Bill - did you check both doors and the roof for the paint layer composition? I'd also take a close look at the interior for any unusual equipment mounting holes, esp. around the transmission tunnel area as that is where the lay-down shotgun rack was installed. That means removing most of the interior to do it right and hopefully that's in your plans anyway.

What you found so far is intriguing but not really conclusive of an SMPV pedigree. That can really only be verified by either CHP documents or in-service photographs and the CHP has told us that records for vehicles this old have been disposed of and very few in-service photos of SMPVs exist. It is still possible that a photo of your car may surface in the future but in the absence of the above type of proof, your car is probably not worth any more than a normal '85 CHP to a hobbyist.

As to how to proceed, I'd personally hold off on making any firm restoration plans until you have a chance to poke around the car for more clues. In the meanwhile, I'll try yet again to drum up photos of any SMPV Mustangs.

Mike -

No, I have not checked the roof for silver paint or both doors for the absence of silver paint. I did find silver paint on the inside of the gas door, under the gray paint. It would be GREAT if somebody uncovered a picture of an SMPV with the tag E408395, but I won't be holding my breath.

I'm not really sure how I want to proceed with my SSP now. I really do not want to own a marked police car, yet I don't want to destroy the car's value if it was a SMPV. I guess I could repaint the car silver, and if another owner wanted to they could paint the doors white and add the star/lettering to the door. Too bad it wasn't painted another color, cuz silver is boring IMO. But repainting the car would erase the best evidence that I have right now as to the car possibly being a SMPV - the layered paint.

I really enjoy driving the thing, as it has alot of character as it sits. But it needs to be repainted and fixed up. A full-blown in-service restoration is NOT what I am looking to do, cuz the way I'd do it, I'd have the black & white paint scheme applied first, and then repaint it silver to replicate the layered paint. That kind of paint job would cost more than I paid for the car. I don't know. This isn't why I bought the car. I just wanted something fun to knock around in.

I have never seen those pictures before. The copper and white one looks so good.

Good Morning All!!!
 

Well, having slept on it and giving my situationsome more thought, I'm inclined to do NOTHING! :)

Well, sort of. Without verifying documentation, the best proof I have to the car being a SMPV is the layered paint, so repainting the car now would be foolish IMO. Although the current paint job could best be described as a "20-footer", repainting the car now would be a mistake. I MAY decide later to repaint it (and take pics as the paint comes off) in SMPV colors (matching the silver & white underneath). Or I could paint the entire car in that matching silver, and let another owner worry about repainting the doors white if they so choose.

But without having documentation, and the fact that the car is not exactly 100% stock, I figure I can still address other aesthetic needs of the car to make it more enjoyable (i.e. interior and weatherstripping).

I wonder if the CHP has an FOP Lodge (or similar organization)? My thinking would be to contact their Lodge and see about placing an ad in their newsletter to solicit info from officers who used SSP's in their duties. Has anybody tried that before?

*DISCLAIMER* The following is my opinion and is not intended to bash anyone, their cars or what they plan to do to said cars!!

If indeed this car was a SMPV would it be worth more than a "regular" CHP? If the car was special ordered for the CHP in the different color then yes, but if I understand correctly these cars were CHP cars that were painted and some equipment added\changed. I say enjoy it as you would any ssp and don't let the perception of it being something stop you from that. My .02

Bernie, no disclaimer needed. You and I certainly are in agreement on that! :D

Bill Jr.

Bill,

Is there anything unusual about the antenna placement on your car (ie the repaired holes)?

Mike,

The repaired holes appear to be in the proper place for a black & white CHP. Once I pull down the headliner I'll be able to see the roof patch from the underside. Other than my unit number being written on the side glass, the most unusual thing about my car is that the window trim is all blacked out.

Bill Jr.

Bill don't get too hung up on this. I have bought more than one 4 eye car that previous owners have painted the trims black or gray so it can look newer or just the way they prefer it to be. While incorrect for '85 and earlier cars, I plan on painting the upper most trim of the car and the sail panel accent gray. The same way '86 car would have come.

UPDATE:

I have determined that E408395 was not a SMPV. The silver paint was the one applied by the CHP prior to auction, and the darker gray must have been applied by a subsequent owner.

After receiving a suggestion, I checked a spot on the door inside of the jam area and lifted a section of the topcoat. The backside of that dark gray chip was silver. Although I had done a similar thing to other parts of my door which didn't show the silver, that area proves to me that the car was ALL silver at one time. So the car was not a SMPV.

That revelation is not a disappointment. I can now proceed with my plans to repaint the car without worrying about it possibly being a SMPV.