1988 FHP SSP Mustang "FHP0739" - Page 2

CNTLOSE · #11 04-04-2010, 04:26 PM

Wow...I got a little more information on the '80's FHP Mustangs. I had a former Trooper write me on ebay and he gave me some additional information about the '88's...as he was assigned one.

Quote:

Hi, Just wanted to comment on your FHP vehicle. I was a Florida State Trooper in 1988 and the mustang was my first patrol car, it was brand new right off the truck! Your car looks great! If it could only talk…. Just a little history, in 1988 when I was issued my mustang, it came with only the Jet sonic blue lights on top. Any other lights was bought and installed by the Trooper. There were no back deck lights or wig-wags in the 80’s all that started in the early 90‘s with the slick top. And God forbid if there was a red light in our cars. That was a big NO-NO.. FHP was only to have blue lights at that time. We were told, if you wanted red lights go work for the fire department! The only time we used the roof numbers was during wolf packs with the FHP air plane. Also, if there is a switch under the dash below the steering wheel, it is a antitheft switch. All FHP cars were installed with this switch. Great looking car!!

I love this hobby!

MOstang · #12 04-04-2010, 04:50 PM

Nice! You should correspond with him to see if he took any pictures of Mustang(s) when he was assigned to one. If so maybe he has hung onto them and could scan and email to you. In-service pics always seem to surface when we least expect it.

CNTLOSE · #13 04-04-2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOstang

Nice! You should correspond with him to see if he took any pictures of Mustang(s) when he was assigned to one. If so maybe he has hung onto them and could scan and email to you. In-service pics always seem to surface when we least expect it.

I wrote him back asking if he had any photos from his time with the Partol...just waiting his response. His messages reminded me why I like this Mustang hobby/group the most.

CNTLOSE · #14 04-04-2010, 09:54 PM

Well after putting this car up for sale I have been finding out more about the history of these FHP cars. I have been fortunate enough to have made an impression on a retired FHP Trooper who is now giving me additional information on these cars. He is also going to forward me some photos of his SSP's he had. Here is the last email I received from him:

Quote:

Hi Matt,

It's really nice to see someone taken interest in these one of a life time Trooper Hot Rods. It was known throughout all of the states, if you didn't have a 5.0, your department wasn't SHIT ! FHP, CHP, and DPS was the talk of State Troopers back then because of the Mustangs. Ask any young recruit why they joined FHP back in the 80's and 90‘s, and they will tell you because of the Mustangs, that's why I joined FHP, I know that sounds silly, but it's true. As a young Trooper, Our Mustangs were our image, and yes, they would do 140 MPH and some no problem! The Troopers that couldn't drive a stick was given a slow Chevy Caprice or a Ford Vic, the old man car that we called banana boats, they would be the ones that stood outside in the hot evening air during DUI check points while we set in the A/C waiting to chase something down, they would eat motorcycles up.... Little History: Most Mustangs in 1988 came equipped with two radar device's, a MPH Doppler radar like yours which had to be calibrated with toning forks. You had to tone your MPH three time per shift, beging, during and ending and log it in a log book that stayed in the car and checked by your sergeant. Every lawyer in town knew this so they would always ask for your calibration log book in every speeding case. The other speed measuring device was the Vascar unit. I never lost a Vascar case in court. It was a electronic stop watch that calculated time and distance and was mounted on the dash beside the MPH antina, with this device you can get them coming, going and sideways, the only down fall was you had to be stationary to use it, but the great part was the complexes formula that explains the usage of this device, well it was to much for the judge to understand so he/she would side with the State. I once had a lawyer ask me in court how the Vascar worked and I replyed with my right index finger. That didn't go over to well.. Also remember back in the 80’s radar detectors were a big thing, and this device didn’t activate radar detectors, so a lot of people were very upset when they received a 200 dollar citation and there new 150 dollar detector didn‘t go off, I would set on top of an on ramp and work Vascar and then swoop down behind them before they new what happened. I even had a guy rip his detector out of his car once and threw it across into the median.. If you can get a Vascar for your FHP unit, that would be a plus. Ask any young Trooper today what a Vascar is, and they will look at you like your crazy..

I retired from FHP last year after 21 years, 7 of them behind the wheel of a Mustang. They were great cars and I hope you will be able to keep yours. Just think of the hundreds of traffic stops, arrest, and life saving incidents your car has in it. I’m just happy to see someone like you that took a piece of history and kept it alive for so many years. Troopers loved there Mustangs, so much they would take them to the Ford dealer to have new tires and repairs and tune ups right before they were retired to the auction. Then the Trooper would follow the vin in the auction and bid on the car. They were basically buying a new car that they had been driving for two years. Then the patrol got wind of it and stopped announcing where your car was being auctioned off at. That sucked because I was planning the same thing with my 93 model. Little History: The color of the FHP units are black and yellow. I’ve heard people say black and cream but it's not, as ugly as it sounds, they are black and yellow.. FHP is the only state department that will not allow Hollywood to use our cars in movies or where our uniforms. You have to be an active FHP Trooper to drive the car or wear the FHP uniform. So be proud of that car, it came from a very proud department…

Well, Matt I have rambled on to long, if there is any questions about the FHP Mustang that you would like answered please ask. I will send you photos of my Mustangs soon if you would like, who knows, you may just own the one I used to work out of.

Remember, if the blue lights have to come on, someone “will” to pay the power bill……

Keep in touch and be safe, Joe

ssp91ssp · #15 04-04-2010, 10:11 PM

Matt,
Wow ! that is some nice info ...
thanks for posting , always great to hear some trooper stories .

ssp91ssp

MOstang · #16 04-05-2010, 07:36 AM

Great input on the FHP's...I really enjoyed reading the correspondence. Thanks for posting. Will be interesting to see what photos surface.

CNTLOSE · #17 04-13-2010, 09:56 PM

Back on ebay with a BIN instead of auction. I will still sell for the prices listed here to active members at time of listing. I also have a good lead on the sale of my '94 GT so with any luck of that selling and with some sweet talking with the wife I will be able to keep the FHP...but one has to go ASAP.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=180493880835

ssp91ssp · #18 04-13-2010, 10:02 PM

I hope your deal goes thru on the GT and the FHP gets to stay home !

best of luck !

ssp91ssp

CNTLOSE · #19 04-13-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssp91ssp

I hope your deal goes thru on the GT and the FHP gets to stay home !

best of luck !

ssp91ssp

Thanks, the guy was going to let me know today. He sent me a text today saying he was still intrested but he has been busy with work. Stated he should get back to me by Thursday. Would have waited to put it back on, but one needs to go ASAP!

CNTLOSE · #20 04-20-2010, 09:10 PM

Well today I received the bank wire for my 1994 GT. So as of now the FHP is off the market for now. Have a few other things in the works so we will see what happens. I am probably going to start finishing some of the details needing finished...like the decals and deck lights.