The Original, Aerodynamic 1986 Ford Taurus

You should have been there in order to appreciate the impact of Ford's wind tunnel influenced 1986 Taurus sedan.  That's because from today's perspective, those early Tauruses look pretty ordinary.

To a degree, the Taurus's visual impact was lessened by the 1984 model year appearance of the Ford Tempo, which also had received the wind tunnel treatment.  But still, the larger Taurus seemed a bit odd looking at the time.  Fortunately for Ford, it was a marketing success.

Below are a few images the put the Taurus in the context of its time.

Gallery

A 1983 Ford LTD.  These were representative of 1970s-1980s so-called "three-box" designs.  Bodies were angular with tall passenger compartment greenhouses.  A logical, functional design layout that seemed normal and attractive in those days.  An important characteristic was visual lightness -- whereas the new Ford aerodynamic designs were more rounded and seemed heavier looking in comparison.

Another commonly seen design in America when the Taurus was launched -- a 1980 Chevrolet Caprice Classic.

Side view of a 1984 Taurus: compare to the Caprice in the previous photo.  The Ford's nose is lower and more rounded.  It windshield slope is greater.  Rear details are less different because their aerodynamic characteristics matter less.  (Though the higher trunk of the Taurus might have had a slight spoiler effect.)

Even though there are several horizontal character lines, rub strips and such, the Taurus design is clearly "softer" than the previous design fashion.  A noteworthy difference is the grille-less front: the prime air intake is below the bumper.  Potential buyers were used to seeing front ends with grilles, so the Taurus seemed odd to many.

Unlike the crisp window profiles seen in the first two images above, the Taurus's windows had rounded edges, further emphasizing the soft appearance.  At the time I felt that some angularity here might tighten up the design -- and I still think so.