Said goodbye to my SSP today!

28HopUp · #1 02-11-2009, 08:26 PM

Yup! Today was the day that the SSP left my driveway for a better place - THE BODY SHOP!

I carefully removed the side moldings with patience and a heat gun this morning. Then I gave it a quick bath and drove it to the body shop. Spent about 20 minutes going over the car and my instruction sheet with the tech. Sadly, I delayed getting it in there and a 1962 AutoCar fire trunk got in ahead of me. So the tear-down won't begin for a few weeks. Once that begins, I'll start a thread in my section with pics and updates. The body shop is less than a mile from work, so I will be able to get there often to check its progress.

The plan is to paint the entire car in black, and open up the holes for the spotlights, roof and 1/4 panel antennae (parts ordered). I also am awaiting the correct CHP rear deck lights. The plan is to make it look like an unmarked Fox cop car - something that will scream SSP yet not get me in trouble with the local cops.

Andy · #2 02-11-2009, 08:50 PM

28HopUp · #3 02-12-2009, 10:07 AM

Andy - always good for a laugh

stadair · #4 02-12-2009, 10:47 AM

How exciting!!! It will be quite sometime before I get to do my car like you are. Until then, I'll just live experience through you guys.

Andy · #5 02-12-2009, 09:43 PM

stadair · #6 02-13-2009, 10:59 AM

What's a 918?

Bri22NJ · #7 02-20-2009, 02:02 PM

Im in the process of restoring my 87 Delaware state ssp unmarked 1 of 10 ever used. Does anybody have pictures or any inside information about these cars. I Googled Delaware SSP but not to much info. I will post some pictures of mine. Thanks, Brian blogthis86@live.com

28HopUp · #8 02-20-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bri22NJ

Im in the process of restoring my 87 Delaware state ssp unmarked 1 of 10 ever used. Does anybody have pictures or any inside information about these cars. I Googled Delaware SSP but not to much info. I will post some pictures of mine. Thanks, Brian blogthis86@live.com

YES!!! That's the first Delaware SSP I've heard about turning up. Very cool! So you have 1 of 10 cars from a state that only bought SSP's for one year. Glad to hear that you are restoring it.

Have you tried contacting the Delaware State Police about the car? I know a Del Trooper who is in their accident investigation squad. I'll ask him about them.

5pt0Joe · #9 02-21-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bri22NJ

Im in the process of restoring my 87 Delaware state ssp unmarked 1 of 10 ever used. Does anybody have pictures or any inside information about these cars. I Googled Delaware SSP but not to much info. I will post some pictures of mine. Thanks, Brian blogthis86@live.com

When I called the MA State Police a couple of weeks ago, I got nowhere. Not saying that they weren't helpful because they really were, however it's not everyday somebody calls the state police and asks them for any information on a police car put in service around twenty years ago! They didn't know who to transfer me to first, so I just kept getting transferred. I must admit it was rather amusing because when I explained what I was doing to the various people I got transferred to, they were all like "why are you restoring an unmarked cruiser?" What I did that was a HUGE plus was join the MA police forum. See if Deleware has one. I networked with a bunch of cops who were actually interested in what I was doing and I got a lot of information from them and got contacts to get the information I needed/wanted. I'm still early in my quest, but when it is meant for us to get the information, we will!

28HopUp · #10 02-21-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5pt0Joe

When I called the MA State Police a couple of weeks ago, I got nowhere. Not saying that they weren't helpful because they really were, however it's not everyday somebody calls the state police and asks them for any information on a police car put in service around twenty years ago! They didn't know who to transfer me to first, so I just kept getting transferred. I must admit it was rather amusing because when I explained what I was doing to the various people I got transferred to, they were all like "why are you restoring an unmarked cruiser?" What I did that was a HUGE plus was join the MA police forum. See if Deleware has one. I networked with a bunch of cops who were actually interested in what I was doing and I got a lot of information from them and got contacts to get the information I needed/wanted. I'm still early in my quest, but when it is meant for us to get the information, we will!

I did that too with the CHP forum, and although I didn't find any specific information about my car, I did get to read some great stories about these cars in action.

In terms of Delaware, the DSP has a Delaware State Trooper Association. The website is not up to date, but there is contact information there. If they have a newsletter, you could also place a small advertisement to ask about DSP's SSP's. You could phrase it as a "donation"

I sent a note to my friend at the DSP. Hopefully he can ask around and come back with a solid contact for you. I'll post up when I hear back from him.