Did the Ford Taurus SHO come in manual?
The short answer is yes—but only in the car's original first generation. All later SHO models were automatic-only.
From its debut in the late 1980s, the Ford Taurus SHO carved out a niche as a performance sedan that paired family-car practicality with a sporty drivetrain. The manual-transmission option became a defining feature of the early cars, but as the model evolved, Ford shifted toward automatic transmissions for the SHO lineup. The following overview summarizes how transmission choices changed across the SHO’s history.
Historical transmission options by generations
The Taurus SHO's transmission setup evolved with each generation. The following summary notes where a manual was available and where Ford stuck to automatics.
- Gen 1 — 1989 to 1995: The original SHO is best known for offering a 5-speed manual transmission as a common configuration. An automatic option existed in some cases, but manual was the defining choice for most buyers and aspirants of the era.
- Gen 2 — 1996 to 1999: All SHO models in this period used automatic transmissions; there was no factory manual option available.
- Gen 3 — 2003 to 2009: The modern-era SHO was automatic-only.
- Gen 4 — 2010 to 2019: The EcoBoost-era SHO used an automatic transmission exclusively, with performance-oriented software and paddle controls but no manual gearbox.
In summary, if you’re seeking a factory-produced Taurus SHO with a manual transmission, your best bet is a first-generation model from 1989–1995. For all subsequent SHOs, transmission choice was automatic only, reflecting a broader industry shift toward automatic performance sedans in the 2000s and 2010s.
Collector perspective
Manual-equipped first-generation SHO examples are relatively rare and are particularly prized by collectors and driving enthusiasts who value the hands-on experience of a traditional sports sedan. If you’re shopping today, condition, originality, and documentation—especially for a 5-speed—play a large role in value.
Summary
The Ford Taurus SHO did come with a manual transmission, but only in its original first generation. Subsequent generations were automatic-only, making the manual option a distinctive trait of early SHOs.
