As police cars go, the 1982 to 1993 Mustang SSP (Special Service Package) cars must have been the coolest ride in the motor pool. This 1990 Ford Mustang LX SSP in Leander, Texas seeks a new owner here on eBay, where the listing describes a mostly stock and original police Mustang, until you see the engine! Only the blue notchback’s wider-than-stock rear tires and a whine of gear noise at idle give any hint that a Paxton blower boosts this V8-powered cop car well beyond the stock horsepower.
An entry-level belt-driven supercharger kit normally boosts power by about 50% on an otherwise stock motor, probably netting 325 to 350 engine HP on this modified Mustang. Other deviations from stock include an R134A air conditioning compressor, conical air filter, and caster-camber plates atop the struts. We rarely see an interior this clean let alone an engine compartment.
Low-budget vinyl made the perfect office space for coffee drinking, Big Mac-eating police officers. The four-speed automatic transmission frees up one hand for talking on the radio or returning fire. Model year 1990 also saw the first air bag in a Mustang. Nothing here refutes the claimed 43,000 miles.
Don’t shoot the messenger; this is the best picture provided of the car’s backside, so the left rear may have a giant dent in it, or someone may have simply bumped the photographer as they snapped this shot. The ALL CAPS listing describes “REAR 1993 COBRA DISC BRAKES,” but I suspect it’s the full ’93 Cobra Mustang rear axle swap I did on my 1989 Mustang LX 5.0. That would account for the half-inch or so wider rear track. Some SSP Mustangs came with these black painted but otherwise standard-issue 10 hole 15 inch aluminum wheels. I painted my Mustang’s wheels like this before upgrading to 17 inch Cobra alloys. Even without the blower, these 5.0 notch Mustangs were one of the fastest cars on the planet when sold, about equal to a Corvette and capable of pulling daylight under one front tire at launch with a few bolt-ons, gears, and sticky tires. Plus, unlike a host of modern cars making 250+ peak HP an instant before they shift, even a stock 5.0 brings massive torque from idle for highly satisfying thrust. We might surmise that the listing makes no mention of the supercharger to attract those seeking a stock SSP Mustang. Whatever the reason, the potent power-adder would be easy to remove, and factory-correct parts could be located and tossed in a bin for the next buyer. Would you suspect this cop-spec blue 5.0 packs a blower under the hood?
One Sweet Pony. Ok so as far a SLEEPERS go this one pulls that off rather well. I’m sure it’s fun to drive and even in this day someone is going to think 5.0 and slow down when you pull up behind them.
A Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper told me in 91 when I commented on his new cruiser that he preferred the Caprice. Not as quick but better top end. And that’s before the LT1.
Clean and cool. The dark paint on a basic coupe with the black wheels looks menacing. And with the performance upgrades, there is no doubt it IS menacing. It will bring serious bucks.
The 5.0 was quick (I’ve had 2 of them) but never “about equal to a Corvette,” except *possibly* in 1984. But I do dig this car.
My son and I built a ’62 Fairlane with the same engine and transmission combination with a 3.91 gear. That car would scream when you mashed the go pedal. Decent mileage if you kept it below 70 mph. At 75 mph it was slightly into boost and the mileage fell apart. He sold it and I wish I could get it back.
This is the opposite of vanilla ice 5.0
Yes Sirs, My kind of retro.
I’m a fox body fanatic, especially of the coupes which you can hardly find anymore.
I’m restoring one of mine now, an 89, actually to a fake SSO status with the same paint color, except I’ve got the well know t5 manual tranny with upgraded heads, cam, intake. Hope to get it looking as good as this one.
Would like to know the selling price for this one.
Big money for a 90 Mustang
Bidding is at almost 24K with over 5 days left on the auction. Probably will get over 30K but that probably won’t make reserve.
fun!
I remember these chasing me on I-5 between Everett and Marysville 4 mile mostly straight stretch of freeway with no exits that’s when I found out a 72 Chevelle will go past the 120mph number on the speedometer and the front end starts to float.= phone calls to mom at 3am $129 dollar negligent driving ticket and $325 dollars to. Get the car out of impound. And loss of license until I was 18 fun times.
Drive that spot all the time. Sewage Lagoons to East and Buze Sawmill to west. A very tempting stretch. No exits and no escape from the WSP. Next tempting straight stretch further north past the weigh station before Starbird Road exit where the WSP sits up on the overpass bridge.
Still have my WSP 1984 SSP 4 eye I bought at auction in 1988. Was a daily driver until family outgrew it. Keep it garaged. Lately purchased the roll bar (Previous Oregon SP) last summer. Used the bolts & holes already in place and installed. Redid the headliner while I was at it.
Rebuilt the carb and got back on the road after a ten years sit. Decided to drive and show off with the kid through the Bellevue Eastgate WSP parking lot. Got the stink eye instead of the thumps up from a Trooper standing outside having a smoke. Oh well.
I saw one of these when they 1st came out. I had a discussion with a trooper who was displaying his new car at the state fair. He claimed a top speed of 180 mph. I said, glancing at the huge light bar on the roof, “130, tops, and that’s if you lose the light bar…” He didn’t like me much…Small block Ford in a brick like that? Keep dreaming fella…That was then…now? Official top speed on the GM Venture van? 142mph..I kid you not…V6 and all..Police version. The border patrol bought scads of them. You can’t outrun a radio…
Steve, that was an old and well-used adage during my career in law enforcement: “You might be able to outrun me but you can’t outrun Motorola.”
Michigan State police car tests is a great spot to find info going way back. Just looked at 1988 results man those cop cars were slow lol
5.0 automatic actually had highest top speed 135mph. The 5sp stick ran 134mph on their test.
Vin Check says
10/26/1999 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 117,400 Motor Vehicle Dept.
Something may be fishy here.
Yeah , there’s no such thing as a cop car with only 43,000 miles unless it was wrecked , rebuilt and parked after a year of service .,
You’re a tool. No doubt a cop wannabe that couldn’t get hired for a LE job for any number of reasons.
You are so off the track , i voiced my opinion
I spent my life in electronics
And my opinion counts as much as yours,
Try to respect that , if you can …