SSP Wheel & Wheelcover Question

[28HopUp]

Jonathon and I were recently discussing SSP Mustangs via email. Here is a Nebraska State Patrol SSP -

http://www.specialservicemustang.net/Gallery/images/NE/85NE2.jpg

Now here is a 1985 NCSHP SSP -

http://www.specialservicemustang.net/Gallery/images/NC/85NC.jpg


Why are the wheel covers different? Does the presence of wheel covers indicate that these cars have an automatic transmission? I cannot remember.

[28HopUp]

Here's a prototype 1982 CHP Mustang with the same wheel covers as the 85/86 NSP car pictured above -

http://www.sspmustang.org/images/CHP_82_Mustang_Prototype.jpg


This Mustang does not appear to be the same CHP prototype car owned by MikeS. A few differences (besides the black roof) are: no 5.0L badge on fender; chrome rocker moldings; and no hood scoop. But I remember those wheel covers on non-V8 cars back in the 80s.

[Bullitt1609]

'85 Oklahoma with the "early" style SSP steelie and dog dish cover. I know these were automatics. I've always been intrigued on the differences that have been uncovered on these cars.

http://www.specialservicemustang.net/Gallery/images/OK/OK.jpg

[ImEvil1]

You guys may have seen the wheel covers on my '83 CSP....the ones that look like cheese-graters.

The paperwork I have with the car shows it left Ford, as it should have, with the dog dish style caps. For whatever reason, CSP replaced them on all 6. We know this because we have a picture of all of them together when they were fairly new.

Over the years, I have done (and seen done) the same with many of the take homes I've been assigned. We all like to "customize" a little here and there (at least the cars guys do).

The '85s with CFI came with full wheel covers because they were shipped with 14 inch wheels. Maybe they were leftovers from the earlier cars? Not sure why. The dog dishes in the OK car pic were probably replaced by someone at the agency. They wouldn't fit the 15 inch wheel.

[NoDrama43]

along those same lines I would venture to say that fleet managers all have personal opinions about looks etc. I know for a fact that sometimes things get changed up.

Example....When I was the fleet manager for my PD (prior to retiring) I removed full wheel covers from all our 2013 and 2014 marked patrol units and replaced them with the small dog dish center cap. Then I ordered all the 2015 and 2016 squads with the same small dog dish center cap. simply a choice I made because it is what most of the officers wanted (as did I).

I would bet that this has historically been the case on many different cars , depending on the whims of the person making those decisions. The Marti Report and/or in service pictures if you have them, should direct the person doing the restoration in the right direction.

Another example of this would be the trim rings we have seen on many of the early cars. Again I can remember in the 80's when Officers would install trim rings on their car because they liked the look. Personal preference.

[Bullitt1609]

Looks like Oregon ran full covers on some of their early cars as well

http://www.specialservicemustang.net/Gallery/images/OR/85OR.jpg

[ImEvil1]

Yep..that pic is in our in-service gallery.

I've seen a number of '85 auto-equipped cars with the full covers. Only one I haven't seen like that is the OK car you posted above.