Vehicle Description
Remember when you were a kid and dreamed of owning a police car?
And then when you found out Ford built a bunch of Mustangs designed
for high-speed work, you vowed that someday one of those would be
yours? Well, that day has arrived, because this is a genuine 1986
Mustang Special Service Package LX coupe, and yes, it's just as
cool as you imagined it would be, especially with a long list of
upgrades under the skin.
This was a legitimate Marti-verified Florida Highway Patrol
interceptor, used for high-speed pursuits and traffic control, and
as a result, it has never been rusty. In fact, every single body
panel is original to the car, and carries the proper VIN stamps, so
you know it hasn't been pieced back together from cast-offs like so
many abused and abandoned police vehicles. The paint is recent, and
in sinister black, it gives the Mustang a definite government
hot-rod vibe and you'll be thrilled to note that it's completely
protected by 3M wrap (about $3500 worth!). The SSP cars didn't
advertise their presence, so this one still looks low-key, although
cruising this sucker through rush-hour traffic seems to make
commuters flee in terror. The look is clean, unadorned, and very
purposeful, and that's just the way we like it.
Inside, the SSP Mustangs got the base interior, which means soft
tan cloth buckets that were easy to get in and out of with a full
uniform and utility belt full of gear. But unlike most police cars,
the seats aren't crushed and ruined, suggesting that someone really
cared about taking care of this one; maybe the guys assigned to
control traffic knew they were piloting something special. A lot of
the equipment is NOS and I can't imagine these cars looking much
better on their first day of work. A 5-speed manual is unusual for
a police car, but if you wanted the most from your
enforcement-grade Mustang, that was the smart choice. Cold A/C was
a mandatory option in the Florida heat, but there are few other
options, so you know this pony was built for battle. It does have a
row of switches on the center console for managing various
functions, a police-issue 140 MPH speedo, and a trio of auxiliary
gauges out on the hood, right where they'll do the most good. And
in the trunk you'll find an ultra-rare and desirable aluminum
space-saver rim which is probably worth $1000 all by itself.
Ford's legendary 5.0 liter V8 was under the hood, and in 1986,
there weren't many cars on the road that could outrun the fast,
agile Mustang. Nevertheless, this one has been seriously fortified
beyond police spec, starting with a high-nickel content block
stuffed with a 1994 Cobra rotating assembly, TrickFlow heads and
intake, and a Vortech supercharger. A custom tune makes it work
right with the 42 lb-hr injectors and a custom cam. Note that it
still sports its SSP synthetic hoses, oversized alternator, and
industrial-strength cooling system, as well as a strut tower brace.
Underneath, it's spotless and has long-tube headers, a new
Flowmaster exhaust system, new steering rack, and 4-wheel disc
brakes. In back, there's an 8.8-inch axle with pursuit-friendly
3.55 gears, and it sits on those awesome 1986-only highway patrol
wheels with fat BFG radials, so it looks especially nasty.
So go ahead, live the dream. It's every bit as fun as a regular
Mustang, with an extra helping of highway intimidation built right
in. Call today!
