SHOs part of SVT?

Stang2Man · Dec 19, 2003

I know they dont' exactly say SVT on em, but many of the events I've read about have Contour SVT and Taurus SHOs running along together. Is the SHO part of SVT (earlier SVO, SVE) or is not considering the engine was outsourced to Yamaha?

KnRs88 · Dec 20, 2003

Im pretty sure not (yamaha). nice cars though

OleGrayCar · Dec 20, 2003

Quick two minute history lesson:
See, SVT was founded in late 1991 when a guy named Robert L. Rewey, who was the Group Vice President-Marketing and Sales, Ford Automotive Operations, and Neil Ressler, Vice President of Research & Vehicle Technology and Chief Technical Officer, saw a chance for Ford to step up its commitment to develop and market a line of Ford-badged performance vehicles that would appeal to "knowledgeable automotive enthusiasts" (read: gearheads).
Next year, the 1992 Chicago Auto Show featured the official launch of the result of Rewey's and Ressler's interest - SVT - and the unveiling of the '93 SVT Mustang Cobras and F-150 Lightnings. Both limited-edition products became available in February 1993. Then, the racing version (the 1993 Cobra R), arrived on the scene three months later.
SHO= Super (or Special, I forget) High Output, was the acronym used to delineate the Taurus with the 24v Yamaha-built engine, which was relatively badazz for its' time. But it's 90 days same as cash if you ever need a valve job on one of those babies.
Although radically superior to the domestically-built Taurus when it came to performance and equipment upgrades, the SHO was never a part of the Ford SVT division.
That badge has been worn exclusively by the Cobra, Lightning, Contour and Focus nameplates.

Hope that helps to clear up any confusion,
OGC

Traveler · Dec 20, 2003

OleGrayCar said:
That badge has been worn exclusively by the Cobra, Lightning, Contour and Focus nameplates.

...Or anybody with $12 bucks in their pocket. I've seen a few GTs with SVT badging and more than my share of previous Thunderbird coupes with Cobra badges.

That said, I often thought Ford should've done a SVT Taurus after the V8 SHO floundered. Why they didn't just drop in the transverse-mounted 4.6 DOHC Lincoln Continental engine, I'll never know. I suppose with the Futura and Five-Hundred right around the corner, the Taurus' days are numbered so hopefully will see one of the new sedans in SVT form.

Ready4this96 · Dec 20, 2003

Also the SHO was first produced in1989 whereas SVT didn't start producing vehicles until 1993. Im just a little made that I totaled mine, but I'm trying to convince my parents into letting me get a 96-98 cobra.

OleGrayCar · Dec 20, 2003

Traveler said:
...Or anybody with $12 bucks in their pocket. I've seen a few GTs with SVT badging and more than my share of previous Thunderbird coupes with Cobra badges.

although a relatively astute observation, it doesn't really provide any information nor fact to the original question as posed, which was something like...........
"Is the SHO part of SVT (earlier SVO, SVE) or is it not considering the engine was outsourced to Yamaha?"...........

I'm just tryin' to give the guy some solid info in reply to his question- not some opinion of what Fords' direction should be for future models nor the fact that some folks with GT's or T-Birds like to put SVT badges on their rides.

Traveler · Dec 20, 2003

OleGrayCar said:
although a relatively astute observation, it doesn't really provide any information nor fact to the original question as posed, which was something like...........
"Is the SHO part of SVT (earlier SVO, SVE) or is it not considering the engine was outsourced to Yamaha?"...........

I'm just tryin' to give the guy some solid info in reply to his question- not some opinion of what Fords' direction should be for future models nor the fact that some folks with GT's or T-Birds like to put SVT badges on their rides.

You apparently mistook my post in a negative light there, OGC. It was just a relative remark made to indicate that a few bucks buys anybody a badge supposedly regarded for limited production specialty vehicles. So, my comment really wasn't even directed at you personally.
The second paragraph applies to the topic at hand and not directly to anything you might or might not have stated in your post. It was specificly intended to voice my own opinion as what Ford should have done with the Taurus after the poor showing of the last SHO.

OleGrayCar · Dec 20, 2003

no biggie.

Merry Christmas

Traveler · Dec 20, 2003

OleGrayCar said:
no biggie.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Stang2Man · Dec 20, 2003

No everything said was very informative, and don't think that some people don't like to see well placed OT comments in a post.
But as you said my question also included the (SVO/SVE) stuff as well. But that being said and with the info you posted about the Rewey guy. I was just thinking I was once read somewhere that after the SVO group lost interest or whatever happened there, they didnt' stir interest in anything until 93.
But regardless. If you look at the following that the SHO has, especially the first and second generation cars with the 3.0 and 3.2 V6s. The money that people put into these cars is ridiculous, and the power output just in a stock ATX car is phenomenal. I just don't understand why Ford dropped the ball on the SHO legend. They defintely had the Maxima pinned up in the corner with it, BMW's yeah right. Most Fox Bodies and early Sn95's with the exceptions of the Cobras can take an SHO (stock/stock)
I truly think that was a car just a few years early for its time, it's sad they didnt' keep it around and continue to tweak it.
Your wife/mom whatever wants a new family sedan, and being the man of the house you just go ahead and make the suggestion to get the SHO which gets better mileage than your firebreathing V8 and will stomp pretty much all of these wanna be sports cars on the road.
Just my opinion

Ready4this96 · Dec 21, 2003

Most Fox Bodies and early Sn95's with the exceptions of the Cobras can take an SHO (stock/stock)

Do you mean CAN'T take a SHO??

Ready4this96 · Dec 21, 2003

Here is a pic of my SHO before the accident

Stang2Man · Dec 21, 2003

Yes I did mean can't

Ready4this96 · Dec 21, 2003

OK I was gonna say LOL but stangs take SO much better to mods and the mods are like a quarter of the price.

Stang2Man · Dec 21, 2003

trust me i understand, I bought my SHO thinking I could drive it forever and didnt' need any maintenance, stupid me started doing the research after I bought the car, and it's supposed to have the 60K tuneup, which if you're an SHO nut, you know what's involved in that, almost $1000 in parts. Plus the fact that it ain't as easy to work on as a Mustang. But considering it has smoked several Crapmaroes and enough Fireturds, it's definetly been fun to have around.

Ready4this96 · Dec 22, 2003

They are a fun car to drive but when it comes to maintenance run and hide and don't come out.

fiveofanatic · Dec 24, 2003

You guys with the V6 SHO's need to stop complaining about maintenance! I did a plug change on my V8 SHO this Tuesday, what a PITA! The front bank took ten minutes, the back bank took two hours. Ugh.

Regarding Ford dropping the SHO, they make stupid decisions pretty often. It is kind of an oddball, though; can't really compete with BMW's in my mind because it's not RWD, & it's a good deal bigger than the Asian FWD sedans (especially the V8 car). Plus, they got damned expensive; my '97 stickered for a bit over $30k.

Ford needs a Taurus-sized RWD, V8, stick car; then they'd have a potenital BMW beater. They need to follow GM's lead & bring the Falcon over from Australia.

5.4 DOHC, TR3650, IRS....

Snarf · Dec 24, 2003

Thanks for teh background history, Olegray. I wondered about the relation of SHO and SVT cars for awhile now too.

OMGZ fiveofanatic, I SO agree with you. Ford would do really well with bringing that thing over here. I've wondered why ford doesnt make a high performance four door that can run with BMW 5's and such. It would make sence to fill that gap in their model line.

But then again thats not the first thing Ford has/hasn't done that makes no logic at all.

87GT 306 · Oct 21, 2004

I know this thread is from a while ago but I took intrest in it. Have any of you that have had an SHO (2nd GEN) done any performance mods? Also does anyone know how much(estimate) the 60k mile tune really costs?

KnRs88 · Oct 21, 2004

87GT 306 said:
I know this thread is from a while ago but I took intrest in it. Have any of you that have had an SHO (2nd GEN) done any performance mods? Also does anyone know how much(estimate) the 60k mile tune really costs?

Whats the 60K tune?

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