The wheels were standard 14-inch rims with small hubcaps. Mike assumes the tires were high-performance versions, perhaps the General XPs that were used by the CHP in the early '80s, but that has not been confirmed.
Once the cars were received by the CHP, its own police equipment was installed. In place of the factory radio was a Federal Signal CC-1 controller for the siren, wig-wag headlights, red spotlight on the driver's side, and rear-facing red and yellow lights mounted on the package tray. A Micro low-band radio and Regency M-100 scanner were also added, along with an electronically operated shotgun rack and reading light on an adjustable gooseneck mount. The siren was mounted behind a cutout in the front bumper, and supplemental front seatbelts were added for officer safety. Finally, red reflective strips were applied to the outer door jambs for night visibility when the doors were open.
Although the CHP removed its equipment prior to selling the car after its service, the California dealership had located the components and installed them prior to Mike purchasing the car.
"That's another reason I wanted the car," says Mike, who realized that 24-year-old CHP equipment would be difficult to find from his home in Florida.
Mike's '82 SSP Mustang is an important part of the 5.0 Mustang's performance legend. The car's selection as a high-pursuit vehicle by the CHP served to confirm its status as a fast and durable performance car while setting the stage for supplying additional SSP Mustangs to state highway patrols, local police departments, and even the FBI.
It was a great car for its era-unless it happened to be in your rearview mirror.
The '82 SSP Mustangs specified...
The '82 SSP Mustangs specified radio delete so that a Federal Signal CC-1 controller could be installed in the instrument panel. It controlled the siren, wig-wag lights, and other emergency equipment.
Grounding straps, one at each...
Grounding straps, one at each hood hinge, were included as part of the '82 SSP package to reduce static from the CHP electronics.
Rear-facing yellow and red...
Rear-facing yellow and red lights were added by the CHP.
The 5.0L H.O. powerplant in...
The 5.0L H.O. powerplant in Mike's '82 CHP Mustang remains stock and original. While the 157hp rating doesn't sound like much these days, in the early '80s, it was more than capable of catching up with most cars of the era.
The interior in Mike's '92...
The interior in Mike's '92 SSP Mustang is fitted with all the CHP equipment of the era; a radio, scanner, light and siren controller, shotgun rack, and reading light. Riley even located a CHP notepad.