Fox/SSP bug
 

Gentlemen and ladies,

I've been thinking about this simple curious question.. what bit you into fox and ssp? i'll post mine up later today.

I bought my first ssp in 1996.

In the early 90's I tried for years to get the Chief at my PD to order me one (I was in our traffic unit) and he never would. He was afraid we would wreck it.

I also drove by a car lot where the owner had about 8 four eyed FHP cars still black and tan, lined up in the front row. When those sold he bought more of the aero cars. He had GSP and FHP cars , usually 4 or five all the time. Several years ago I bought a 1985 FHP car that came off that same car lot and sold it to Mike.

I always liked the 5.0 notchback cars, and being a cop I was especially interested in the SSP cars. It all eventually morphed into a sickness where i wanted one of every year.......

I drove stock ones from 88 to 94. The mustang was never as good after that so when I became an armed guard for General Dynamics I thought a police model, like the Connecticut ones that used to chase me, would be nice. I think they are still the best ever made. Maybe Ford will surprise me with the 50th anniversary one but I doubt it. I was interested in the one I wrote of in my Is this an SSP? thread but that fool is not worth talking to no matter what he has, I hate a moron with a good car for sale,

I bought my first in '97, but had been going to the auctions since '89 or '90 (FHP). I also drove one in service, so I can't help but like 'em.

I'm a police car historian. I've also been a Corvette owner in my past and the first car I looked at to buy or restore before I chose Cleveland PD was a Texas DPS car that was for sale in Painesville, OH. I think one of our board members actually bought that one and took it to Michigan. I like the combination of having a "sporty" car and a police car combined. This vehicle is a unique part of history and I like the concept of it and that's that!

I had ZERO interest in SSP's until 2008. I kinda thought they were interesting, but never had any interest in owning one. I still remember seeing the 1987 Delaware State Police units on the roads when they ran them (unmarked). In March 2008 I attended a show/race with my 2006 V6 Mustang called Get Out Of The Cold at Maryland International Raceway. Mustang Crazy's GSP car was there and won crowd choice. Again, I thought her car was interesting, but nothing that made me want to go out and find one.

That Fall a SSP found me - my 1985 CHP Mustang. I joined the two SSP forums and started learning about the car. I discovered the unit number and other parts of the car's past, and then decided to make this a fun occassional-driver that honors the car's in-service history.

I've had a great time so far! I have met some great folks along the way (some not-so-great too, I'm afraid), and view the car as an on-going project. It can be frustrating to find the correct equipment, or realize that I paid good money for a part that isn't 100% correct for my SSP. But I will continue to restore the things I can, and keep it going for everyone to enjoy.

I have always loved the Foxbody Mustangs and am especially fond of the coupes in rare colors/options/ or just interesting ones (to me). I had quite a few Mustangs before driving my first SSP about 12 years ago. It was an '84 CHP that the seller bought from auction. I knew little about SSP's and passed on it but was interested in them from there on out. Soon after, I bought the Ford Police Car book with the '82 CHP on the cover and was hooked. The stories and history behind them is just great. I can't wait to get another one!

My sister had a 1968 Mustang for awhile. My first car and daily driver for about 6 years was a 1966 Mustang. I also began driving about the same time the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) added Special Service Package (SSP) Mustangs to their fleet. Although never pulled over by an MSHP Mustang, I would have the opportunity to admire them from afar over the next 8 years. MSHP Mustangs (mostly the white ones w/red interior like one I have) regularly prowled the single lane highways near my college in the middle part of Missouri. To me they were the hottest cars on the road at the time.

My last memories of in-service MSHP Mustang SSP's would be with my first employer following College graduation. For this final time I remember seeing a silver one while commuting to work on I-270 in St. Louis County. Fortunately for me, though, I was never the subject of seeing one of these Mustangs in my rear view mirror with emergency lights flashing.

A fascination with Mustang SSP's would go untapped until after my relocation to Minnesota. At that time I had a 1969 Mach I that we enjoyed showing. While looking at the magazine stand of the Barnes and Noble bookstore near our home, the November 2004 Mustang Monthly cover caught my attention. In the top right hand side were two (2) Mustang SSP’s pictured and the caption “Cop Cars! Special Service Mustangs” referencing an enclosed article. I proceeded to open this magazine and read the ensuing article with great interest. It was a big surprise to read about how these were being found and restored and thereafter I was became hooked to a degree that had not been anticipated.