Atlas HO 30000153 1996 Ford Taurus 4-Door Sedan Police Interceptor

The Ford Taurus of 1996 was the third generation of what had become the best-selling car in America between 1992-1995. From its’ initial release in 1986, the Taurus had been one of the most anticipated cars for Ford, as it was the first designed and manufactured according to statistical quality control processes and introduced effective aerodynamic styling that rapidly became a standard in the industry. By 1996, Ford engineers looked to make the car stand out even more from the competition, and a dramatic restyling was unveiled which featured rounded shapes everywhere – including an oval rear window, drooping front and rear contours, and an integrated control panel “bubble” – features which earned the pejorative nicknames “Submarine” or “Bubble” Taurus by the public. While the performance and handling was better than previous generations, the radical redesign (and higher cost) was more than the public could appreciate, and over 50% of sales in 1996 were to fleet owners. By 1997, The Taurus had lost the title of the best-selling car in America to the more conservatively styled Toyota Camry.