Galpin Auto Sports Builds CHP Mustang for Jay Leno
The world’s most famous gearhead has a thing for police cars, and this modern CHP Mustang is as authentic as it gets.
When I was going to college in Florida during the 1990s, the highways of the Sunshine State were monitored by State Troopers driving 5.0-liter Fox Body Mustangs. I always thought that was cool, and while they were long gone by the time I moved to California in 2009, back in the day, the officers of the Golden State’s Highway Patrol were apparently outfitted to with similar government-issue Mustangs. And as it turns out? Jay Leno has a fondness for them too.
The world’s most famous gearhead actually likes police-spec Mustangs so much, he partnered with Ford and the CHP, then commissioned Galpin Auto Sports to build him a modern version. Of course, because he’s Jay Leno, this new-school Pony is isn’t just wearing a wrap. When the process started, the donor Mustang was actually finished in Antimatter Blue, but to make sure it was a perfect tribute, Galpin contacted the California Highway Patrol and got the exact black and while paint codes.
The attention to detail runs deep here, as along with hidden LED lighting, official CHP decals, and blue and red A-pillar lights, the door handles have been fitted with key slots — just like the Fox Body model was all those decades ago. Another nod to authenticity is the fact that the Mustang’s leather chairs have been swapped for cloth units, and everything a modern officer needs to do their job — including a CB radio and laptop — has been transplanted from a current cruiser.
But as home as a cop might feel behind the wheel, this police-spec Mustang will never be deployed to bust speeders. Instead, it was just built to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Fox Body editions, and will spend its time at car shows and CHP events. That said, if you live in SoCal, there’s a better than average chance that you’ll actually get to see it in person, as Leno might very well bring it out to one of Los Angeles’ famed Cars and Coffee events.
Photos: Galpin Auto Sports
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