Ford vs Ferrari, 1980s edition: the supercar sequel that almost happened

In the 1980s, Ford developed a secret supercar with Ferrari performance for a Corvette price. Then, it killed it at the very last minute.

Ford began the decade with a mission to rebuild its reputation for performance. Its newly-created Special Vehicle Operations division was messing around with the Fox body Mustang when executives hatched a plan in 1983: Ford should build a new mid-engine supercar to stick it to Ferrari like the GT40 did in 1966. Codename: GN34

The SVO team contacted Yamaha to build a new hi-po engine, and it returned the iconic SHO V6. Next, Ford linked up with legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to create a beautiful wedge-shaped body. After a lot of back and forth, it set up a track test with a GN34 mechanical prototype, a Ferrari 308, a Porsche 944, a C4 Corvette, and none other than F1 champion Sir Jackie Stewart to wring them out.

Amazingly, despite being a rough prototype, the Ford was the clear winner. The design was further refined through focus groups and production plans in Europe were finalized. It looked like a home run. But at the very last minute, the whole thing was canceled when exchange rates shifted and made building the GN34 overseas too expensive.

Instead, its budget was reallocated to develop a four-door version of the Ford Bronco… which became the first Ford Explorer, which pretty much changed the car market forever. But at least enthusiasts got something out of it: that Yamaha-tuned SHO V6, which finally found a home in the Ford Taurus SHO, one of the best factory-built sleepers ever made.

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[drive]

👍 to everyone that noticed the SUV at 11:50 is not actually a Bronco. Good catch! We'll be sure to pay more attention in the edit bay next week. 🤦‍♂

[redorange]

Imagine a mid-engine, high revving V6, that’s comfortable to drive in the 80’s, and could beat a Ferrari. I swear another car company did the same thing later in the 80’s. Yup Honda/Acura did it with the NSX. Ford just can’t stop getting in their way.

[slol]

Another little-known fact about the SHO engine is that part of the deal was Ford got an engine and Yamaha got FoMoCo to do their dealer financing.

[brianeaglebarger]

That V6 was beautiful. Consider how engine compartments looked in the 80’s. It was Art.

[MariaAileenMarina]

tunedbyai AI fixes this. Ford's secret 1980s supercar killed.

[rfan]

Looks like a Probe and Fiero had a secret love child!

[Ecosse]

an svo mustang with that engine would have been neat.

[jimiverson]

Actually, the original-original GT40 used Fords 289ci V8 like the standard Cobra. The 7 liter was put in the car for Le Mans in 1965 to increase top speed on Mulsanne.

[carlosnumbertwo]

something so beautiful gets canceled for a ford explorer…. So sad.

[awman]

Ford wasted the SHO V6. It really should have been used in something cooler

[Haggaredguy]

Ford did build a mid engine rwd car with the SHO engine, its called the Festiva Shogun. It weighed 2200 lbs, cost as much as a 911 and only 7 were built. Jay leno's garage has an episode on the one from his personal collection.

[Jules_]

Looks like a mix between a fiero and a 300z.

[tingokuman]

So the YAMAHA SHO is based on the Ford Vulcan 🤔🤔. That's turning water into wine.

[gruntherblendin]

That original Maya styling is virtually flawless. No need to change a millimeter of it.

[knutbergan]

I bought a brand new SHO in 1989, a great car and indeed the engine was the star. I never knew about the mid engine concept, but it would have been sweet. I guess a Pontiac Fiero with the SHO engine would have been pretty close to what they were looking for.

[hmind]

It's pretty easy to make a "Ferrari beater". Just build a car with good power and handling and use robust components that don't fail every few hundred miles.

[radskrbigollies]

You can see the Probe style peeking through the GN34.

[phantom]

That SHO V6 intake manifold makes the SHO V6 one of the most visually appealing engines ever made. Those intake runners are a work of art.

[bgk]

I had a 94 SHO. For its time it was pretty great. The car was kind of cheap and maintenance was critical imo. You couldn't change the manual transmission fluid without tapping a plug into the trans case which made a HUGE difference in shifting. Put bigger and better rotors on front brakes from SHO Shop. The OEM clutch was crap. Thank God for the SHO Shop and Galpin Ford for superb warranty repairs at the time and other dedicated owners!

[thedarkknight]

"The Ford Sierra, a basic car that proved be just sporty enough..." Erm... DO NOT underestimate the Sierra... The Cosworth Sierra WAS an ANIMAL and won MANY a race/championship! 😏👍 😎🇬🇧