The Ford Contour SVT Is The Underappreciated '90s Classic That Everyone Forgets

"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo)
05/11/2016 at 15:36 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Blog, Ford, Contour, SVT

The original Taurus SHO was a legend. 5-Speed, a Yamaha tuned engine and as fast as a Mustang GT. When the RoboCop body style finally aged-out in 1995, the SHO badge was carried onto the newly crappy redesigned Taurus. The rightful heir to the SHO bloodline, however, was to be found in a different model altogether. Find this 1999 Ford Contour SVT for sale in Pittsburgh, PA for $3,600 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

While Ford fans everywhere mourned the passing of the original SHO, those paying attention found a passable descendant when the Contour SVT appeared in 1998. At nearly the same weight as the original SHO, FWD, 5-speed transmission, and a 24 valve V6, the new Contour SVT turned in nearly identical acceleration times. Meanwhile, the V8 powered 1998 Taurus SHO was now available only as an automatic, was slower, weighed 400 lbs. more and was prone to camshaft-related engine failure at an early age.

Not nearly enough performance buffs put their money down on a SVT Contour to make it more than an automotive footnote. In spite of glowing reviews from the press and owners, only 11,445 of them ever rolled out of the Kansas City plant. The year 2000 was the last for the Contour nameplate altogether.

Decent examples of the original SHO are getting harder and harder to find each year. If you can’t track down the one you want, consider this Contour. You might just find it to be the first generation SHO’s true descendant.

See another under-appreciated performance 4-door? email us here: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Orginally written by Andy Liss and published as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Image credits craigslist.

DISCUSSION (22)

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > DailyTurismo
05/11/2016 at 15:40

The rightful heir to the SHO bloodline, however, was to be found in a different model altogether.

I feel this same thing is happening again right now as we speak.

The new 2017 Fusion Sport is what the Taurus SHO should of been from the start.

dogisbadob > DailyTurismo
05/11/2016 at 15:41

That engine looks just as scary to work on as the SHO, too! Also, a popular swap is the 3.0L from the Taurus, which is swappable in any V6 Contour or Mystique, not just the SVT.

Also, the 99-02 Cougar was *so* close to getting the SVTC engine but Ford canceled it at the very very last minute. You could even order parts for it from the dealer.

Shane Moore > DailyTurismo
05/11/2016 at 15:47

Buddy of mine owned one in High School, was pretty quick at the time but take a turn at speeds and the nose pushed out pretty heavily. Which is exactly what happen to his on a spirited highway corner (read street racing), the nose pushed out, he lifted the throttle, over-corrected, backed it into a wall then spun to the other wall straight on. Airbags failed to deploy, broke his collarbone and left arm. Parents decided to get him a “safer” car so he ended up with a late 90's 3-series. He now has an addiction to M3's and most things BMW.

KatzManDu > DailyTurismo
05/11/2016 at 15:49

If I ever make it back to the states, this would be my new daily driver with $0 loan.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > DailyTurismo
05/11/2016 at 15:59

In 1999, I had a friend in High School whose parents handed him $25k for his first car. We drove this, the Infiniti G20t and an Acura CL. He bought the stick G20t.

Having driven all three with him back-to-back, the Contour was awesome (I am a huge SVT fan, had a Gen1 Lightning, and was the reason he was even was looking at it) but the Infiniti was better planted despite being underpowered.

I liked the Integra GS-R (He wanted 4-doors) but he didn’t like the styling, fine whatever.

DailyTurismo > dogisbadob
05/11/2016 at 16:00

An SVT Cougar would have been the bomb!

duurtlang > KatzManDu
05/11/2016 at 16:01

Why wait?

Kinja'd!!!

dogisbadob > DailyTurismo
05/11/2016 at 16:07

Dealers had even taken deposits for them, but too bad Ford got jealous at the last minute. They were afraid it would steal sales from the Mustang. At least you can still swap in the 3.0L Taurus engine.

Too bad, it would’ve been a great competitor to the Integra GSR, Eclipse, Celica GTS, etc.