“Tired of dangerous criminals evading pursuit by blasting off into the desert high country, California’s Highway Patrol partnered with Ford Motor Company in the late 1960s to develop what became the limited-production Mustang OPS (Offroad Pursuit Special)”. OK; none of that is true, but it might make a good back-story for this crazy “one of none” vehicle! Take one 1969 Ford Mustang Coupe, rest it on a modified Ford F100 frame, stir in some custom bits like heavy-duty off-road parts, and you end up with one crazy off-road car/truck thing. And just in case that competitive neighbor you love to hate already has something similar, this custom-built contraption near Richmond, Virginia adds another layer of awesome with California Highway Patrol livery and functional rooftop lights and siren. Furthermore, the seller advertises that the vehicle “could be” street legal in your area! The listing here on eBay has attracted at least 12 bidders to the tune of more than $8000.
Anything this insane deserves an over-the-top powerplant, and the Ford 429 with headers and cam delivers. The 429 extends the police metaphor as this big-inch mill powered countless police interceptors including a 1971 Galaxie 500 we covered a while back. A sturdy C6 three-speed automatic sends that power to the rear (and optionally front) wheels. Few technical details accompany the listing other than “Sounds Mean!!” The quad-shock front suspension is certainly not stock, but the parts nicely complement the engine compartment’s patriotic color scheme.
The spartan interior holds all the basics for the serious business of blasting through mud holes while shouting “Yee-haw!” Personally, I’d like to see a driver’s eye view over the hood, one essential element for positioning a vehicle when negotiating rough terrain.
I’m no off-road truck engineer but the F100 and its support in the aftermarket should provide a sound and stable basis for safe and reliable transportation on and off-road. I would assume the quad shock mounts must include bearings or other allowance for rotation since their distance traveled would differ (front shock vs. rear shock) as the suspension travels up and down on those long arms. For every ten of these built, we might surmise that only 1 or 2 are ever operated anywhere near their engineering limits, but it would be cool to try one out. Can you see yourself piloting this four-wheel-drive Mustang?
First thing to do is ditch the plastic seats. They are dangerous if mounted incorrectly, which is the case with this car. Hopefully that isn’t indicative of the quality of the build in general..
Steve R
If you don’t mind me asking, what is the issue with the seats? Are the brittle?
All that holds the seat to the tracks or floor are 4 nutserts pressed into the flimsy plastic bottom, with no additional support. With a hard hit, especially from behind it can pull them out and cause the seat to flip backwards offering no protection to the driver.
Steve R
If someone really wanted to catch those Duke Boys, look no further
Mad Max post nuke holocaust.
I was wondering were my pipes went to…thief
Well i bet this will move their trailer if they get evicted.
I might suggest to take this to the swamp
And release it to the wild 😜
Used to build models of things like this now it’s reality. Cars in plastic are just crazy what it’s but this is just stupid imo.
OMG..my inner rednek is throbbing again..and my outer! Some off the wall builds look crazy until you take a close look and realize that they are done very well. Get it good and muddy and take it to church on Sunday. Very nice and good luck with the sale 😁👍
In this day and age, this is BOUND to offend someone,,,
sadly, you are right. now to really make some people mad you put a rebel flag plate on the front and fly a rebel flag and an american flag on the rear and drive around town and see how mad people get
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Never understood this type of “build” . I guess to each his own.
Well, I don’t care for the graphics, and a blue light is a “legal color” and not allowed on private vehicles, but I think this is great. Nothing would make me happier, than to see the faces of these yuppies in their new Rubicons out on the trail coming at them in this. Again, loaded with citations, but what the heck?
Why do people waste their money, time, talent and garage space making ludicrous 4X4’s like these?! Saw one done on a Toyota MR2 once; worst mess I had ever seen!
Their money, time and garage space and their right to build what they want. No law against being an individual with your own thoughts . . .yet. .
Good gawd, I’m glad I didn’t see that. With that one it almost makes sense though; that’s definitely a car a redneck would hate, so they probably thought they were making it better and pissing on a dumb little rice burner (their words) at the same time. A 2nd gen MR2 is on my bucket list. Fun factor of 11
A decent talent for car construction and this is what they wanted to build. Yoiks.
You know someone’s a hillbilly when they’re driving a six-door Suburban pulling a 3rd-gen Camaro on a lifted 4×4 chassis, but this is a whole new level of hillbilly.
There’s a body shop in Flemington, NJ that routinely creates vehicles like this and then sells them. The last time I drove past it there was a caddy eldorado body sitting on top of a chevy 2500 hd chassis and running gear. Then it was all painted bright lime metallic. It even had the vinyl roof.
Some things are just crimes against nature.
Motor and body alone worth more than $10K. BTW doesn’t have rear scoops (’70 vs ’69?) and has odd trim like ’68 in front of wheels. ?? Not that it matters much.
Jacked up….check. Side pipes(sort of)…..check. Fake hood scoop….???? Sorry….have to pass. The parts are worth more the the total sum.
That engine would be nice in my 66 2wd pickup…
no carpet!
BILL,
The owner spread grass seed and is watering….soon the grass will grow to a thick luxurious pile of @$#&…
I just think third degree burns on the exhaust getting in and out of it.
“Semi”-supported radiator, at that …
Someone will buy it, put that mustang body and engine on their chassis, sell the f-100 parts, and have a nice regular 2wd mustang