The Ford Boss 302 Mustang Is An Ultimate High-Performance Variant Of The Mustang

Ford introduced the Mustang back in 1964 and thus established the Pony car segment created by the Barracuda. Pony car means a performance-oriented coupe that is very stylish but the biggest aspect is that the price is really affordable for the common population. Without any significant competition in the market, Ford had no trouble piling up profits and fame but the introduction of the Chevrolet Camaro in 1967 was not good news.

Additionally, the Plymouth Barracuda had also gained popularity during that period and the rivalry among the three began which still remains between the Mustang and Camaro. The Ford Mustang, however, was not as powerful as its existing competitor and the Boss 302 was its attempt to up the game. Focusing on the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans-Am road racing competition in 1969, the Boss 302 Mustang was introduced with a Hi-Po engine. The power output increased and the handling was also improved.

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What's on offer in terms of design and engineering?

William S. Knudsen, at the helm of the project, appointed engineer Howard Freers and designer Larry Shinoda for creating a better-performing Mustang with a more impressive demeanor. The heavy-duty suspension was adapted by the engineering team and the Goodyear’s F60 Polyglas tires used were considered the best street tires of that time. Engineer Matt Donner also brought in special sway-bar tuning alongside shock absorbers and stiffer springs.

The chassis of the Mustang was reinforced to gain more aerodynamic aids and the brand still uses the same chassis for the Mustang to date. The black hockey stick stripes on the side profiles and the accent on the hood made the Boss 302 stand out with ease. A front spoiler to reduce the lift was also added here.

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Improved Performance

Ford utilized the 302 cubic-inch Windsor engine block that housed the 4.9L V8 engine. The engine came with specialty Cleveland cylinder heads featuring a canted valve design. The system allowed the Boss 302 to significantly generate a better output of 290 hp of power and 290 lb.-ft of torque. While these figures seem satisfying, several dyno testing revealed the actual output to be 320 horsepower.

The 4-speed manual transmission was one of the quickest at that time which allowed the fastback coupe to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6.9 seconds. However, there have been different tests on the acceleration capabilities of the 1969 Boss 302 and some of them even produced a 0-60 result of just above 6 seconds. The top speed of the Mustang Boss 302 was 157 MPH.

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How well has the value of the car held up?

Ford made a total of 8,641 units of the 1969-70 Boss 302 Mustang out of which only 1,628 were manufactured in the first year. Ford sold about a thousand of the model in 1969 and a lot more in the next year but the Boss 302 is still considered a rare piece in the current era. The average price of the Mustang was around $3,500 at that time but it costs a lot more now.

It depends on the condition of the car and whether there are any enhancements made. An average condition has a price tag somewhere between $18,000 to $25,000 nowadays but a fully restored concours quality vehicle would go as high as $400,000 in the auctions. If that seems too high for you, you can try looking for the second-generation Boss 302 that was manufactured during 2012-2013.