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Minnesota State Patrol Mustang SSP

MINN SSP 89

New member
Retired Law Officer
Law Enforcement
In 1989, The Minnesota State Patrol purchased 20 Ford Mustang SSP's as a part of an initiative called "Project 20"and issued them to Troopers throughout the state. In a recent discussion with a Troopers who drove one of the Mustangs stated that there may have been 20 additional Mustangs put on the road after "Project 20". This is an angle I have never heard before and is definitely an important development to follow up on.

Most were issued in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. They were purchased in seven different colors and were all unmarked vehicles. The squads sported only a small door shield on the passenger side door which they cut off the bottom part of the shield to fit above the side molding. Inside the squad it was equipped similarly to its Class A fully marked Crown Victorias. Two different squad equippers were responsible for installing all the emergency equipment. Some were customized by the troopers themselves by adding in CB radios, radio station bumper stickers or Garfield cats suction cupped to the rear window. On the exterior there was no obvious emergency lighting. SHoMe Fog lights that flashed red were located under the front bumper. Headlight wigwags and taillight wigwags enhanced the lighting. On the interior there were Code 3 AS-3 or AS-3 wigwags were mounted above the rearview mirror. There was also an AS-2 mounted on the rear package tray above the third brake light. Some cars had yellow or red fog lights on the rear package tray with motorized covers. A Whelen Responder DX mini bar with magnetic mounts was provided to use at the Troopers digression. It was kept in the trunk or rear seat and could be placed on the roof or trunk lid while at accident scenes or in inclement weather.

Other equipment in the Mustangs included Kustom Trooper radar units, Vascar, Federal PA300 siren boxes, GE 2-way radios, Motorola hang up box for the mic and some in the metro area had mobile data terminals. Emergency lights were controlled by a custom made 8 pushbutton box. These did not work very well and were destroyed when they cars went out of service. Streamlight charges were also mounted on the passenger side dash. Some of the Mustangs were equipped with radio repeaters to support portable PacSets when the exited the vehicle. A customized toggle switch was fabricated and mounted under the AM/FM radio.

Todays research has found that six of these Mustangs where abouts is known. Two are drivers, one is in a museum, one is in restorable condition, two have been parted out. I would love to find out any information on the other 14 we do not know about. If you have any information or photos of these, please let me know. I am looking to compile a history of these cars and where they are now.
 

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OSP959(R)

Lightbar Collector
Forum Administrator
Retired Law Officer
It's a beautiful car. You've done a great job preserving the cars history.
 
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