Welcome back to Shitbox Showdown! I trust you are all well on this fine Thursday morning. Today, I’ve got two cars guaranteed to provide weekend fun – after you spend a few weekends putting them right. But first, let’s see how our “P.O.S. Blowout” went yesterday:
Wow, that Nitro couldn’t even beat out a PowerShift Fiesta. That’s saying something. And yes, I’m perfectly aware that there were better options available in this particular used car sale. And if I were actually shopping for one, those would be my choice. But for entertainment value, I think I chose correctly.
Today’s choices are both from the post-malaise late 1980s and early 1990s, when horsepower started to creep back under hoods, and American automakers discovered that there was such a thing as “handling.” Even better, manual transmissions were still de rigeur for performance cars. Both of these cars have seen better days, it’s true, but either one could still provide some cheap thrills, if you’re willing to turn a wrench or two. Let’s check them out.
1991 Ford Taurus SHO – $1,990
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter dual overhead cam V6, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Eugene, OR
Odometer reading: 45,000 miles
Runs/drives? Yes, but has been sitting, and power steering is out
Take one run-of-the-mill midsized sedan, add a high-revving engine from a company that knows a thing or two about the upper rev ranges, back it with a manual gearbox, cram it full of luxury options, and what do you get? Well, if you ask Ford, you get a BMW competitor. That might have been a bit of a stretch, but the first-generation Ford Taurus SHO was a hell of a car. Not a refined car, but it was fast (for the late ’80s), great-handling (for a Taurus), and flew so far under the radar it was practically invisible. Only a trained eye could spot the subtle differences between this and a rental-spec Taurus – until you opened the hood and saw this:
The SHO’s Yamaha-built four-cam V6, with its sinuous variable-length intake runners, is still an impressive sight today, even covered in dust and gunk from storage like this one. This engine puts out 220 horsepower, and redlines at 7,000 RPM. If you’ve never experienced one of these cars, you’re missing out. Plenty of cars are outright faster, or better handling, but the fun factor of a manual SHO is off the charts. It’s more exciting to drive than any Taurus has a right to be.
This SHO has very few miles on it, but it has been sitting for a long time, it sounds like. It runs and drives, but the power steering is kaput, and we all know how much needs to be done to a car after it comes out of long-term storage. Belts, hoses, tires, fuel, and all fluids will need to be changed. The paint and interior are also a little tired, but that just adds to the stealth factor. Refurbish it back to 100% mechanically, leave it scruffy, and go have some fun.
It’s too bad the original wheels are absent, though. And personally I’d prefer something other than refrigerator-white. But there weren’t too many SHOs to begin with, and a lot of them are gone now, so if you want one, beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to color.
1989 Chevrolet Camaro RS – $2,900
Engine/drivetrain: 5.0 liter overhead valve V8, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Silverton, OR
Odometer reading: 98,000 miles
Runs/drives? Runs great!
Yeah, yeah. I know. Go ahead; make the mullet jokes and the Dead Milkmen references. Get it all out of your system. I don’t care. I unabashedly love the third-generation Camaro. I’ve never owned one, but I’ve driven a couple, and I’m aware of all the faults and shortcomings. They rattle and squeak and they ride like ox-carts and build quality is only a suggestion. But they also handle better than you’d expect, and they make cool V8 noises – as long as you get one with a V8. And really, why wouldn’t you?
This Camaro has the least-powerful V8 available in 1989, a simple throttle-body fuel injected 305 making 170 horsepower. It’s mated to a five-speed manual, the enthusiast’s choice, but a bit rare for a Camaro. Automatics aren’t really a sin in these cars; they fit their “mash the gas and cackle maniacally” character, but the discerning F-body connoisseur demands a clutch pedal. This car is said to run and drive well.
That’s a good thing, because cosmetically, it needs some help. The seller says it’s “in the middle of restoration,” but to me it just looks worn-out. These cars are all cheap flimsy plastic inside anyway, and with the abuse they too often see, it doesn’t hold up. The seller says it comes with everything needed to fix it up, though.
Outside, it’s, well, an old Camaro. Spots of primer and Bondo are almost expected. The seller says the only real rust is in the rear hatch, and they’re including a replacement for that. With a little know-how, you could whip this thing into shape in no time. Or leave it looking as-is, and embrace the stereotypes.
Having a second “fun” car can take a lot of pressure off your daily driver. It’s hard to find one car that can get you to work reliably and economically, and also be fun to tinker with on the weekends. So why try? Get a second car. Make it something cheap, manual, and out-of-the-ordinary. Like one of these, for instance. Which one would find a home in your garage?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
Trust me on this, you want to buy the best SHO you can find. It doesn’t have to be super mint BaT quality, just enthusiast owned and loved. This fucker is trashed. There is no way in hell it has only 45k on it. It’s a parts car at best.
That Camaro also looks like a turd of an example. You can do better for not much more.
I am sitting this one out.
Parts and service will be more difficult and expensive for the SHO, but it got my vote because it’s the better vehicle and I’ve always liked them.
I chose the SHO as ultimately more interesting, although a slightly shabby 305 V8 Camaro is just a 350 or 383 swap away from interesting. Tough choice, where SHO versus non-V8 Camaro RS would be a no brainer despite my interest in putting a supercharged 3800 V6 in third generation F body
I have had a few of the 5.0 RS slomaros, and I would take one again with that 5 speed and no TPI. They are pretty decent all around cars, But a manual SHO is actually pretty rare and the SHO in general is always going to be more bespoke so also less of an issue to spend money on to keep and then maybe flip when the time was right. The only really scary part would be obtaining the really bespoke Yamaha sourced only parts.
The SHO is unique, an “if you know, you know” car and could be made presentable more easily. Hell, I’d argue it was more all-around fun than the Camaro even when both were new.
I have a soft spot for those SHO’s. My dad bought a fully loaded ’87 Taurus new off the lot, and was super disappointed when the SHO came out in ’89 as he would have much rather had that instead. At that price, I would go buy it today if it was closer to me, and I am fully aware of the amount of work it would take to get it road worthy again.
The fact that they are asking $1 under the normal BaT starting bid is awesome as well.
Oh man. Today I want them both! As much as I love the 3rd gen Camaro, I gotta go with the SHO.
It’s SHO easy to make a decision on this one.
Growing up in the 80s in Norfolk VA, a big Navy town, the 3rd gen Camaro was the official car of the “19 year old male who just joined the Navy and bought a Camaro at the corner buy-here-pay-here lot at 30% interest and repo’ed if even a day late on a payment” type of person. We called them “squids” and the 3rd gen Camaro will always be a “Squidmobile” to me. In hindsight, I know this isn’t fair at all to anyone or anything.
But in all seriousness, I remember rows of these dealerships right outside the base. They were incredibly predatory and lots of young men got a big black ding on their credit with a repo. It happened so often, and the interest rates were so high, that my dad, who Captained a couple ships, set up a policy on his ship that anyone buying a car had to have the paperwork reviewed by him before any purchase. Maybe that wouldn’t fly today, but he did it out of love for his sailors after seeing so many of them get burned.
Almost 3K for that POS Camaro? I’m an F-Body fan, but ugh I hate the base model Camaros. The Firebirds were just so much nicer.
“mid-restoration” is a clever way to explain away the primer spots.
Back to the price…. I’m mulling over selling my ’00 Formula LS1 car, and 3k-ish is what I was thinking. Maybe time to reevaluate pricing.
This is an RS with v8 and manual. it is a step up from a 2.8 v6 and auto trans which would have been the base. Not huge step, but not that bad of one either. And yes a running 345 LS1 motor alone is worth darn near 1,000 on it’s own. You sold it cheap it sounds like.
Fair point. At least the 305 RS makes the rights sounds compared to the Iron Dukes or the 2.8.
I still have the Formula, I’m considering selling it. I don’t drive it nearly as much as I used to. I have other hobbies, a “fast car” is now much lower on the priorities list. Although, I’m on the verge of giving up on saving for a house, so that’ll give me some disposable income to play with and maybe putting it back on the road isn’t the dumbest thing I could do. We are getting into my favorite season for driving it. Fall weather with the t-tops off and the heat on, listening to the magnaflow. is just so nice.
I agree, I like this time of year for old iron too. I had a 95 formula with the LT1, it was good until the optispark had lots of troubles, the LS1 is a big step up,.
Yes! I think the LT1 sounds better than the LS, but otherwise I’m really glad I held out for the LS. LT1 was still a great engine, it was just too bad about the opti. I have a coworker with an LT1 C4, it’s misfiring and throwing codes but he can’t find anyone to touch it. Nobody wants to work on a 1990-something.
Camaro…even though it’s a SHO, it’s still a Ford Taurus
You know which one I voted for. My folks drove it up here from the Bahamas!
I like that year Camaro, and it does have a lot of potential, but they are a dime a dozen compared to a 1st gen SHO that is fairly straight. For that price, you could bring it all the way back to nice daily condition and still come out alright if/when you sell. Also, I’m from the “Show Me” state, so I’m going SHO!
So they listed a 1991 for $1990? What a missed opportunity! I’d give them an extra buck just to be able to say I bought my 1991 for $1991.00.
That is a seriously rough looking SHO. I voted the Camaro for that reason.
Maybe if you could get a pristine Ford Festiva, and pull the engine from the SHO…
I’d do either tbh, but gimme the V8, I’ll make it snort.
I’d also do either, but chose the SHO because I’ve never worked on or driven one. Camaro on the other hand, I’ve spent plenty of time fixing.
Damn! Both of my SHO’s sold for $2,900 and the second one was super clean! Used car pricing is wierd!
I’m still shocked to see a Gen1 SHO without rust chewing up every welded seam.
The odometer on the SHO is only 5 barrels. No way in hell this thing only has 45,000mi. Looks more like 445,000mi.
Just look at the steering wheel. No way that happens in 45k miles. That being said, I’ve owned pretty much that Camaro (a 91 RS with the 5.slow and an automatic transmission.) I’ll still take the Camaro because a LS swap would be cheap and easy.
I agree about the steering wheel and other things in there, but the drivers seat is a mystery. Those usually look trashed by 100K miles with the inflatable side bolsters all torn up. Strangely, the damage is all on the passengers seat. This car must have a weird story.
Manual SHO? This is the only correct choice.
This is simple for me: SHO. I love the Taurus, especially the first gen, so the trashed interior, unknown mileage, and problems from sitting in a barn are easy to overlook, especially for $3K.
Putting on my grumpy old man hat now. Kids today have no appreciation for the greatness of the Taurus, the regular one or the SHO. The SHO wasn’t just some moderately fast but otherwise shitty family sedan. Just go read Car and Driver’s December 1988 review to get a sense of just how groundbreaking the SHO was.
Back in the 90s, you could usually beat a SHO from 0-60. Then they would destroy you, they were very fast at highway speed!
That SHO was really appealing, but I love the big dumb fun energy of that Camaro.
I won’t fault your choice… but might question your reasoning. I’m not sure 170hp is enough for “big dumb fun.”
RWD, Stick, one legger donuts for days.
I voted for the SHO. I had a 90, lots of fond memories. If I recall correctly the 91 came with a composite hood and a rod shifter (as opposed to cables, it made the gearbox slightly less vague).
My ’94 had the rod shifter and it was pretty good. In some ways I prefer the gen1 style.
I had an ’89 and a ’93 SHO. The gen1 was really flat in the corners. I was kinda pissed at the slight body-roll of the gen2, but quickly appreciated the quieter and smoother ride. It just felt more solid. I appreciated the rod shifting. I don’t remember it being dramatic, but I remember shifting to be more reliable. Less trouble going from 1st to 2nd.
Are you thinking about the police interceptor Taurus? I never heard of an SHO having a composite hood (unless rust and paint counts as a composite). The rod shifting came with the gen2 SHO in ’92.
Edit: Wikipedia mentions an option package #212A, which had a composite “power bulge” hood. I have never heard-of or seen such a thing, and I’m a fan going way back.
Aaaand after some searching, it looks like I found a picture:(The green one)
Review: 2010 Ford Taurus SHO gets measured against the original – Autoblog
Go figure. I learned something new today.
Edit-Edit: Maybe more of them had the ‘power bulge’ hood than I knew. It is pretty subtle. Also, I think this white one might have it.
Ah ha, a fellow SHO-man i see. There was a rare package specific to the SHO that was only available in lat 1990 and 1991 that did include a composite hood with a very minor bulge. The package did have some other exterior trim pieces as well:
“plastic ‘Power Bulge’ hood, chrome window trim, a plastic spoiler without the 3rd brake light, body colored stripe in the lower cladding, black mirrors, black B and C pillars, rod shifter upgrade, and a body color TAURUS badge. There were also some SHOs that came with only part of the package options known in the community as a ‘partial plus’, but these were really only regular SHOs that received the other options because Ford needed to use up what they had with the body change coming in 1992.”
Easiest one in a while… It’s SHOtime all day every day! (at least until midnight tonight)
I voted the SHO: better a basket of snakes than a bucket of shit.
As for the white…well Tremclad/Rustoleum come in that colour. Good enough for me.
I always assumed the Dead Milkmen were singing about a 2nd gen Camaro.