1988 SCHP (How rare?)
 

I might have the opportunity to purchase a 1988 SCHP Unmarked mustang, but i'm wondering what you professional's think it's worth. I just purchased a 90 coupe and would really like this ssp instead.. I know that S.C. started with eight unmarked units in 88, all with aod transmissions. Any thoughts on how hard I should pursue this car? No pun intended..

Rare, yes. Desirable? To someone looking for one. Any SSP may, one day, become a collectible model. Your best bets are marked units with a 5 speed. Tu-tone adds value. If it is the car you want, buy it regardless of its history. Many of us have fond memories of these doing work in their heyday.

I haven't heard of any unmarked SC cars surfacing, so I think it's pretty neat. What kind of shape is it in?

There's one on CL in Greenville, SC, which I believe is the car you are asking about. Check to see if the car has the tell-tale stencils for the unit number, which are typically found on the doorjam and under the hood. Here is one in our VIN Project with the numbers shown -

http://www.specialservicemustang.net...info140284.htm


When you go look at the car, please take a photo of the VIN label and buck tags if possible. The DSO number in the lower right corner of the VIN label should be 6-digits. The car could have been ordered by a small agency instead of the SCHP, so keep that in mind as a possibility. Hopefully, the seller will have some original documentation, too. Good luck! :)

Yep that's the one. I'm going to look at it and see how rough it is, and i'll get the DSO and such. I know the later cars had the spray paint stencil, but this car is black.. I have a picture of the first eight in my SCHP annual from years back that shows the original eight unmarked 88's lined up. I hope this is in fact one of them! I'll keep you guy's posted.

Good luck! I just realized looking at your signature that the link I posted above was actually your SSP - 'Too funny!

That would be a cool find. Good luck. :cool:

I'm not sure if you guy's know what the numbering system means as it refers to the S.C. cars, but the first number (2) designates that it is a patrol car. the second number (12) designates the fact that it is a mustang in the fleet, and the third number (371) is the 371st mustang issued since the first one that the state bought.

Cool info !!!
Thanks for posting ...

Was the push bar used in-service or added later?

Bill or Mick,
If this is the case, what is the highest known SC number we have documented?

Looking back through the Vin Project, it makes perfect sense. They do get higher as the years go by, and the last one I see (with known numbers) is 506, with several possible following it...

David, looking forward to what you come up with on the '88 SCHP. I previously owned a unmarked '88 SCHP Unit # 2-12-23 with DSO of 22 (Charlotte) with the special order #0122. It was a red 5 speed car with gray vinyl interior. The Marti report confirms that data. The last six of Vin # (247978) places it within the last 8 of a group of 39 Vins listed in the project list.

One thing I noticed in the project list for the car just prior to mine (247977) is that although identical in all equipment, the ordering district shows 21 for Atlanta with the same special order #0122. Interesting???

Good luck on the hunt, please keep us informed.

David, thank you for providing that information. :cool: Based upon VINs in the Project, I always thought that South Carolina made a relatively large number of SSP purchases. In terms of rarity (the subject line of this thread) from what we now know, that would make the SSP quantities/purchases fall in the following order:

1. California Highway Patrol
2. Florida Highway Patrol
3. Texas Dept of Public Safety
4. South Carolina Highway Patrol

The GSA, Utah Highway Patrol, Nebraska State Patrol, and Georgia State Patrol would be the next ones, but we do not know their exact order (in fact, the GSA may be in the top four). In terms of the SCHP, the first unmarked cars would be the most rare I would think.

Gregg, it is possible that the Marti Report for JF247977 contains a typo on the DSO. Would you be able to post up the Marti Report you have for JF247978?

Marti Report
 

As requested:

Attachment 7693

We didn't start using push bumpers until 2005, and those were only placed on fully marked cars. The bumpers are cheap and are used to push disabled cars out of the roadway.

Well..............
 

What did you find out on this car? I just found it on Craigslist last night and talked to the guy this morning. I've always been wanting a SSP but they are either ragged out or $15,000. This one seems reasonable but he's about 1000 miles away from me. I was seriously considering making the drive.

The current seller has this one listed on an Chevy LSX Facebook page, so it looks like the hobby may lose this one to the dragstrip. The seller posted up a photo of the radiator support with its SCHP Unit Number, and has confirmed its VIN. So I will be able to add this one to our VIN Project. :)

I talked to this guy yesterday and he said that he sold it. Hopefully not to some moron who will destroy it.

Oh well, I'll keep looking. I didn't really want to drive to Atlanta anyhow.

And here is the page in our VIN Project -

http://www.specialservicemustang.net...info247945.htm

;)

The car is being flipped and is still for sale. A "firm" price is posted of $3,500 on FB, as seen here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/179373762243846/

hmm how much was it for sale on other seller?

I do not recall. Maybe SCTrooper2000 does? I am sure the current seller has added his fee to the selling price. Depending on condition, it still may be a decent buy at this price.

I was told $4,700.00 by the original seller, so i'm not sure what the deal is..

It was at $3700 when I talked to him. The second thing out of his mouth was, "The price is negotiable" so I'm pretty sure he was just trying to get rid of it.

I couldn't find it on that Facebook link.......

The seller's name is Brent Jason Clark -

https://www.facebook.com/brentjason.clark

Thanks. I just sent him a message and he's already sold it. I'm going to guess that there was something wrong with it because I've seen his ad on Craigslist wanting to trade his 85 Monte Carlo for a SSP.

I found this NE SSP that I e-mail the guy on. It looks kind of rough: http://siouxcity.craigslist.org/cto/4888640938.html

The new owner contacted me on FB, and he plans to make this a resto-mod (which is far better than an LS-swapped vehicle!). I gave him information on this forum. I suspect that he would love to chat with Gregg about the SCHP unmarked cars...