What does the future hold?

[28HopUp]

I'm just thinking out loud. Everyone here understands the history of the SSP's, and how unique they are being a special option designed for the rigors of police use.

Today, Ford no longer offers a special option Mustang for police service, yet the production version of the S197 Mustangs are being pressed into service by various police departments. Indiana has a reported 40 GT Mustangs on patrol, with more supposedly to be purchased. Other departments are also starting to use these Mustangs too.

We've had some good debate about desirability of SSP's. Is a fully documented and restored SSP worth more than a low mileage SSP that was never placed in service? (rhetorical question guys). Yes, the 6-digit DSO is one of the things that sets our cars apart as SSP, but it's the history of these cars that makes them appealing to so many of us.

So what will happen when these new S197 Mustangs come out of service? Specifically, will the owners of these unique Mustangs be welcomed on the two main SSP forums? True, they were not specially built or have any distinguishing features like the original SSP's, but their time in-service matches that of many of our cars. And in this modern era of information, they will likely be sold with plenty of documentation.

So will we welcome these owners and make a place (sub-section) for them when the time comes? Or should we keep things as they are? Just wanted to put that out there for discussion...