Back in 1992, Ford was pushing the boundaries with its Modular engine program. Among the prototypes commissioned to test limits were the now-famous Mach III Mustang and its lesser-known sibling, this Mark VIII. Both shared the revolutionary 4.6-liter Dual Overhead Camshaft, 4-valve, Quad Cam V8, but the Mark VIII cranked up the stakes with a supercharger.
Using early ‘90s tech, Ford engineers fitted the Mark VIII with an intercooled Eaton supercharger, essentially drafting the blueprint that would evolve into the 2003–2004 SVT Cobra’s powerhouse setup. But high-flow injectors weren’t on the market yet, so Ford’s clever engineers crafted a complex dual-fuel system featuring two mass airflow sensors, sixteen fuel injectors, and a pair of Electronic Engine Control computers all working in perfect harmony to keep this beast smooth and production-driveable, while pushing out over 400 horsepower.
What’s astounding is not so much the engineering feat but the car's survival. Prototypes often ended their life crushed. Not this one. Thanks to legendary Ford dealer Bob Tasca Sr., who convinced executives to let him keep it, the car was preserved and lightly driven, logging just under 6,000 miles.
Years later, Brian Herron stumbled upon the Tasca Super Mark VIII on an obscure auction site, where it slipped under the radar of most bidders. He secured the car fully titled and registered.
