO example for sale, however, is a completely different animal. Not only did it feature a Mercury Sable hood, but it also features a Yamaha-Tweaked version of Ford’s Vulcan V6 that redlines at 7,000 RPM and is mated to a Mazda-Built (remember Ford owned Mazda at the time) 5-speed manual.  This potent powertrain allowed first-generation Taurus SHOs to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds with a quarter mile time of about 15 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph.

Last offered for only $4,000, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is slightly below the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for first-generation Ford F-1 pickups produced between 1948 and 1952.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the truck featured here:

Building on their immensely successful mid-size Taurus, Ford first launched a Super High Output (or “SHO”) for the 1989 model year.  Originally intended as a limited-production model, the SHO would be produced for the first three generations of the model line, from 1989 to the 1999 model years, and then relaunched as a third-generation model eleven years later.

Ford redesigned the SHO for 1992, although it continued with the same powertrain as before: Yamaha Built V-6 engine and 5-speed manual transmission. The second generation SHO borrowed from the Mercury Sable’s front fenders, hood, and headlights but used a different bumper, fog lamps, and no middle lightbar.  The SHO also received unique seats, side cladding, dual exhaust, and a rear bumper. 1992 models can be visually identified by not containing a rear trunk lid spoiler, having downturned exhaust tips, and only a driver’s side airbag (later models have both driver’s and passenger airbags). For the 1993 model year, the rear brakes on the SHO were converted to solid discs, replacing the vented discs of almost identical dimensions used in the 1989–1992 model years.

In 1993, Ford did a minor redesign of the SHO interior, updating the center console. Other changes for 1993 included a trunk lid spoiler, an integrated center high-mount stop lamp, and “Italian” or directional Slicer wheels. With the addition of Italian slicers, the SHO now had right and left-specific wheels.  The 94-95 model years featured very subtle changes. They no longer came with chrome trim around the windows, the door handles were now painted body color, and black was no longer offered as an interior or exterior color.

The Regular Car Reviews YouTube Channel features this Point of View (“POV”) video giving the perspective of what it’s like to drive a second-generation manual-equipped 1994 Ford Taurus SHO:

Offered at only $4,000 currently with both the original slicer factory wheels as well as an aftermarket set shod with fresh Firestones, this 1995 Ford Taurus SHO for sale appears to be a great buy that you could enjoy for a few months and very likely turn a modest profit when you go to flip it.

Here’s the seller’s description:

Show or go: What would you do with this 1995 Ford Taurus SHO?  Please comment below and let us know!