20 Year itch

[FlyinTiger]

Those that have been around a while know that I have been searching for my holy grail SSP, since seeing them on the streets as a teenager. The search always came up empty, or just misses. A special, sincere "Thank You" to Tom for blowing my phone up early that morning. On its way in my 1989 Louisiana State Police that I had given up on, and had pretty much lost interest in SSP's.

[chp1982]

Congratulations on finding your SSP. I'm curious if the one's that have come up for sale have been mis-represented as LSP SSP's or if they sold before you could get there? Sounds like it's been quite the journey to find the right one. Congrats again.

[MOstang]

Congrats on your score. :thumbsup:

[FlyinTiger]

I have seen 5 of the 18 available for sale, at one time or another. The one in GA was the most documented, but just too much money to start over. Any dark SSP from La, or anything with a New Orleans DSO is automatically assumed to be one. As with many states, these were auctioned off wrecked, with fried engines & really abused. I can't wait to get to this one, as it is pretty original compared to the horror stories that I heard about these as they came out of service.

[zeedak69]

Congrat's & very jealous!:2thumbs:

[mac88chp]

Great news, looks like your labor of love project is finally on the way! :thumbsup:

[FlyinTiger]

Thanks. Labor of love is right. When the owner's wife said she had helped scrape a lot of the paint off, I just thought she did not know what sanding was. Oh, I was wrong. This isn't latex paint on your house. :headscratch:

[sspanthony]

Congratulations !!! "Love It" when a plan comes together.....

[28HopUp]

Congrats on finding your LSP! :D

[FlyinTiger]

Found my trooper, yesterday! You follow lead, after lead, and good things happen. He recognized the property tag number, instantly, as they wrote it some many times. He said there was no doubt that it was his: Unit A-41. He has an in service picture with him in it, the original plates, and high speed certification, still. :) Many stories shared, and to be shared. I hope to get him behind the wheel again, when he comes to see it in May. I am as excited as a little kid at Christmas time.

[28HopUp]

That's awesome, Donny! :cool:

Question - On the LSP cars, what is the difference between the car number and the unit number? The following LSP has a car number:

http://www.specialservicemustang.net/VINlist/LSP/1989LSP205906/info205906.htm


...and yours has a unit number:

http://www.specialservicemustang.net/VINlist/LSP/1989LSP205912/info205912.htm


I suspect the car number is a property ID versus police identification. But I was curious... :)

[FlyinTiger]

The car/DPS number is what they used for service tracking. It does not correlate with the unit number. I have a few of the 1993 DPS #'s. The unit # was the license plate number. Troop location, followed by a number. With how records disappeared, you have to get lucky. There is outside hope to trace it between the network of retired troopers, based off of the property tag in the glove box. Mine is Troop A in Baton Rouge, the first to receive them. Unit A-69 was totaled in a nasty head on collision.

[FlyinTiger]

Unit A-69. :eek: Trooper survived, so the car did it's job. Circa 1991.

[ChrisL]

Congrats Donny, I know you've been tracking these cars for YEARS now - very, very cool to see it finally work out for you!

[FlyinTiger]

Thanks, Chris. It strange how things happen. All those years of nothing, and now the flood gates have opened. My trooper is going to show me where everything was strapped in, machine gun holster location ( shotgun rode in the trunk ), light locations, where he kept his spare hand cuffs: everything. :) Plus, I may be making headway on some of the other units.

[Bullitt1609]

I love stories like this. It makes chasing these all worth it. I've got my fingers crossed on what you may be able to find out on other units. :thumbsup: I should be getting mine back from paint soon

http://images52.fotki.com/v1566/photos/9/3334769/13029173/20141125_134048-vi.jpg

[MOstang]

Very cool...congrats! :thumbsup: