Credit goes to wikipedia for all this info.

First generation SHO

A first generation Ford Taurus SHO with the "Plus" packageIn 1989, the high performance SHO model was added. It is said that the reason why the SHO was created was because a lightweight two-seater sports car was under development by Ford to compete with the Pontiac Fiero and the Toyota MR2. Ford had sealed a deal with Yamaha for engines for this new car, but since the 'sporty car' market was falling, Ford scrapped the project, having already received a shipment of engines from Yamaha for the car, with many more in production. To utilize these otherwise redundant engines, Ford instead decided to put them in the Taurus, creating the SHO. As a result, Ford initially advertised the SHO as a limited production vehicle.

The SHO differed from the normal Taurus on the exterior by having a set of ground effects and a rear spoiler. The interior also differed by having sports seats and an 8000 rpm tachometer. The SHO became the only Taurus to feature a manual transmission since the MT5 was discontinued in that year.

A 'special edition' of the SHO was offered in 1991 that had some different styling cues from the 'normal' SHO, such as a new hood, painted wheels and other cosmetic details. This was called the SHO Plus Package.




Second generation SHO

A second generation SHOThe SHO model continued with the same powertrain as before: The Yamaha-developed 3.0L V6 and 5-speed manual transmission. The new second generation SHO gets its own distinctive front fascia with a unique front bumper cover that incorporated fog lights and a lower front spoiler, as well as side claddings. The hood, fenders, headlights, and marker lights were borrowed from the Mercury Sable, but no middle light bar.

The lack of an automatic transmission had hurt sales, which was a situation that Ford rectified in 1993. A 3.2 L version of the Ford SHO V6 engine was introduced for automatic-equipped SHO, which still had 220 hp (164 kW), but now boasted 215 ft·lbf (292 N·m), a 15 ft·lbf (20.3 N·m) increase over the 3.0 L version.

In 1993, Ford did a minor redesign of the SHO interior, updating the center console. Other changes for 1993 included a trunklid spoiler, with integrated center high mount stop lamp.

The second generation SHO entered popular culture due to the fact that a 1992 model is owned by comedian Conan O'Brien, and that he often talks about it on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, his late night talk show, when speaking about his personal life and interests. He devoted a special segment of the show to his SHO onetime, where in a fictional skit, he set off to sell the vehicle and use the money to buy a large estate in Europe. In the skit, he fails to sell the car, but then pretends to sell the car to Brad Pitt.

by request of Car and Driver magazine, a SHO station wagon was created by the Car and Driver staff with the help of Ford engineers. They started with a production Taurus wagon, and from there installed SHO bodywork, including its unique front end. They then replaced the stock engine and drivetrain with SHO drivetrain. Inside, the interior was replicated of that of a high spec SHO sedan, including its sport seats, steering wheel, and included most of the SHO's equipment. The staff then tested it, and took it on a cross country trip. This model never got past prototype form, and the Car and Driver staff as well as Ford admitted that the SHO wagon was created "just for fun", and was never meant to be a serious production vehicle. However, there have been successful amateur conversions.




Third generation SHO

1997 SHOFor 1996, the SHO model was redesigned. Unlike its predecessors, this SHO was more refined and used less radical bodywork. It differed from the normal Taurus with different seats, wheels, bumpers, drivetrain, as well as a fin being put on the driver's side wiper blade, to keep it on the windshield at high speeds. Unlike the previous SHOs though, this model was designed for comfort instead of performance.

A 235 hp (175 kW) 3.4 L DOHC V8 was specified for the SHO model but the 5-speed manual transmission was deleted. The V8 in the SHO model (produced from 1996 to 1999) increased curb weight, and the lack of a manual transmission option meant the new SHO lacked the acceleration of the previous generation manual transmission cars, though its top speed of 144 mph (232 km/h) was higher and its cornering and braking were improved. These engines were assembled by Yamaha in Japan but more parts were made by Ford than in the earlier Yamaha-built V6.

Separation of the camshaft from its sprocket (components shared with at least one other Ford engine with significantly lower output) has been implicated in a growing number of catastrophic failures of this engine, at around the 50,000 mile (80,000 km) mark. The standard warranty on this model was 36,000 miles (58,000 km). This problem can be rectified by having the camshafts welded. This SHO model sold in lower numbers than the previous SHO generations, with sales peaking at 9,000 units in 1997. As a result, Ford cut the SHO when redesigning the Taurus for its fourth generation.



4th GEN SHO

There was never a fourth gen SHO made but that didn't stop the good ol' boys at NESHO from making there own. What they did was take one of there rebuilt SHO V8's and shoehorn it into a fourth gen body. They also did some minor cosmetic mods to it such as SHO side markings and I think Blacked out headlamps. They are willing to make them for people now that they finnaly worked the bugs out of there's. If I remeber reading right they are goin to try to boost it in some way,either turbo or supercharger.

VID:http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...27458415165033

I can't find any pics of it anywhere now of course so I guess you'll have to watch the vid.

Links

www.shoforum.com (#1 SHO owners site)
www.nesho.com ( One of the best SHO shops IMO )
www.shobros.com (Leading aftermarket SHO part site)

Hey mitch you forgot the second u in taurus

whoops!