page_title: Ford Mustang SSP
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Ford Mustang SSP / History
caption_attribution_description: Florida State Police. The 3rd generation Fox body Mustang was made from 1979-1993, a minor update to front and rear in 1983, and again in 1985, then a more substantial update in 1987 saw the grille and quad headlights replaced by modern single headlights and the no grille aero look. Only models available were the LX and GT and just the 2.3 litre 4 and 5.0 V8, still coupe, hatchback and convertible. From the new 1987 look until the end for the Fox body Mustangs in 1993 there were few changes. The Ford Mustang SSP (Special Service Package) was a lightweight police car package on the Mustang produced between 1982-1993. They got the 210hp 5.0 V8 in a basic Coupe body. Photographed at the 50th Anniversary of the Mustang celebrations at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, April 2014
context_page_description: The Ford Mustang SSP is a lightweight police car package that was based on the Ford Mustang and produced by Ford between 1982-1993. The car was meant to provide a speedier option for police departments in lieu of other full sized sedans on the market at the time. The SSP abbreviation means Special Service Package, a special Foxbody Mustang trim made exclusively for law enforcement use. One of the taglines used by Ford to help sell this car was This Ford chases Porsches for a living...
  The units served a number of uses, and were often customized to suit each law enforcement agency's particular needs. Law enforcement agencies from municipal to government agencies bought nearly 15,000 examples of these units. Many still exist today, either still in some role of law enforcement, from display cars to DARE cars, or in the hands of collectors and racers.
context_section_description: In 1982, the California Highway Patrol asked the Ford Motor Company to produce a capable and lightweight police car due to the bulkiness of current police cars like the Ford Fairmont and LTD/Crown Victoria and the problems incurred with Chevrolet Camaros with their camshafts and engine problems at pursuit speeds.  Taking the Fox 5.0 Mustangs in production at the time, Ford produced the Ford Mustang SSP and modified them to suit the needs of the police and law enforcement departments.
  It is estimated that nearly 15,000 of these special units were made from 1982 until their discontinuation in 1993 for over 60 law enforcement organizations and government agencies.  Their roles ranged from general patrol to pursuit units, with some used in special duties like drug interdiction to academy training units.  Several units were specially tasked to help land the Lockheed U-2 Spyplane.
caption: 1992 Ford Mustang SSP Coupe owned by Florida State Police
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