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This thread brings back many memories. I had a 1989 SHO for about 12 years. It was my first "family" car, purchased new in 1990. I really enjoyed that car. Modded it with Konis, springs, exhaust, extrude honed intake, ECU tune, Baer brakes, wheels, tires, rod-shifter assembly, etc.
I've never been much of a Ford fan, but this talk of the SHO reminds me of one of my favorite Fords of that era, the Thunderbird Super Coupe. I was quite fond of the Thunderbird SC, particularly in white, back at that time.
I've never been much of a Ford fan, but this talk of the SHO reminds me of one of my favorite Fords of that era, the Thunderbird Super Coupe. I was quite fond of the Thunderbird SC, particularly in white, back at that time.
That was also one of the least-expensive ways to get an honest V8 with an American nameplate. The 2-seat Thunderbird, which replaced it in 2001, was vastly-overpriced with dealer-markups.
I've never been much of a Ford fan, but this talk of the SHO reminds me of one of my favorite Fords of that era, the Thunderbird Super Coupe. I was quite fond of the Thunderbird SC, particularly in white, back at that time.
Yes me too! Back then I always turned my head when I saw one of those, they looked so sleek for its time.
That was also one of the least-expensive ways to get an honest V8 with an American nameplate. The 2-seat Thunderbird, which replaced it in 2001, was vastly-overpriced with dealer-markups.
I do recall that they added a V8 a couple years in to that gen of the Thunderbird, but I don't think they offered the V8 on the SC, did they? The version I am thinking of had the supercharged 3.8 V6.
Originally Posted by patgilm
Yes me too! Back then I always turned my head when I saw one of those, they looked so sleek for its time.
The parents of one of my junior high friends bought one when they first came out and I remember being very jealous.
That was also one of the least-expensive ways to get an honest V8 with an American nameplate. The 2-seat Thunderbird, which replaced it in 2001, was vastly-overpriced with dealer-markups.
The sporty Super Coupe came with a supercharged 3.8L V6. The more luxury-oriented Thunderbird LX was the one with the 5.0L V8 from the Mustang (which was actually 4.9 liters...shhhhh).
The sporty Super Coupe came with a supercharged 3.8L V6. The more luxury-oriented Thunderbird LX was the one with the 5.0L V8 from the Mustang (which was actually 4.9 liters...shhhhh).
I wasn't just referring to the Super Coupe verson, but the T-Bird in general. If my memory is correct, they also offered a turbo-4 in some versions of the T-Bird, but it had problems and was not successful.
That-generation T-Bird also had a Mercury Cougar corporate brother, but it was replaced by a smaller, Ford Contour-based successor, and then dropped.
Back to the Taurus, a Chinese version of it is still (apparently) in production in that country.....it has only been dropped in the U.S.
Here in the U.S., the dropping of the Taurus means, of course, that the police (once again, as with the Crown Vic), will have lost a substantial part of their new-vehicle-choice. Unless they choose the police-spec Explorers, Ford will have lost that market to Dodge's Charger and Chevy's Tahoe.
Back to the Taurus, a Chinese version of it is still (apparently) in production in that country.....it has only been dropped in the U.S.
Here in the U.S., the dropping of the Taurus means, of course, that the police (once again, as with the Crown Vic), will have lost a substantial part of their new-vehicle-choice. Unless they choose the police-spec Explorers, Ford will have lost that market to Dodge's Charger and Chevy's Tahoe.
They just move on to something else. Ford Explorers are very popular as police vehicles.
They just move on to something else. Ford Explorers are very popular as police vehicles.
Most of the officers I've actually talked to miss the Crown Vics more than anything...they still haven't forgiven Ford for dropping it. Yes, they have (or had) the Taurus and Explorer replacements, but their real love was the Vic. Some police departments, of course, gave up on Ford altogether and ordered Dodge Chargers or Chevy Tahoe.
It also must be remembered that, in most cases, new police cars, in fleet-purchases, are not ordered by the rank-and-file officers themselves, but by politicians, police-chiefs, and those in high administrative positions.
Most of the officers I've actually talked to miss the Crown Vics more than anything...they still haven't forgiven Ford for dropping it. Yes, they have (or had) the Taurus and Explorer replacements, but their real love was the Vic. Some police departments, of course, gave up on Ford altogether and ordered Dodge Chargers or Chevy Tahoe.
It also must be remembered that, in most cases, new police cars, in fleet-purchases, are not ordered by the rank-and-file officers themselves, but by politicians, police-chiefs, and those in high administrative positions.
The new generation of police officers will have no recollection of the old Crown Vics. Not everyone is gonna miss them.
This really is about the original Taurus BTW.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Dec 6, 2019 at 01:02 PM.
Most of the officers I've actually talked to miss the Crown Vics more than anything...they still haven't forgiven Ford for dropping it. Yes, they have (or had) the Taurus and Explorer replacements, but their real love was the Vic. Some police departments, of course, gave up on Ford altogether and ordered Dodge Chargers or Chevy Tahoe.
It also must be remembered that, in most cases, new police cars, in fleet-purchases, are not ordered by the rank-and-file officers themselves, but by politicians, police-chiefs, and those in high administrative positions.
I wonder how many officers actually hold a grudge against Ford for dropping the Crown Vic? As Jill mentioned, most younger officers probably don't remember it or don't think too much about it.
I wonder how many officers actually hold a grudge against Ford for dropping the Crown Vic? As Jill mentioned, most younger officers probably don't remember it or don't think too much about it.
