Never get your SSP serviced at the Ford dealer

[FHP#1118]

If you read my intro you know I had been looking for a FHP SSP for a while. When I found my car I ran a car fax before going to look at it to see what I was in for. I had looked at so many SSP cars with kicked mileage and tons of accident history I figured check first before wasting the trip. The car came up correct on the mileage but one thing sparked my interest it showed an "officer involved" accident with a stationary object in 1994. There was even an accident report number right on the carfax. I had done heavy collision for about 10 years so I knew exactly what to look for. When I went to check out the car I was quite relieved to see that the hood was original, the pass fender was original and only the drivers side fender and the bumper skin was replaced with genuine ford replacement parts. A lift check revealed no chassis damage what so ever it was a sheetmetal only repair. Whew! no big deal! I liked the car so much I did not want to walk away from it. After buying it the thoughts raced through my head as to what was the cause of this repair? Visions of my Mustang chasing down bad guys at ridiculous speeds raced through my head, but wait it said stationary object. Mybe the officer lost control in a high speed pursuit? I could not order the Police report fast enough, the lady on the phone was so very sweet. "Did you want the photos of the accident as well?" she asked. Photos? how many photos? I replied "26 of them" she said. I got goosebumps 26 photos of my car in service! now I can see every in service detail to put it back 100% correct. She explained that any time a police car is involved in an accident Crime Scene Investigation has to come down and photograph the whole scene. I waited by the mailbox for two weeks awaiting my package to arrive and then it showed. 26 photos from every different possible angle of FHP#1118 up against a fire hydrant! (remeber stationary object) what a laugh I had it showed all kinds of cool skid marks and what looked like a burnout far down the road, and one even had two FHP officers with smiles on their faces laughing at the whole thing. Check out the two other SSP's in the background as well as the crime scene van and a few crown vics. This must have been a big deal with all those officers responding. Then I noticed what looked like a couple of bad guys down on the grass in the background with an officer questioning them? what the heck happended? I thought. The police report should explain it but after looking in the envelope there was nothing else but a note explaing the police reports come from a different department and I should have it in about two weeks! Talk about TORTURE! I had all these cool in service pics of my car with no explination. Millions of scenarios went through my head and then finally the report showed up yesterday. In one of the photos you will notice a tag hanging from the rear view mirror that a dealer would use if the car was being service. I had pointed that out to my wife when we first got the photos having worked for ford for many years it was the same type of tag my service department used. It turns out that two of the mechanics (both of them 40 years old not kids) had decided to take unit 1118 on a little test drive that went bad. They went to a remote industrial area and proceeded to launch the car getting it sideways, they then hit second gear knocking it sideways the other way loosing control and slaming into a fire hydrant. I never lauged so hard in my life after reading that! how cool is that? I now know who the two dudes laying on the grass behind the car are. The police report also lists names and addreses maybe I will try and track them down. I thought this would be a great "real story from the highway patrol" to share with you all.
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo180/FHP1118/SSP2.jpg
<br>
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo180/FHP1118/SSP1.jpg
<br>
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo180/FHP1118/SSP5.jpg
<br>
http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo180/FHP1118/SSP6.jpg

[FHP#1118]

Copy of the accident reporthttp://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo180/FHP1118/sspar.jpg

[chp1982]

Great story and pictures. Couldn't ask for a better story or documentation!

[FHP813]

Great pics and documentation!!! It looks like your car was one of the few that had the Tomar\Fed Signal deck lights. :thumbsup: Post up more pictures if you can.

[FHP#1118]

Great pics and documentation!!! It looks like your car was one of the few that had the Tomar\Fed Signal deck lights. :thumbsup: Post up more pictures if you can.
There are some current pictures under the new intro section, it still has the d shape marks in the package tray I think it also has the special altenator. Do you guys have a source for the FHP decals? and should I even ask about ventshades? LOL!

[FHP813]

Ventshades are very tough to find and according to your awesome documentation your car had them.:D Decals can be had. I'm trying to get some made up as time permits. Someone might have a set they can sell you.

[FHP#1118]

Here is a good shot of the deck lights, you can even make out some dash detail. http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo180/FHP1118/SSP9.jpg

[mac88chp]

You sure hit the documentation jackpot! :2thumbs:

[FHP#1118]

You sure hit the documentation jackpot! :2thumbs:You ain't kidding! I need to play a lottery ticket this week. Isn't that first shot the coolest? Three mustangs and the officers, this must have been the talk of troop d.

[ImEvil1]

Awesome pics!!

I did a group purchase for FHP decals awhile back, and I think they are all gone. I'll double-check for you, though.

You definitely hit the jackpot reference the photos. :yes: Maybe we can add some to the in-service gallery here??

[SparkSVT]

Great pictures and excellent investigation work on your part. I notice your car did not have roof numbers on it. A long time ago I owned FHP #0194 and it too did not appear to ever have roof numbers. Does anyone know why some cars had them while others did not?


Chris

[ImEvil1]

Great pictures and excellent investigation work on your part. I notice your car did not have roof numbers on it. A long time ago I owned FHP #0194 and it too did not appear to ever have roof numbers. Does anyone know why some cars had them while others did not?


Chris


We've got pics in the Resto doc (and gallery) both with and without....just another variance (like the ventshades).

[FHP#1118]

Awesome pics!!

I did a group purchase for FHP decals awhile back, and I think they are all gone. I'll double-check for you, though.

You definitely hit the jackpot reference the photos. :yes: Maybe we can add some to the in-service gallery here??
That would be great on the decals I just need the door and trunk logos I can do the fender letters myself I have a vinyl cutter. I already made a set of replica plates for it that look just like the originals would there be any interest in those on this board? And as you can see in the pics no roof numbers? As far as the adding the pics that would be fine with me maybe you should start an "injured in the line of duty" photo gallery :D

[SparkSVT]

here are the photos of FHP 0194 when I first picked it up from the seller. I was a bit thinner then too..:)

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj320/SparkSVT/fhp4.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj320/SparkSVT/fhp.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj320/SparkSVT/fhp2.jpg

[SparkSVT]

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj320/SparkSVT/fhp3.jpg

[FHP813]

I remember that car, where is it now?

[FHP#1118]

I see you are from PA, there was a FHP car on Ebay not too long ago from PA that was just fresh restored and repainted the owner wanted 12,000 for it. I saw the car in person at this past fall carlisle show still for sale. It may be your old car still in PA if you are searching for it.

[jarhed123]

We've got pics in the Resto doc (and gallery) both with and without....just another variance (like the ventshades).

Here is the deal with the roof numbers. In 1992 the roof numbers were removed from the cars as a contract bargaining issue for the troopers. The numbers were such a concern because individual troopers did not want their units identified by the state while in high speed pursuits. When the contract was approved the numbers came off.

FHP1118, you did a great job finding information on your car. Congratulations and if all will notice....the other SSP in the picture does not have a front license plate. Looks to me like that trooper wanted less numbers on his unit.

Finally for your enjoyment....

The first picture is myself and Sgt. Manny Jimenez (from episodes of Real stories of the HP) at the troop K station.

Second is FHP 0293 on the way to a photo shoot at a part next to my house. Picture taken by FHP813.

[ImEvil1]

Here is the deal with the roof numbers. In 1992 the roof numbers were removed from the cars as a contract bargaining issue for the troopers. The numbers were such a concern because individual troopers did not want their units identified by the state while in high speed pursuits. When the contract was approved the numbers came off.


I've never heard that before...did a Trooper tell you this? Many of the cars I saw go through the auction in the '90s still had them (my '93 still does).

Those are some nice pics, also. :2thumbs:

[jarhed123]

I got that straight from Sgt. D.J. Torres who is a Special Operations Pilot for FHP. He was a contract rep. at the time. He is now in troop E.

If you PM me or call me I will put you in touch with him. We had a class together several years ago when he and I talked about this.

[WSP-SSP]

that is one of the best stories and photo documentions of an ssp i think i have ever seen, that is just way cool and looks like the guy didn let off the gas when he hit the hydrant, dug r in deep.. too funny , thanks for a great post.

[ImEvil1]

I got that straight from Sgt. D.J. Torres who is a Special Operations Pilot for FHP. He was a contract rep. at the time. He is now in troop E.

If you PM me or call me I will put you in touch with him. We had a class together several years ago when he and I talked about this.


Thanks....it sounds interesting, but we've got plenty of pics with cars with roof numbers after '92.

[jarhed123]

Thanks....it sounds interesting, but we've got plenty of pics with cars with roof numbers after '92.
I know...I'm with you...that is just what was told to me years ago. I am going to call him tomorrow and see if he is not retired. I will ask him to tell me the story again in case I got it wrong. I will then post what was said.

[SparkSVT]

now this is getting interesting..glad I brought up the roof numbers. Keep us posted on what he says..My FHP was a 1992 and it never had the numbers.


Chris

[Winterpark SSP]

Great documentation and even better story!

[predator20]

Some people have all the luck. Welcome to the site.

[Andy]

Great story Thanks for posting it!:)