[MOstang]

My sister had a 1968 Mustang for awhile. My first car and daily driver for about 6 years was a 1966 Mustang. I also began driving about the same time the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) added Special Service Package (SSP) Mustangs to their fleet. Although never pulled over by an MSHP Mustang, I would have the opportunity to admire them from afar over the next 8 years. MSHP Mustangs (mostly the white ones w/red interior like one I have) regularly prowled the single lane highways near my college in the middle part of Missouri. To me they were the hottest cars on the road at the time.

My last memories of in-service MSHP Mustang SSP's would be with my first employer following College graduation. For this final time I remember seeing a silver one while commuting to work on I-270 in St. Louis County. Fortunately for me, though, I was never the subject of seeing one of these Mustangs in my rear view mirror with emergency lights flashing.

A fascination with Mustang SSP's would go untapped until after my relocation to Minnesota. At that time I had a 1969 Mach I that we enjoyed showing. While looking at the magazine stand of the Barnes and Noble bookstore near our home, the November 2004 Mustang Monthly cover caught my attention. In the top right hand side were two (2) Mustang SSP’s pictured and the caption “Cop Cars! Special Service Mustangs” referencing an enclosed article. I proceeded to open this magazine and read the ensuing article with great interest. It was a big surprise to read about how these were being found and restored and thereafter I was became hooked to a degree that had not been anticipated.