1982 SSP - need advice

28HopUp · #1 05-28-2010, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foureyed

Ok, thanks for the response, This may irk some mustang enthusiasts, but my interest is not so much to restore it to its CHP glory, but to upgrade into a fast mustang. I like the car because of its potential for upgrades and while its nice to know that it has a niche in the SSP community, I just want to make it run fast. I like the idea of having a CHP but I'm trying to guage its potential as a project hot rod.

A modded SSP Mustang will not have much appeal to the SSP enthusiast. There are exceptions to that of course, and a high-dollar, high-quality hotrod SSP may pull in some interest from a very small group. But it doesn't sound like you have the skills and funds for a high-dollar hot rod. When you're done, you'll end up with a modded Mustang that is no different than the thousands of other modded Mustangs you see at shows and drag strips. There were only 400 CHP SSP Mustangs in 1982. You see where I'm going with this?

I was in your situation when I found my 85 CHP Mustang in 2008. I wanted a 5.0L/5spd Mustang for weekend trips to the dragstrip. Once I started working on the car, its unique character as an SSP changed my plans. The research of its CHP history became its own interesting challenge. Finding original CHP parts for its restoration was like looking for buried treasure. So instead of building a weekend racer, I changed course and began restoring it as an unmarked, reliable daily driver with as much of the CHP equipment as possible. Although it is fun to take it to the track occasionally (shhh, I didn't type that!), it's a blast to drive on the street. I'm not talking about stoplight racing either. Driving my SSP will start up so many conversations - gas stations, stoplights, driving down the street (yes, folks will yell out their windows or give you a thumbs-up). These SSP's have a unique history as in-service police vehicles. Many folks still remember seeing them (sometimes in their mirror!). Restored SSP's (or partially restored ones like mine) are instantly recognizable to those who are familiar with them.

In the end, whoever buys that car (assuming that it is in fact an SSP) will do whatever they want with it. It's their money to spend. If I could save it, I would, but I can't save them all. But to answer your bolded question at the top of this post, I think the car has more potential as a (partially) restored SSP than as a hot rod.