Mustang Boss Mustangs Mustang
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Boss 302 - 1969 to 1970
Ford's Boss 302 Mustang debuted in March of 1969. It's primary purpose was to allow the Mustang SportsRoof to compete in the Sport's Car Club of America's Trans-Am race series. The Boss 302 was only available in the SportsRoof model with the 290 horsepower, 302 engine. The heart of this Mustang was a specially equipped 302 cid engine that featured specially designed heads with canted valves and high-turbulence, wedge shaped combustion chambers. Other engine features included: 11:1 pop-up type pistons, a dual point vacuum/centrifugal advance distributor, solid lifter camshaft, 4 bolt main bearing caps, a forged crankshaft, and topped with a 780 CFM Holley carb. The '69 models featured 2.23 inch intake valves but this was reduced to 2.19 inch for the '70 models. The '69 models had chrome valve covers which were changed to aluminum on the '70 models. Included on both models was a rev limiter that kept the engine from over revving by cutting out random cylinders at rpm's above 6150. The exterior of the Boss 302 featured a front spoiler and flared fenders to accomodate the standard F60 tires which were mounted on 15" Magnum 500 wheels in '69 and standard 15" steel wheels with flat hubcaps in 1970. The Magnum 500's were optional on the '70 models. The '69 models had special reflective "C" stripes with "BOSS 302" in the center of the stripe on the front fenders. The '70 model side stripe had "BOSS 302" at the top of the fender and was a continuation of the stripe on the hood. Low-gloss black paint was used on the hood, deck lid, rear panel, and headlight housings. The non-functional quarter panel scoops were eliminated on the Boss 302's. The Boss 302 was available with any of the optional Mustang interiors although most of them were equipped with the standard black interior. A choke knob was mounted under the dash above the accelerator. The 4 speed shifter on the '69 model was the standard Ford unit but was changed to a Hurst unit on the '70 models. The competition suspension was standard on the Boss 302's. It had heavy duty springs and shock absorbers (staggered shocks on the rear), and heavier front stabalizer bar. It was also equipped with a 16:1 steering ratio and power front disc brakes. Some of the available options were a rear spoiler, rear window louvre (called Sports Slats), chrome Magnum 500 wheels, and 3.50:1, 3.91:1, or 4.30:1 Traction-Loc rear end.
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The Boss 429 Mustang debuted in January of 1969. It was built primarily to allow Ford to campaign the special engine in the NASCAR circuit. NASCAR's rules stated that for any "trick" part or engine to be considered legal, it had to be installed on at least 500 cars that were sold to the public. The Mustang SportsRoof model was chosen to house this brutal engine.
The Boss 429 engine was rated at over 370 horsepower. It featured aluminum heads, with huge, free-flowing intake and exhaust ports, a crescent shaped combustion chamber, and large over-sized valves which were set at an angle so that the intake valve was close to the intake manifold and the exhaust valve was close to the exhaust manifold. The standard 735 CFM Holley carburetor was mounted on a high rise intake manifold.
To allow for the extended width of this new engine, the factory shock towers had to be moved out one inch on each side. A "mini-assembly plant" in Brighton, Michigan called Kar Kraft, performed this and other modifications for the Boss 429's. The partially assembled Mustang SportsRoof's were shipped from Ford to Kar Kraft for modification and final assembly. Kar Kraft lowered the front A-Arms one inch, moved the shock towers out one inch, and installed the Boss 429 engines along with a high-capacity oil cooler.
The exterior of the Boss 429 featured a massive, manually operated, ram air hood scoop (the largest ever installed on a Mustang). The scoop was painted the same color as the body in '69 and black on the '70 models. A front spoiler, flared front fenders, chrome 15x7 Magnum 500's with F60x15 wide oval tires, dual color-keyed racing mirrors and Boss 429 decals on the front fenders were all standard equipment on the Boss 429's.
The interior of the Boss 429 was outfitted with the interior decor group, high back "Comfortweave" buckets, the "Visibility Group" (parking brake warning light, glove box lock, lights in the ash tray, trunk, and glove box, and an illumated ignition switch), deluxe seat belts, console, tachometer, and a Ford 4 speed shifter. In 1970 Ford also included the "Convenience Group" as standard equipment on the Boss 429. The "Convenience Group" added a parking brake warning light, headlights-on warning buzzer, and an automatic seat back release.
Other standard features on the Boss 429 were a competition suspension, rear stabalizer bar, high capacity engine oil cooler, 65 amp alternator, 85 amp battery (mounted in the trunk), lowered front A-Arms, power front disc brakes, power steering and a 3.91:1 Traction-Lok rear end.
1971 Boss 351
1971 Boss 351
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Introduced in November of 1970, the Boss 351 became one of the last high performance models of the Mustang line. It was based on the SportsRoof model and replaced both the Boss 302 and the Boss 429 models. The Boss 351 engine was a 351 Cleveland four barrel engine with a mechanical cam, solid lifters, 11.0:1 compression ratio, aluminum intake, and a 4 bolt main bearing block. It was topped with an all-new 750 CFM Ford 4 barrel carburetor. The Boss 351 engine produced 330 horsepower at 5400 RPM.
The exterior of the Boss 351 featured a functional Ram Air NASA hood with built in twist-type locks and was painted either black or argent depending upon exterior color, a front spoiler in either black or argent, a honeycomb grille, color-keyed hood and fender mouldings, a black or argent rear panel, dual color-keyed racing mirrors, a body side stripe, and "Boss 351 Mustang" decals on the fenders and deck lid. The standard wheels were 15x7 steel wheels with flat hub caps and F60x15 tires. Most buyers, however, opted for the chrome or argent Magnum 500's.
The Boss 351 was equiped with the standard Mustang interior, but any of the optional Mustang interiors could be ordered. A Hurst 4 speed shifter and the "Instrumentation Group" (tachometer, and tripod gauges with oil pressure, alternator, and temperature) were standard on the Boss 351 interior.
Other standard Boss 351 equipment included a four speed transmission, competition suspension with staggered rear shocks, heavier front stabalizer bar, power front disc brakes, extra-capacity radiator, dual exhaust, an 80 amp battery, and 3.91:1 Traction-Lok rear end.