This will mostly be a visual blog of what it takes to both ruin and (hopefully) unruin a 1993 Ford Taurus SHO. The idea is one that came quite a long time ago, and has stuck with me ever since seeing the 1988 Alfa Romeo 164 Procar. The plan is now to recreate the entire rear half of the SHO in fiberglass, cut the current car in half, mount the engine longitudinally directly behind the center console, and mate it to a Porsche 986 (Boxster) 5-speed transaxle. Now I feel I have the means and time to complete such an ambitious project, and invite you to join me in it.
A bit of background – The Taurus has been with my family since ’95, when my father bought it from Ford, where it had been used as a temporary vehicle for executives, but was then moved out for newer models. It was pristenely kept, and my father’s history with and passion for cars led him to maintain a meticulous level of care for the vehicle.
Fast forward to 2002. I have been around this car for 7 years, growing in my understanding of what made this such a special car. My dad shows up to my school in a brand new ’03 Subaru WRX STI. My jaw drops. Not only did this mean that our legacy of performance was continuing in a new direction, but that the Taurus may soon have a new, younger owner.
There was a bit more waiting involved than I would have liked, but once I was able to drive, my heart was set on reviving it to it’s previous glory, and spreading the good news of the sleeper far and wide. I drove it for the next 11 years, before we realized that our move to Colorado demanded something a bit more rugged. I bought a truck, and parked the SHO at nearly 213,000 miles on the odometer, knowing that it would be reborn someday.
Well, friends – That day is today.
How I Ruined My Car 