> SSP VIN Research <

[28HopUp]

After a discussion on FB with GregW, I went through our VIN pages and counted the consecutive unit number batches where a SSP has been documented. Knowing that SSPs were generally produced in batches, I figured that we could identify the batches with known SSPs to come up with an estimate for how many SSPs may be grouped together using the information in our VIN Project.

It is important to note that there are three critical flaws with this logic:

1. We know that civilian V8 coupes were sometimes thrown into the mix of known SSP batches. So far, we have seen this occur prior to or just after Ford ran a batch of specific DSO cars. So it is reasonable to believe that there are an unknown quantity of civilian cars as part of the CUN batches containing SSPs.
2. For the most part, our Project only lists CUN batches for 3 or more cars. We know that Ford also produced SSP Mustangs in singles or pairs, but it is uncertain how many SSPs were produced in single/double groups. Only known singles or doubles are included in the estimate.
3. There are surely CUN batches that we have not identified yet as containing SSP Mustangs, so obviously those batches cannot be included in the estimate at this time.

So using this flawed estimate, we can account for an estimated 10,404 SSP Mustangs.

Despite the flaws, this estimate provides a quick glimpse into how many cars our VIN Project may be able to document. This number will only increase as more SSP Mustangs turn up. When I did this same exercise in 2012, there were only 8,300 SSP Mustangs estimated. But even at 10,404 units we are still quite a bit short of the 15K units that have been widely accepted for SSP production.

NOTE: This is only an estimate and should not be taken as a claim that only 10K were produced by Ford. Unless some documentation miraculously is discovered, we will never know the exact number of SSP Mustangs produced by Ford.

[28HopUp]

Thanks to MikeM for providing two vintage photos of a true FBI Mustang. It is a SSP that has the same DSO number as other confirmed Government cars. This one is interesting because it was used at Quantico for EVOC training purposes.

http://www.specialservicemustang.net...info161602.htm


Note, this is not the car used in the movie "Silence of the Lambs", which was a civilian coupe. As I understand it, that car and this SSP were both crushed.

[28HopUp]

The first attached photo was posted on FB (thanks Mick!). It is the Buck Tags from a 1988 FHP which is contained in a batch of SSP Mustangs from various agencies. Thirty-two of the VINs near this FHP have "POLICE" branded titles according to the Florida DMV website. By getting Marti Reports to confirm matching DSO numbers, we should be able to add all 32 VINs to the Project.

[28HopUp]

I was messaging with a guy on FB who recently bought a 1990 SCHP Mustang (it's already in the Project). In talking about order quantities by agencies, it got me thinking about the Federal / GSA cars. Although it is unknown how many of these mostly mysterious cars were ordered, we can make an educated guess. By looking at VIN groups with known GSA cars, we can add up the batches to estimate how many SSPs may have been ordered. Using this method, an estimated 474 SSP Mustangs were ordered by the Federal government. That would make the Federal government the 5th largest single purchaser of SSP Mustangs (behind CHP, FHP, TxDPS, and SCHP).

It's just a guess based upon current information. As more cars surface this number may change. But pretty cool, huh?

[28HopUp]

This 1983 SSP was posted on FB, being owned by the son of the former Sequatchie County Sheriff -

http://www.specialservicemustang.net...info182433.htm

[28HopUp]

The Marti Report popped up for a SSP already listed in the Project -

http://www.specialservicemustang.net...info163493.htm

[28HopUp]

SCHP #2-12-183 recently changed hands. The car had been posted up in 2019, as seen here:

http://www.specialservicemustang.net...ead.php?t=6854

I've been chatting with the new owner, who is really into the new car and its history. I encouraged him to join up here. Although the car was already listed in our Project, he sent me the VIN label which I added to the car's page -

http://www.specialservicemustang.net...info183650.htm

[28HopUp]

After making the latest additions to the Project, here are the totals by year of where we stand on documenting SSP Mustangs -

1982 --- 30
1983 --- 52
1984 --- 82
1985 -- 277
1986 -- 180
1987 -- 444
1988 -- 432
1989 -- 565
1990 -- 440
1991 -- 233
1992 -- 313
1993 -- 520
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. . . 3,573 SSP Mustangs confirmed



Technically, we know that the 394 units grouped together in 1982 are all SSP Mustangs built for the CHP (the last 6 VINs in that batch of 400 were not manufactured by Ford), so the total is actually closer to 4K SSP Mustangs. Not too shabby!