You've heard about the Ford Taurus. Everyone knows this car, but it's hard to talk about the 1980s car scene without acknowledging what this car did – not just for Ford, but the entire American automotive industry. So, instead of further examining all the stuff you might already know, let's learn about the extremely rare, somewhat sporty Taurus MT5 station wagon.The first three years of the Taurus – 1986 through 1988 – included an MT5 trim for the sedan that paired a four-cylinder engine with a five-speed manual transmission. But for 1986 and 1987, Ford also offered the MT5 as a station wagon. Finding a manual wagon is hard enough, but a midsize wagon with actual seating for seven people from an American automaker makes this a machine with very few rivals. Friends, the long roof MT5 is about as rare as they get. Here's what makes them special. The Car That Changed Everything FordTo better understand the MT5's place, a little context on the Taurus in general is required. In 1985, American family cars were still very square and, for the most part, fairly boring. To say the midsize Taurus was a breath of fresh air is a tremendous understatement. Its rounded shape, flush lights, and closed-off grille stood out like a concept car among the cinder blocks with wheels on the contemporary market.Plus, the independent suspension gave the Taurus surprising poise along with a comfortable ride. It blew away everything coming from Ford's crosstown rivals in Detroit, and even made the Germans take notice.In wagon form, the Taurus was almost as cool as the minivan craze that was just starting to take off. It didn't have the boxy wagon shape with boxy windows and faux wood sides that were starting to look old-fashioned. The Ford looked like it was from the future and offered an optional digital dash, which absolutely was the future in the context of the 1980s. And the wagon was an eight-seater – three across the front bench, three in the back, and two more in the rear-facing jump seat. The cabin was snug with that many people aboard, but this sleek wagon could carry as many people as a Chevy Suburban. MT5: The Sporty Taurus Wagon, If A Bit Cheap FordThe MT5, in both sedan and wagon forms, arrived for the 1986 model year, along with the Taurus L, GL, and LX trim levels. Though Ford billed it as a sport-themed vehicle for enthusiasts, it slotted between L and GL in the hierarchy. If buyers didn't check any option boxes, your MT5 would have crank windows, manual locks, manual seat adjustments, a fixed steering wheel, and just an AM/FM stereo for entertainment. It rode on 14-inch steel wheels with hubcaps. As standard, there wasn't even cruise control.The MT5's exterior included black trim instead of chrome. It received a solid body-color grille between the headlights, rather than the vented grille exclusive to the Taurus L. It was the only Taurus to get standard bucket seats with the center console, though admittedly, that was out of necessity to make room for the five-speed shifter – mounted with a proper 1980s-style notched rubber shift boot. It also got a special gauge cluster with a tachometer. As Cheap Or Expensive As You Want FordThough the MT5 slotted low in the Taurus lineup, buyers didn't have to keep it barebones. Perusing the 1986 Taurus brochure, folks could option just about everything Ford offered, including factory aluminum wheels, power seats, power windows and locks, Ford's iconic keyless entry pad, the upgraded premium stereo, and even a power moonroof. The only items you couldn't get on the MT5 were leather seats with lumbar support, Ford's digital dash, and electronic climate control. Shifting Gears, But Not With A V6 Myron VernisOf course, the big deal with the MT5 was the five-speed manual transmission. It was the only Taurus trim to feature it, hence the MT5 designation. Sadly, it wasn't connected to Ford's then-new 3.0-liter V6; instead, there was a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder. Called the HSC engine for High Swirl Combustion, it first debuted in 1984 in the Ford Tempo as a 2.3-liter, and later there was the 2.5-liter for the Taurus. The V6 was not an option for the MT5.Despite Ford's sport-themed marketing campaign, this four-cylinder was not the least bit performance-oriented in nature. It was a fuel-injected engine designed for reliability and low-end power, and as such, it developed 130 pound-feet of torque at a lazy 3,200 rpm. But horsepower only reached 90 hp at a buzzy 4,600 rpm. The redline was at a low 5,200 revs, so this was no highway scorcher.Bang out quick shifts, and you might reach 60 mph in around 12 seconds. By comparison, a V6 Taurus with Ford's four-speed automatic could do the same sprint in about 10 seconds.However, some additional context is required to put the MT5 into perspective. In 1986, cars weren't saddled with tech, and the midsize Taurus was rather svelte. This era predates the standard widespread availability of anti-lock braking systems and airbags, and the 1986 Taurus MT5 wagon tipped the scales at around 3,100 pounds. That's almost 1,000 pounds lighter than a new Mustang GT, and the wagon had surprisingly good suspension tuning for the time. The MT5 may have been slow, but with a stick and some corners, it wasn't a boring family car. Two Years And Gone Ford Ford did not keep the MT5 around long. Some have said the four-cylinder with the five-speed was a fuel-economy play, something to help the automaker balance out its average fleet fuel mileage rating. But the four-pot was offered on other Taurus trims with a three-speed automatic, so the burden wasn't entirely the MT5's to bear. The MT5 sedan actually made it three years, from 1986 to 1988, and disappeared just in time for the 1989 Taurus SHO to offer real performance with a manual transmission.As for the MT5 wagon, it went away after the 1987 model year. We suspect sales could be a major reason – a recent post in a Ford Taurus Facebook group claims that 2,376 MT5 wagons were made for 1986. It's estimated that fewer than 5,000 were built for the total two-year production run. Sadly, that post also shows one of them dead in a Texas junkyard, slowly getting picked apart. So take another one off the board.It also may have been a natural end to the MT5 line. Ford gave the Taurus a very minor facelift in 1989, followed by a substantial interior update for 1990. Airbags and anti-lock brakes were also coming to the Taurus lineup, so thinning the lineup to accommodate the changes could've been a factor in the MT5's departure.In any case, Ford gave manual wagon fans two years of love, wrapped in one of the most iconic and significant vehicles to debut during the 1980s. Should you come across an MT5 wagon that's not disintegrating in a junkyard, it just might be worth your time and a few bucks to take it home. These will likely never be big-money collector vehicles, but they are certainly rare gems worthy of some save-the-manuals love.Source: Ford
