1985 CHP #E408395
 

RE-CAP
Back in October 2008, I picked up a 1985 SSP Mustang from the gym teacher at school. He said the car used to be a California Highway Patrol car (1 of 155 Mustangs the CHP bought that year). He had it for about 10 years having bought it from his brother in LA. The car was slightly modified, and needed paint, body, and interior work.

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...8207607649.jpg

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...9c2924c0ca.jpg

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...9c29293528.jpg


The seller had zero verification that the car was what he claimed, although I was fairly certain that it was an SSP. The 2nd Buck Tag was missing, but the trunk release button was moved to the right of the steering column, the a-pillar trim had holes for spot lights, it had the 140mph speedo, and it used the single key for all locks. The 6-digit DSO on the door tag was consistent with other CHP Stangs. After purchasing it, I found the CHP unit number ghost-written on the side glass -

http://users.erols.com/hopup/chp8395.jpg

[continued]

Joining the SSP forums was a great resource for learning more about SSP's in general, and my car in particular. I'm still learning!

Locating the unit number was the first step in finding out more about this car. As everybody here knows, SSP's are rich in history, and doing research is a huge part of the attraction of these vehicles. Knowing the unit number, I contacted the CHP via several methods and was VERY LUCKY to get a copy of the CHP Assignment Card directly from CHP Motor Transport:

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...d3e779bb24.jpg


I learned that my car served at Quincy, California Station #165 for about a year and a half. Afterward, it was repainted silver by the CHP and sold at auction for $4,650.00. The history afterward gets a little fuzzy, but along the way it was repainted "Toyota Gray". By the time it came into my custody, the car's specifications/modifications included:

- Carbed 5.0L with 5 spd (tremec)
- Hurst shifter w/ stock handle
- Centerforce clutch
- CARB-legal JBA shorties w/ full cats and 2.25" dual 3-chamber Flowmasters
- 93 Cobra 8.8" rear-end w/ disc brakes
- 87&up 11" front disc brakes
- Racecraft suspension with KYB shocks and aftermarket springs
- Aftermarket panhard bar
- Subframe connectors (welded)
- 225/60R15 (front)
- I painted the rims black, and added larger 255/60R15 BFG's out back.

[continued]

MOVING FORWARD

I had a REALLY hard time deciding how I wanted to repaint the car. There are so many colors to choose from! I have no intention of restoring the car to its in-service condition. I've spoken with several members here, and their experience helped me decide that my SSP would be ALOT more fun to have as an unmarked driver. So the decision was made to go black, although I seriously considered stealing Marcos's idea for #8302 and going with a white top and inside door edges with the rest black. But I think I will enjoy all-black, and it gives me the option to paint the white on later if it ever is decided to take it back to its in-service condition.

In the middle of February 2009, I put the car into John's Body Shop in Wilmington, DE. I knew they wouldn't be able to start on the car for about a month due to a 1962 Autocar fire truck slipping in ahead of me. I will post up pictures once they tie into it.

Here's a pic the day it went into the body shop (note the silver paint under the removed side molding)

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...82075c51b4.jpg

As stated, the plan is to rebuild it as a fun driver that looks like an all-black, unmarked Fox cop car. Authentic CHP lights and antennae are in-hand, and I will post up pics of them soon. I will also update this thread as progress is made and new parts arrive.

Past Sins Uncovered
 

Well, I knew my CHP Mustang had lived a hard life. The Assignment Card listed that the car had been wrecked while in-service, but the car was not sold as a wreck. They repaired the car prior to it going to auction.

As most of you know, when the 85's were originally equipped by the CHP, they would cut a hole in the bottom of the plastic front bumper cover for the loud speaker, but my car had no such hole on the driver's side. Turns out the nose had been replaced. Once the bodyshop removed the nose, they saw that the metal bumper and the driver's side impact absorber were damaged from an accident.

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...22dc90bf4e.jpg


It's tough to see in the picture, but the bumper and absorber ARE bent. Replacements are being sourced currently. There was also damage on the hood in the front driver's side, which was apparent when the paint was removed.

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...22df35c9aa.jpg


In this shot, you can see the original white paint under the removed side sail panels -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...22dc9b5d4a.jpg


So as of today, this is how my SSP Mustang looks at the body shop with much of the trim removed -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...22dc970c2b.jpg


I plan to stop by again on Friday, April 3rd to take more pictures of the car's progress. There is evidence of additional body damage on the passenger side rear quarter panel, so it will be interesting to see what is found as the paint is removed.

Can't wait to see more progress! It's going to look very slick in all black.

Great post....nice to see your assignment card, too.

WOW!! Car is coming along just fine. Can't wait to see it fininshed.

I stopped by the body shop today, but didn't have my camera with me. That's OK, because I left the shop with a small momento.

Neal (one of the body shop guys) removed the rear bumper, and had difficulty reaching one of the bolts on the passenger side. This is the area with the known body damage. He started probing the area just under the gas cap with a screwdriver, and was able to pop off the following slab of Bondo from the rear 1/4 panel -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...abd82985f8.jpg


Once I got the slab back to work, I weighed it on a postal scale - it's over 2.5 lbs of body putty!

Brought my camera this time! :-)
 

Here is a picture of the 1/4 panel where the slab of body filler was removed -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...b6373aaec5.jpg


The other quarter panel is where the CHP whip antenna was mounted. Here, you can see where the CHP braized the holes closed -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...b63734eaa6.jpg


Here are two shots where the spot lights were located on the A-pillars. Note how rough the holes are -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...b63953f00a.jpg
http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...b639581e09.jpg


I will bring the spotlight brackets into the body shop by Friday so they can determine how much work will be needed on the A-pillars to make them look good. Not pictured is where the hole in the roof was re-opened for the shorter CHP roof antenna. The headliner was removed, but a new replacement is in-hand.

Here is a shot of the bottom edge of the door where they removed the rust under the caulk. The rust wasn't as bad as it looked, and hadn't gone through to the outer door skin. Parts of the door have already been treated with POR-15. The other door will receive the same work -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...b6374187ad.jpg


This shot shows where they removed the small dent from the driver's side front fender -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...b6394f0c1c.jpg


Here is the new replacement front passenger fender -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...b64a9531d5.jpg


And here is a shot of the car as it sits this morning -

http://www.mustangcollective.com/ima...b67215508e.jpg


So as you can see, progress is being made on the car.