Every now and then, it’s great to haul out an old piece of hardware to get the job done. If it’s got a bit of a cool factor, all the better. Nebraska’s finest have a weapon in their arsenal which checks both of those boxes. Remember the Ford Mustang SSP? Most gearheads do. SSP stood for Special Service Package, a trim which appeared in the early 1980s, imbuing the Fox-body’ Mustang with a goosed 5.0L V8, heavy-duty suspension parts, and a growly dual-exhaust. Ford’s no stranger to building machines to make the Blues Brothers drool — cop engine, cop shocks, cop brakes, and so forth — but the Mustang SSP holds a special place in the hearts of most car fanatics. Unless it’s sitting behind them roadside with the reds and blues flashing, of course. Sure, this 1993 Mustang might not have the snazzy tech of a modern Dodge Charger or Ford Explorer cruiser, but it has an undeniable road presence that can’t be replicated by either of those present-day machines. Remember, the ‘trunk-style’ Fox-body notch was the Mustang of choice for those in the know, thanks to its light(er) curb weight and slightly-under-the-radar appearance. While the Nebraska force does deploy its sole remaining Mustang SSP — it was once part of a fleet of Mustangs — in road duty from time to time, PR reps for the force say it generally spends its semi-retirement years travelling to public service events, like fundraisers or school-day presentations to kids. In a profession where most cars are ridden hard and put away wet, it’s great to see one of these survivors make it through years of service and still be allowed to stretch its legs from time to time. It has even retained its OE-style wheels, fer chrissakes. As cool as it is, though, I don’t want to spy one in my rear-view
Origin: Nebraska State Patrol still uses a beautifully preserved 1993 Ford Mustang