AMT-Ertl 1:25 1989 Ford Taurus SHO

The typical family sedan is designed for transporting to and from work, catering the family around town, and is meant for comfort and not any bit of sporting intensions.  Then again some automakers want to fill in the void left for those enthusiasts who want a sporty family sedan.  Many have been made, including this one from Ford based on the aerodynamic and popular Taurus sedan.

The SHO started life with the engine: a 3.0L DOHC V6 that produces 220 horsepower and 200 Ib-ft. of torque was designed by Yamaha in a contract with Ford that started in 1984.  The engine is all-alumninum with variable length intake runners and drives the front wheels through a Mazda-sourced 5-speed manual transmission.  0-60 takes 6.6 seconds and suspension enhancements were made to make the Taurus handle much better through corners than the stock Taurus.  The aero body still remains, but adds ground effects, wider tires, and a monochromatic look.  Inside a revised instrument cluster and bolstered seats were offered.  The SHO package was a success for the Taurus brand and would continue through the next few generations, yet by the third-generation the SHO became more softer and lost the hard-edge performance of the original.  The current Taurus SHO is nothing more than just an engine upgrade package.

AMT-Ertl made this plastic promo model for the first-generation Taurus and it was revised to serve as the police car for the "Robocop" movie.  The all-black monochromatic look works well with the simple construction of the plastic injection mold.  The front has flush chrome headlights with signal lights, a smooth grille with round Ford logo, and a lower bumper with functional grille and integrated foglights.  The side profile shows off the clean Taurus lines with SHO badging and lace wheels in chrome on rubber tires.  However, the thin pillars look weak and could possibly give way if stored without protection, so keeping the box for this car is a must.  At the rear is the taillights with detailed inner rib pattern, Taurus badge on the trunklid and SHO on the rear bumper.  Sporty and subtile in one.  While there is no opening hood the base shows off the lower portion of the V6 motor and transmission cradled in the front subframe, with the exhaust system coming together and exiting out of dual exhausts that are not visible from the rear of the car.  Suspension is all-independent and that includes the rear suspension. 

The interior has front seats that have lower side bolsters in a squared-off format, while the rear bench has that same stock three-person design.  Door panels offer a faint design of the armrests and door pockets, while the rear decklid has two speakers and the center brake light.  The dashboard has that stock Taurus look with a two-spoke steering wheel that has the SHO badge, detailed gauge cluster, center radio and HVAC controls, and detailed air vents.  The center console leads to the tall 5-speed shifter that looks the same as in the 1990 Ford Mustang.  This is a very nice and unique car that shows how the Ford Taurus SHO was once a sporty sedan in the simple, if bland line of Taurus vehicles.