As the old saying goes, "What we don't know about (SMPV Mustangs) could fill a book!" Not much documentation has surfaced so far about these unique CHP units. There were SMPV versions of both Mustangs and regular sedans which debuted on the roads in the later '80s. The first batch of Mustangs were '85s and besides the unique paint jobs, they also featured many custom touches:
* smaller, body color 5" spots
* low profile deck lighting
* custom, lay down shotgun rack
* single Sti-Co undercover antenna
A second batch was produced using '89 models and they were similarily painted and equipped as the '85s with the exception that the outside spots were deleted and replaced with a single red halogen mirror light (first install in a Mustang) and a hand-held mag-mount clear spot that was kept inside the car.
No production numbers are available but it's generally thought that perhaps as few as 25-50 total early SMPV Mustang units were built. Paint colors mentioned as used or observed for both the '85s and the '89s include blue, maroon, silver, gold (or copper) and white.
In the early '90s, it was decided to standardize all future SMPVs with all-white paint and to equip them with pretty much all of the standard items found on the B&W cars. This included the full size, black spots and the regular shotgun rack, deck lighting and antenna. No production numbers are available for the '90s SMPVs either.
Note: one custom touch on the above '93 is that the beltline moldings have been painted black.
As mentioned, all the Mustangs started out as B&W units and were repainted after they were received from Ford. So far, not one confirmed survivor of any year has been located by anyone in the hobby.