Sedan Ramblings - Reviews, comparisons and all things sedans
Fast Fords - Then & Now
The Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III and Taurus SHO (13/05/01)
It was exactly 100 years ago that the first "fast Ford" was introduced, a 2-cylinder 26 horsepower machine that won its first race in 1901 with Henry Ford at the wheel. Seven decades later, a 4-door model named the Falcon was successfully racing in the Australian Touring Car Championship. This model was also available as a road version, the most powerful being the XY GTHO Phase III. Falcon GT models had been introduced in 1967, starting with the 289ci V8 XR models that introduced the 4-door muscle sedan in Australia, however it wasn't until 1971 that the XY GT was released.
This base model, the XY GT, featured a 5.8L (351ci) V8 engine. Producing 300 horsepower at 5400rpm and 380lb-ft of torque at 3400rpm, this model was more powerful than all but one model offered by Holden, the 350 GTS, with which it shared identical outputs. 1557 examples of this model were produced, while a more limited edition named the XY GTHO Phase III (of which only 300 were built) featured modifications in all aspects to generously improve performance.
One of the main features of both cars was the "shaker" air intake that was bolted to the engine but protruded from the hood, so named because of its tendency to shake even when the car was at idle. The GTHO Phase III featured modifications to it in order to achieve better cold air intake, as well as a new Holley four-barrel-downdraught carburettor, new intake manifold and new engine heads equipped with updated valves and valve springs. A more aggressive camshaft, a higher capacity water pump and a new alternator were also implemented. The result: approximately 390 horsepower at 5900rpm with no increase in displacement.
Also included in the $1000 premium for a Phase III over the $4250 required for the standard GT were an updated clutch and differential and new callipers for the front disc brakes, with larger shoes for the rear drums. The transmission remained a 4-speed manual unit, generally equipped with a final drive ratio of 3.25:1. It shouldn't come as any surprise that the Phase III is fast. It reaches 100 km/h (62mph) in 6.4 seconds, completes the quarter-mile in 14.4 and ultimately tops out at 142 mph (229 km/h).
As previously mentioned, this model was also a successful racer. In 1971, a Falcon won outright at the 1000 km of Bathurst and 5 Fords placed in the top 6. Its racing career continued into 1972, where a 630bhp XY GTHO Phase III Falcon led a Boss 302 Mustang in the one of the rounds of the 1972 Australian Touring Car Championship held at Bathurst, goingo on to win.
Although a new version of the Falcon "GT" exists (the 268hp XR8) the second Ford to be focused on in this issue of Sedan Ramblings will instead be a car that is familiar to any North American car enthusiast: the Taurus SHO.
The V6 powered Taurus SHO (Super High Output) was produced between 1989 and 1995. Designed and built by Yamaha, the 24-valve DOHC V6 engine is the centrepiece of the car, equipped with a multi-port electronic fuel-injection system controlled by Ford's EEC-IV computer. It produces 220 horsepower at 6200rpm and 200lb-ft of torque at 4800rpm from 3.0L of displacement for cars equipped with the 5-speed manual transmission. From 1993 onwards, a 4-speed automatic transmission was also available on the SHO, the models outfitted with this option also receiving a displacement increase to 3.2L and consequently a higher torque rating, 215lb-ft vs. the normal 200.
Not only do these engines provide good performance, but also great reliability. They redline at 7000rpm with a rev limiter cutting out cylinders to hold the rpms steady at 7300, however this is done in order to protect accessory drive components rather than the engine, which has been tested up to 8500rpm. It is also not uncommon for these cars to see well over 200K miles.
Since they were produced in such large numbers, nearly 85,000 over the six year production run, most examples in good condition can be acquired for very reasonable sums of money but are, for the same reason, not excellent collector's cars. Only one model is quite rare, the SHO Plus produced only as a 1991 model that featured various cosmetic modifications and, on a small number of cars, fibreglass hoods. This model features a $2000-3000 premium over a basic '91 SHO.
The exterior differences separating the SHO from ordinary Taurii are minor and few, keeping the go-fast identity of the car a complete mystery from most motorists. Included are a new front bumper cover and foglamps, side ground effects, new rear bumper with the letters SHO stamped on it, stainless steel dual exhaust tips and the small rear spoiler.
Most importantly, however, the SHO is quite fast. A '93 model in automatic guise reaches 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, the 1/4 mile mark in 15.4 and eventually attains a top speed of over 140 mph (225 km/h), while manual equipped cars are generally even faster. To put that into perspective, those numbers would shame any pre-'94 Mustang GT.
No road going rocket, but speed is also not the SHO's only forte. For an excellent blend of performance, affordability and a great sleeper cloak, the Taurus SHO is a supremely competent package.
© Traian Popescu , World's Fastest Sedans (http://www.fantasycars.com/sedans/), 2001.
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