1985 ssp car what to look for to authenticate?
 

I am going to look at a 1985 ssp car tomorrow other than having a certified calibration speedo what other mods can i look at to find out if it is in fact a true cop car?

Any areas of concern i should look for in the older cars?


Also how rare are the 1985 ssp cars also are they carb or efi? I have a 1991 ssp and a 1988 this is my first time getting a little bit older one.

Thanks





Matt

Check for the 6 digit DSO on the door and buck tags. The tech section here on the website has more information and other good stuff to look for:

http://www.specialservicemustang.net/Technical.html

Good luck with it.

What agency is it? The two buck tags should be mounted on the radiator support. Here's is a photo of the type of buck tag my car would have come with (not mine, but taken from another 85 CHP). Note the 6-digit DSO is listed on the 2nd buck tag, as well as some of the specific SSP options -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...231b984da9.jpg

Depending on the agency, look for a hole in the a-pillar(s) for where the spotlight(s) was mounted.

Here is a couple pics has 120k miles 5 speed all manual said had spotlights on both sides. What do you guys think?


Matt

Looks like it has the right wheels on it. What agency was it supposed to have been from?

He said it was a utah one but all the ones i have seen from utah have been white.


I am checking it out sat morning. Whats a fair price to pay for a 85?


Matt

That depends on many factors. How much is the asking price?

Depends on the transmission ordered.

manual (T-5) = carb
automatic (AOD) = EFI

This was true in '84 and '85.

He is asking 2500.00 for it.


Matt

Matt,

Check out the shock towers and firewall to see what color they are. It could be that the car was repainted blue at some point.

Depending on what you find when you look at it...sounds very fair to me.

1984 ssp
 

Went and looked at it and its actually a 1984 ssp vin 1fabp28moef206937, the car is actually blue over white, like they spray bombed it. The back bumper had 4 orange lights under the bumper and the front had 2. ALso the center console had 2 white light boxes on the shifter area. Found the ssp bucktags, only thing i am concerned with is its manual transmission with efi???? I though only automatic. Had 140mph speedometer, rear cargo bag, had ground straps on all 4 corners. Talked him down to 1200 cash. What do you guys think. Car is pretty clean just concerned about the transmission. ALso how many 84 ssp utah cars where there?


Thanks so much. ALso if someone could pm the carfax that would be super helpful.


Matt

BUY IT !!!!

Someone run that carfax for me pleeease.


Matt

The Buck Tag (and the door tag) will tell you the the original transmission. Also, if the manual is a T-5, and it's not aftermarket (Ford Motorsport), there will be a partial VIN stamped on the passenger-side of the main case, so that will tell you the car it's originally from.

Matt, I can't post the carfax for some reason but here is some info ....

Been in Provo Utah most of it's life then Lindon ,UT
In 9/16/93 it only shows to of had 18 miles ?????? Hmmmm
ODD .... shows that it only had 7,579 back in 1996 ????
2 Accident reports , 8/01/95 and the other in 5/07/96
Last title issued in 5/11/10 title # 10024146
Looks like it's had 3 owners .

hope this helps some..

Did you see any signs of an accident ????

Nope i didnt see any signs of accidents that helps alot. Looks like it was part of provos pd department. I will post some pics shortly. If you can cut and past to stielow775@hotmail.com that would be awesome. I would love to have it to review.


Matt

The only reported miles are from 96 !!!!! 7,579

It shows this car was last purchased in 5/5/10 ??? was that you ?
why would it be right back up 4-Sale ??
I will do my best to try n email it to ya ..

some pics

Under the rear bumper it has these weird red lights also efi with manual transmission for 84 is that even possible? Mileage is 120k


Has all 4 grounds on the hood and trunk lid rear seat bag, Also has these white light like flashers on the shifter. kinda weird.


Matt

Guys selling it because he needs the money. I am going to get it. It seems like a killer deal for 1200 bucks.


Matt


Did any 84 come with manual trans and efi? Also it looks to have original wheels are the hubcaps hard to find and expensive?

wheels and engine

Definitely ask about the engine. The one in this last picture appears to be a later (86 - 88) 5.0 speed density version?????

What should it be carbureted?

Also title shows 84 but the wheels look like 85 86 ish era dont they?


Matt

No. My first reply explained the induction/trans combos available in '84 and '85. No deviation from those combos were allowed.

There are two Buck Tags on the car. The one without the DSO is the one that will have either the trans or the induction code on it.

It should be carburated. It has the wrong wheels for the year. Killer deal any way you cut it. Does it run?

So what am i looking at to put it back to original how hard are the wheels to find? What about the carb and air filter?

Are those ssp specific for those years?


I want it as close to oem as possible?


What year wheels are those off of?


Matt

Unless someone knows specifically that this particular DSO batch or that all Utah SSPs regardless of DSO were manual/carbureted, I haven't seen any evidence posted that says so either way. Posting the Buck Tag or VC Label (door tag) codes, or getting the matching VIN from the transmission, would settle it.

SSPs did not have anything special as far as the powertrain goes, so induction would be standard-issue Capri/Mustang stuff.

if the wheels are 15" four lug they are 85/86 ssp wheels. They are worth about 125.00 each. the correct wheels for an 84 SSP are hard to find but they are out there.

So to strip off the old paint off this car is media blasting or scuffing and repainting the way to go. How are most people refinishing there ssp here on the forum. I got a quote to media blast the whole exterior for 1200 bucks. Seems kinda steep.


Thanks so much. Picking up tomorrow am and will post pics.



matt

This is supposed to be an '84 car? Either they took an entire '86 car and swapped it out. Or it's really an '86 and the vin # has been changed. The car has the third brake light which wasn't introduced until the '86 model. An '86 and up EFI conversion can be done, but it's still a lot of work. Everything on the entire car tells me it's an '86, not an '84

I agree. That car seems like an 86, so you better make sure the correct VIN matches the title. It could be a clerical error on the title (my 28 Model A was titled as a 29), but you better make sure the VIN hasn't been swapped before handing over the cash.

DSO 76-0109 is from '86.

So where did you get the VIN from? Did the seller give it to you or did you see it for yourself? If you saw it for yourself, where did you look?

There are ways to figure out VIN swaps, even if they were done well enough to fool most people.

title issue
 

I saw the actual title and it said it was a 84 i am thinking its a clerical error if not where can i check to make sure its the right vin number?


Let me know asap because I am getting it tomorrow.



Matt

A "clerical error" is a big stretch. I can't see how an '84 VIN, complete with the correct check digit and model year code, could be put on title that's for an '86 model year car. (The '86 check digit would most likely be different and the model year code would most certainly be different.) Sounds more like a VIN plate swap (w/ matching title) to me. If it's a VIN/title swap, it could be beacuse the '86 is stolen, or the title has been branded as salvage, destroyed, etc. You need to go over that car thoroughly. The following items should all match.

1. The VIN plate riveted to the firewall, visible through driver-side base of windshield. You should be able to see the rivets on either side of the complete VIN. The plate should not just be laying in there or held in with double-side sticky tape. It should not be cut, or bent, etc. There should not be anything in or around the area that's obstructing the view of the whole plate, e.g. a piece of paper trying to hide the fact that the plate has been tampered with.

2. The Vehicle Certifcation Label ("door sticker/tag") on the rear face of the driver-side door. This will also have the complete VIN and some of the codes will match the original Buck Tags, most importantly the DSO and the last six of the VIN. Sometimes the label is painted over or has been removed, or the door has been replaced, so it may not be of any help.

3. The Buck Tags. One tag has the DSO (76-0109 in this case), which should match the DSO on the VC Lablel. The other tag has the partial VIN (last six). There are lots of other codes and some can be matched to the VC Label.

4. A partial VIN (last eight) on the engine and transmission. See the attachments for the VIN locations on each.

5. A partial VIN on the inner fender tags. The outer fenders have to be removed to see these tags. There is one on each inner fender, and the tag is spot welded from the factory. The last eight of the VIN is stamped to the tag.

That's SEVEN places where a full or partial VIN can be found on the car.

^ ^ ^ Good information ^ ^ ^

Let us know if you are able to determine if the seller is mis-representing (perhaps unknowingly) an 86 SSP as an 84. VIN swaps do happen unfortunately.

It's suddenly become a question of "is it an SSP'' to "is it an 84" I hope Matt sees this info before he pays his money.

+ 1 that was great info.

I can't believe I didn't notice this until now but that '84 VIN posted on page two is for a HATCHBACK.

1FA = USA, Ford
B = manual seatbelts, no airbags
P = passenger car
28 = Mustang 3-door hatchback
M = 5.0L engine
0 = VIN check digit
E = 1984 model year
F = Dearborn Assembly (DAP)
206937 = 106,937th 1984 Mustang assigned a VIN at DAP