TimboSHO
Intermediate
1987 Mercury Sable SHO Wagon ‘Hot Rod’
This wagon spent its first few years as a 3.0 Vulcan and automatic transmission. At 60 thousand miles in 1990, it was dismantled, and parts were swapped over from a newly wrecked 1989 Taurus SHO with only 4500 miles. The Ford engineer that undertook this project put the bigger clutch in it and used the newly released rod shifter. The 3.0 Yamaha designed SHO engine mated to the manual transmission looks right at home in the engine bay, as no detail was overlooked. There are three small differences in the engine bay he showed me, but they are small enough that it is difficult to notice. The conversion was completed in early 1991, I believe, and the car was only driven on occasion. It only showed 38K miles on the odometer (which was used from the totaled SHO) when I bought it in 2011.
I’ve done a little maintenance on the body since I’ve gotten it, and added a few more upgrades. It looks completely stock on the outside (besides the SHO wheels). It’s now up to 54K miles but is as potent and reliable as ever. I still surprise many cars that look a lot faster than this one.
I was planning on keeping this car forever as a family hauler, cruiser, etc., but after my second son was born, I realized that car seats of this day and age were not made to fit in a 27 year old car, and to fit them and my 6’1” frame into it I had to cram my knees into the dash and my chest into the steering wheel. It was at this moment that I realized I just can’t practically keep the car anymore. I also don't have the time to work on two highly modified cars. It has done everything else I have asked of it (and more), but I have another track SHO, and can’t have two ‘fun’ cars. So this has to go.
Your gain, my loss. Here’s a run-down.
The good:
-54K mile SHO drivetrain, gauge cluster, front seats, center console
-completely mechanically sound
-new NAPA clutch and new FORD flywheel
-tockico struts and shocks
-eibach front springs/ moog cargo coils in the rear
-2001 mustang GT 2 piston PBR calipers up front with 10.9” powerslot rotors, 89 SHO rear brakes
-NOS headlamps
-K&N panel air filter
-94/95 SHO knuckles
-custom 2.5” exhaust with magnaflow mufflers
-class 2 trailer hitch with wiring
-3rd row jump seat
-picnic tray
-cargo shade
-adjustable strut mounts and camber kit in rear to allow 0 camber all the way around (for better tire wear as a daily driver)
-auto dimming compass mirror (not hooked up, but wiring included)
-new windshield
-Kenwood cd/mp3 player with ipod control
-R-12 A/C still blows cold
-body still only has about 114K miles
-in extremely good condition for its age
-I get a lot of positive comments on it, and no one can believe its age
-everything works (except the gas tank release quit working this winter, and the power antenna just quit recently)
-will include 16x6” SHO directional slicers with ‘plain’ center caps and 16x7” T-bird wheels with 1993 mustang cobra center caps (other options available as well)
-lots of extra parts included
(I have probably overlooked some other things, and I will keep adding as I remember...)
The Bad:
-Some rust coming back through. No holes, just surface
-Defrost door issues (automatic climate control)
-When an aftermarket sunroof was installed in the late 80’s they cut out most of the factory headliner, and it is literally falling apart now
-Driver’s seat is torn where you get in and out of the car
-rear cloth seat fabric is getting old and disintegrating
-cracked dash (extra dash included)
-other cracked trim pieces (but extras included)
-spare tire is 14” and won’t fit over front brakes. 15” spare will not fit in spare tire well
-sometimes difficult to find parts for a 27 year old custom modified sports wagon
Please let me know if you have any questions. This car is perfectly capable as a daily driver, but needs a little attention to last for a long long time. I’m asking for $3500, but I am negotiable as well. Please don’t offer me $500 for the car without even seeing it. Thanks for looking!
Additional pictures here:
This wagon spent its first few years as a 3.0 Vulcan and automatic transmission. At 60 thousand miles in 1990, it was dismantled, and parts were swapped over from a newly wrecked 1989 Taurus SHO with only 4500 miles. The Ford engineer that undertook this project put the bigger clutch in it and used the newly released rod shifter. The 3.0 Yamaha designed SHO engine mated to the manual transmission looks right at home in the engine bay, as no detail was overlooked. There are three small differences in the engine bay he showed me, but they are small enough that it is difficult to notice. The conversion was completed in early 1991, I believe, and the car was only driven on occasion. It only showed 38K miles on the odometer (which was used from the totaled SHO) when I bought it in 2011.
I’ve done a little maintenance on the body since I’ve gotten it, and added a few more upgrades. It looks completely stock on the outside (besides the SHO wheels). It’s now up to 54K miles but is as potent and reliable as ever. I still surprise many cars that look a lot faster than this one.
I was planning on keeping this car forever as a family hauler, cruiser, etc., but after my second son was born, I realized that car seats of this day and age were not made to fit in a 27 year old car, and to fit them and my 6’1” frame into it I had to cram my knees into the dash and my chest into the steering wheel. It was at this moment that I realized I just can’t practically keep the car anymore. I also don't have the time to work on two highly modified cars. It has done everything else I have asked of it (and more), but I have another track SHO, and can’t have two ‘fun’ cars. So this has to go.
Your gain, my loss. Here’s a run-down.
The good:
-54K mile SHO drivetrain, gauge cluster, front seats, center console
-completely mechanically sound
-new NAPA clutch and new FORD flywheel
-tockico struts and shocks
-eibach front springs/ moog cargo coils in the rear
-2001 mustang GT 2 piston PBR calipers up front with 10.9” powerslot rotors, 89 SHO rear brakes
-NOS headlamps
-K&N panel air filter
-94/95 SHO knuckles
-custom 2.5” exhaust with magnaflow mufflers
-class 2 trailer hitch with wiring
-3rd row jump seat
-picnic tray
-cargo shade
-adjustable strut mounts and camber kit in rear to allow 0 camber all the way around (for better tire wear as a daily driver)
-auto dimming compass mirror (not hooked up, but wiring included)
-new windshield
-Kenwood cd/mp3 player with ipod control
-R-12 A/C still blows cold
-body still only has about 114K miles
-in extremely good condition for its age
-I get a lot of positive comments on it, and no one can believe its age
-everything works (except the gas tank release quit working this winter, and the power antenna just quit recently)
-will include 16x6” SHO directional slicers with ‘plain’ center caps and 16x7” T-bird wheels with 1993 mustang cobra center caps (other options available as well)
-lots of extra parts included
(I have probably overlooked some other things, and I will keep adding as I remember...)
The Bad:
-Some rust coming back through. No holes, just surface
-Defrost door issues (automatic climate control)
-When an aftermarket sunroof was installed in the late 80’s they cut out most of the factory headliner, and it is literally falling apart now
-Driver’s seat is torn where you get in and out of the car
-rear cloth seat fabric is getting old and disintegrating
-cracked dash (extra dash included)
-other cracked trim pieces (but extras included)
-spare tire is 14” and won’t fit over front brakes. 15” spare will not fit in spare tire well
-sometimes difficult to find parts for a 27 year old custom modified sports wagon
Please let me know if you have any questions. This car is perfectly capable as a daily driver, but needs a little attention to last for a long long time. I’m asking for $3500, but I am negotiable as well. Please don’t offer me $500 for the car without even seeing it. Thanks for looking!
Additional pictures here:
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