SSPMUSTANG.ORG’S Documentation Guide for
Special Service Package Mustangs
Version
1.5 May, 2007
Revision
History:
|
Date: |
Version |
Change: |
|
12.19.06 |
1.1 |
Unmarked vehicle usage |
|
03.25.07 |
1.2 |
Addition of Jetsonic equipment diagrams |
|
04.15.07 |
1.3 |
Reformat of sections for clarity of reading |
|
05.15.07 |
1.4 |
Additional radio equipment information |
|
05.31.07 |
1.5 |
Additional illustrations |
Table
of Contents:
3.0 A history of Florida Highway Patrol Mustang
usage:
3.2 Marked Mustang vehicles, defined:
3.3 Unmarked Mustang vehicles, defined:
3.4 SSP vehicle options, defined:
Table A: Sample of FHP Mustang options.
4.0 Mustang exterior information
4.1 Markings/paint scheme, defined:
Table B: Paint scheme/lettering and decals by year
4.4 License plate usage, defined:
5.1 Lightbar usage, Jetsonic, defined:
5.2 Lightbar usage, other, defined:
5.3 Light usage, front/rear, defined:
5.4 Light usage, other, defined:
5.8 Other equipment usage, defined:
Table C: Equipment usage for FHP Mustangs:
6.0 Miscellaneous Information:
6.1 Tire/wheel usage, defined:
Table D: Wheel/tire usage by year
Table E: FHP Mustang usage by year.
7.0 Frequently asked questions:
1.0 Preface:
Welcome to the SSPMUSTANG.ORG FHP restoration
document for SSP Mustangs. The purpose of this document is to help foster an appreciation
for a history of FHP Mustangs and to assist in the restoration effort towards
the same. This is, we believe, a unique entity in the automotive hobby
restoration world. Although other organizations have judging guides that assist
in evaluating correctness of serial numbers, parts, build dates, etc, this
document is the first of its kind in being geared strictly towards those
interest in restoring a Police vehicle. With almost 50 pages and 50 images,
hopefully this document will serve it’s intended purpose.
Although I have been fortunate
enough to have much first hand information on these cars during their active
period with FHP, I would also like to thank Troopers Larry Coggins, Mike
Halfpenny, Don King and Mark Woodhouse for their assistance with specific FHP
information. Also, thanks to Charles Ricks and Emil Loeffler from Ford for
their help in providing information and materials, and also SSMOA members Jim
Young, Bill Roever and Mike McCullers for additional
information and photos.
There is, however, one caveat to mention when reading this
and any other restoration document. Given the vagaries of FHP procedures in
outfitting vehicles, and the passing of time, personnel, and lack of empirical
records, please let this document serve it’s purpose - as a guideline for your
efforts, not an attempt to declare itself the ultimate ‘authority’ in scope.
This document does not pretend to be such, and claiming to do so would simply
be disingenuous and misleading. Although all efforts have been made to include
only truly substantiative information, there is no doubt that conflicting
information can and will surface, so please keep this in mind while reading
through it. We welcome any suggestions for corrections, amplifications or
additional information.
Methods of research for this
document include interviews with both tactical and installation personnel,
review of all related documentation, personal observation, and photographs of
in-service vehicles. Although some commonalities do exist, especially in the
area of vehicle lights and radios, these too exhibit variances from standard.
Unlike other agencies such as the California Highway Patrol, which outfitted
vehicles centrally, FHP, until only recently, relied on localized installation
personnel and procedures. This of course presents a challenge when attempting
to compile information, as does the passing of time and personnel with
knowledge of older equipment. Rather than present anecdotal evidence, the focus
is on empirical findings with respect to equipment and vehicles. If you do see
something that may seem contradictory, please inform me, and I will be glad to
review and make any changes warranted.
If you can extract some measure
of enjoyment from this effort, then that makes it worthwhile. Please keep this
in mind as you read through this, and if you do have any information that you
feel may merit adding, please forward it to me. I hope you enjoy reading this
document, even if you have no interest in restoring a Mustang, and find it
helpful if you do.
Please feel free to forward any
suggestions for improvement or information to me at the website. All photos
contained herein were either taken by me or used with permission.
Regards,
Mike Riley
Webmaster@sspmustang.org
2.0 Introduction:
Can there be anything cooler
than a 5 speed, V8, 2 door Police car? Well, that depends on course what your
vantage point is! If you’re looking at one in your mirror, perhaps not...but
that’s another subject.
Two door, manual shift police
vehicles are nothing new to law enforcement – State and local police agencies
routinely made use of two door, V8, manual shift cars well into the 60’s for
pursuit and patrol use.
Mustangs have been a natural
for car buffs since the infamous 1964 ½ model, especially with all the
different drivetrain and performance options available over the years. The
Special Service Package is probably one of the more interesting footnotes to
recent automotive events, since it not only captures the essence of
performance, being a light, fast, nimble sports car, but also has the added
appeal for some of us of being a ‘cop car’ - two seemingly diverse sets of
attributes! For those of us who have an interest in doing ‘something different’
from a restoration standpoint, this makes it both rewarding and frustrating
when trying to piece together a puzzle with no clear standards.
This document has been compiled
as a reference for those interested in information on
Although
these vehicles are long gone from the roadways of
3.0
A
history of Florida
3.1
Vehicle history, defined:
In 1983,
The Diplomat, LTD (below), and
Caprice were the stable of FHP’s ‘arsenal’ until the 1983 Mustang was ordered.
Slow and heavy, these cars were at a low point in pursuit vehicle history, and
a replacement was badly needed.
Image #1, 1983 FHP Mustang, first year used, with CJ184 beacon. New 1984
Ford next to it with JS 1-2 Jetsonic that would become standard on Mustangs.
(Alex Ginzburg photo)
The FHP Mustangs were ordered
initially for use on the Florida Turnpike. This road runs from
Starting in 1983, then under
leadership of Col. Bobby Burkett, there were 40 SSP’s
purchased by FHP under DSO 24-0181. These early examples were all 4 speed SROD
cars, 5.0 175 HP versions with the stock aluminum intake, Holley 600 cfm carb, single ‘Y’ pipe
exhaust, and 3.08 gears housed in 7.5” rear ends. Because of the newness of the
Mustang, each car used the same roof light as all other FHP vehicles of the
time - the bulky Federal Signal beacon #CJ184, which dates back to pre-1965! In
1984, after evaluating the ‘less than aerodynamic’ qualities of the CJ184, the
switch was made to the JS1/2 series Jetsonic light bar, which was introduced in
1983; use of this light bar which continued through the program run into 1993
vehicles. The photo above shows the CJ184 along with a new 1984 Ford with the
Jetsonic. The Unity S6 6” spotlight is clearly visible, and all marked Mustangs
had them through 1993. Also of interest is the unique ‘Walnut’ interior with
high back buckets, which would transition to tan and then gray interiors on
later SSP vehicles.
FHP equipment for that first
year was a template for years to come-radar, VASCAR, siren, etc. In this
picture below taken for the Dec. 1983 article ‘Blue Light Special’ for Mustang
Monthly, editor Donald Farr got a very nice, albeit black/white, shot of the
interior of one of 40 Mustangs used. The VASCAR unit is located prominently to
the left of the A/C controls, Micor (used in all FHP vehicles) with special
bracket below dash, Whelen WS-295 siren below glove box, and of course MPH
radar mounted on dash. These cars did not have a center console, so everything
was mounted as best as possible. One interesting note, the wiring is run over
the dash, instead of the usual hole saw attack perpetrated by installation
personnel as seen on later vehicles.
Image #2, 1983 FHP Mustang equipment. (Photo c/o Donald Farr, Mustang
Monthly)
Other interesting items are the
‘stylish’ Walnut (code BE) interior (really screams 80’s doesn’t it?),
certified speedometer, roll up windows, AM/FM radio, and the cruise/tilt
equipped wheel.
Image #3, 1983 FHP interior, unrestored and
original (Mike Riley photo)
Later vehicles through 1993
followed similar equipment options, both with SSP options and emergency
equipment. There were some differences in interior color (tan through 1989),
power options and markings, but for the most part, FHP cars are very similar
year after year. Additionally, unmarked units started to make their appearance
in the late 80’s, and were deployed throughout the remaining years.
The interesting thing regarding
FHP Mustangs is that they were always purchased with manual shift transmissions
for their marked units, and a mix of manual and automatics for unmarked cars.
Contrast this to state agencies like Georgia and Indiana which were automatic
only, and CHP which were manual only vehicles. Although a manual shift
transmission is great for pursuit work, the challenge of shifting and using the
radio and controls simultaneously can present an issue! It’s no surprise then,
when the next 2 door specialty vehicle was purchased by FHP some nine years
later, the B4C Camaro, that these were all automatic equipped cars. Even
agencies like CHP, the largest user of SSP Mustangs and exclusively manual
shift cars, had switched to automatics in their vehicles.
FHP installations did follow,
or were supposed to follow, a protocol for placement of letters, equipment, radio
antennas, decal placement, etc. There was a set of installation guidelines put
forth from
3.2
Marked Mustang
vehicles, defined:
For many years, marked FHP
vehicles have followed a simple design criteria-two tone ‘cream’ and black
paint, ‘State Trooper’ fender lettering, FHP seals on both doors and decklid,
and the use of a blue light. When the SSP Mustang was deployed starting in
1983, things were no different-with the exception of the single blue rotator as
defined above, and the Jetsonic, things were kept in the same motif. This is a
nice constant when interested in restoring one of these vehicles.
As a general observation
(specifics are below) all marked FHP Mustangs used light bars. There have been
reports of a handful of vehicles with lightbar problems where slicktops were
used, but I cannot confirm this firsthand, however several vehicles have been
seen out of service with no traces of lightbar installation or wiring. Most
were Jetsonic equipped (again, with the exception of a handful using the
Federal Signal Vector, pictured in section 5.2), and this was the only light
used until the early 90’s, when deck lights were being deployed. Also in 1984,
the 5 speed transmission became the choice for marked cars, having been phased
in by Ford for mid-year 1983 production (after the run of the initial 40
Mustangs were purchased by FHP).
Image #4, 1993 FHP Mustang, last year used, with FS JS series lightbar
This vehicle is not an in service vehicle,
but is used for displays like the FHP Auxiliary conference here. (Mike Riley photo)
Pictured above is the opposite
of the vehicle in Image #1 - a 1993 Mustang. After 10 years in the program, the
exterior differences are negligible, save for the use of the Accreditation
sticker appearing in 1996, slight changes in lettering type, and of course the
roof light.
The traditional two-tone
cream/black FHP colors can be seen in the same application method on both
vehicles, as can the fender lettering and door seal, and Unity S6 spotlight
placement. One interesting accessory is the use of the stainless steel window
shade, made by Auto-Shade Company of GA, also seen on both vehicles. All FHP
cars observed have had these, however not just Mustangs (see the LTD in Image
#1 above); unmarked Mustangs received them as well. These are very difficult to
find today, so it you see a set and are planning on restoring an FHP car, buy
them!
Image #5, FHP Mustang with Caprices, Jetsonics/stainless vent shades.
(Alex Ginzburg photo)
FHP cars were numbered in 4
digit unit numbers, with a leading ‘0’, and this was designated on the plate
for the vehicle; roof numbers also corresponded to the unit #. There is no
order to the unit number and where the car was deployed, i.e. one Troop could
have a random group of unit #’s, another a different group, etc. If the vehicle
was retired, the tag and subsequent number was transferred over to a new
vehicle, so it was not unusual to see pictures of the same tag on different
vehicles.
The unit # was stamped onto the
key of the vehicle so if you are lucky enough to have the original key this can
often tell you at least what number it was. Additionally, it was often written
underhood on grease pencil or similar, often around the radiator area.
Image #6, FHP key with unit number. (Mark Woodhouse photo)
Image #7, FHP roof lettering, 1992/3 Mustangs. (Jim Bridges photo, c/o
Jim Young)
The image above offers a nice
‘bird’s eye view’ of roof numbers on out of service cars. Notice also the spotlights
present on each, and black spray paint haphazardly applied over the cream areas
and FHP decals. Believe it or not, in many instances, this cream paint can be
saved with some lacquer thinner, buffing and a lot of elbow grease to provide a
perfectly presentable paint job for restorations or driving (but not in Fla.!)
This practice has since been superseded by applying a tar-like substance to any
vehicles retired through the central facility, so it is now much harder to do.
The cars would go to a specific
location when put in service, and generally stayed there when personnel changed
assignments. Most Mustangs were driven by only one or two Troopers during their
lifetime and were take-home vehicles. Some did become pool cars in the mid 90’s
after demand for them began to wane due to a lack of new Mustangs coupled with
the deployment of LT1 Caprices. When the cars were retired, the equipment was
simply transferred from old to new vehicle after it was verified that it was
working correctly, and the same kind of equipment would be used in the new
vehicle.
There is often found a DHSMV
property tag in the glove box or other interior location. Besides the vehicle
itself, all components have a corresponding asset tag, including radios,
sirens, lightbars etc. When Troopers received a vehicle or turned one in, the
equipment list and corresponding DHSMV numbers were recorded and signed by a
supervisor. This information would offer a nice roll-up of equipment for a
particular vehicle if you can be lucky enough to find one!
Here is a sample checklist below from a 1993
Mustang from Troop G,
Image #8,FHP vehicle checklist document.
(Mike Riley photo)
The DHSMV tags were
applied by the install personnel to all equipment and recorded; unfortunately
this information is no longer available for research purposes.