1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302

Description

With the Boss 302, a lot of things came together just right to create one of the most desirable Mustangs of the period. Few will argue that the 1969 Mustang fastback isn't a stunning design, and with Larry Shinoda's graphics and that snarling small block under the hood, this is the Mustang that guys who love to drive need to own.

Let's answer the important stuff first: yes, it's a real Boss, no it's not the original engine (more on that in a moment), and yes, it has been kept to its original specs. The Marti Report confirms that this is a Calypso Coral Boss, and if there's a better color on these cars, I can't imagine what it might be. It also has the rather rare and desirable rear window slats, as well as the Boss-standard chin and deck lid spoilers. They resisted the urge to add a Shaker hood, which I can only see as a good thing, and the graphics are reflective so it has a very cool look at night. The restoration is a few years old now, but it still shines up beautifully and the blacked-out hood treatment is still deep and smooth, so it hasn't been left outside for any notable period of time. The doors fit well, the sheetmetal's nice and straight, and if you want a Boss that you can drive regularly without worries about priceless paint, this is an excellent choice.

The black interior is also the way this car came from the factory, one of only 131 so ordered, which seems strange given how good it looks. The Comfort-Weave seats wear their correct red stripes that offsets the black a little bit and you know how much we love the industrial-strength look of a shifter sticking up without a console. The seats, carpets, and even the door panels have surely been replaced at some point because they're just too nice to be original, but the gauges look to be factory-issue with only minimal fading. A Hurst shifter for the close-ratio 4-speed was standard equipment on the Boss, and it's been fitted with durable rubber floor mats to keep things tidy. The original radio is gone, replaced by a newer Jensen AM/FM/cassette head unit so that gives you a leg up over the AM-only factory piece, but other than the radio, it's pretty much as the factory intended. Even the trunk is neatly finished with a plaid mat.

The legendary Boss 302's V8 engine was built for combat, and this one is a proper 4-bolt main block from 1970, so it's not numbers-matching but it's the right hardware. You'd be crazy to try to upgrade the factory in one of these fast-appreciating cars, so it's largely stock, including the air cleaner and later-style finned valve covers. Ford Blue engine enamel helps with the OEM look and you'll note that the rev limiter is still on the inner fender. The close-ratio Toploader 4-speed doesn't even blink at 6000 RPM shifts and it carries the optional 3.91 gears on a Track-Lok limited slip inside a 9-inch housing, so the sucker is seriously punchy around town. The undercarriage is largely original, which shows just how well this car has lived for the past four-and-a-half decades, and the exhaust system is mellow, not obnoxious. Magnum 500 wheels are the best-looking of all period hoops and carry fat 235/60/15 white-letter radials for a semi-correct look.

These cars are on our short list of cars that will be worth more in five years than they are today. This is one you can drive and enjoy while it appreciates, and believe us, there's nothing else that drives like a Boss. Call today!