Ford made significant upgrades to the Foxbody Mustang for police use, including a new front suspension and additional engine and transmission coolers
One of the very first Ford Mustang SSP prototypes ever built will be offered for sale in early January and may sell for six figures. It is just about as cool as police cars get.
The Mustang SSP came to life in the early 1980s when the California Highway Patrol worked with Ford to create a vehicle better suited to high-speed chases than the iconic Crown Victoria. Ford decided to use the beloved Foxbody Mustang as the basis for the new police vehicle and made several significant changes to it, including the fitment of a new engine and transmission cooler, reinforced floor pans, revised silicon radiator hoses and clamps, and heavy-duty front suspension.
Read: Police In Nebraska Still Have A 1993 Ford Mustang SSP In Service
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This special version of the Foxbody Mustang proved so popular that it was used by more than 60 law enforcement agencies across the U.S. The car being offered for sale by Mecum Auctions didn’t just serve as one of the early prototypes of the SSP but it was also used as part of the Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC) where police officers are taught high-speed driving techniques.
In total, the California Highway Patrol ordered 406 examples of the Mustang SSP. A key difference between this prototype and most other examples is that it has the antenna on the passenger side as opposed to the driver’s side. The Mecum listing doesn’t state how many miles this car has clocked up over the years but the mileage doesn’t mean much as it is the story and history of this car that is bound to appeal to certain enthusiasts and collectors.
Ford produced the Mustang SSP with both a 4-speed automatic and a 5-speed manual transmission, the latter of which this prototype has. All examples are driven by a 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8.
Photos Mecum