1969-1970 Ford Boss 302 Mustang

The pony boss 302 may be a superior variant of the Ford pony originally made by Ford in 1969 and 1970, aboard its a lot of powerful relation the Boss 429 pony. Ford revived the model for an additional 2 year production run in 2012 and 2013. it absolutely was made for the Trans Am athletics series.

First generation (1969–1970)

The Camaro/Mustang group action had begun in 1967 with the introduction of the Chevrolet Camaro by General Motors. The Camaro was the most important threat to the lead Ford had within the "pony car" field, a market phase for the most part created by Ford with the introduction of the pony in mid-year 1964. The performance of the pony with 289 and 390 engines wasn't up to the Camaro, with its little block and massive block V8. In an attempt to boost the Mustang's image Ford created a 428 elapid snake Jet V8 and a Ford Boss 302 engine optional  for the 1968 mid-year and 1969 models, severally. The Boss 302 C.I.D. (Hi-Po), engine was a created by combining a Ford Windsor, (Assembly Plant), 302 volume unit cylinder block with "large valve" Ford Cleveland, (Assembly Plant), 351 volume unit engine cylinder heads. This optional  engine, and so the whole vehicle package, as well as handling and mechanics aids, was created out there for the categorical purpose of meeting the homologation tips to vie within the SCCA Trans-Am series, that restricted engine displacement to 302 C.I.D., (5.0L), so as to vie. The Boss 429 pony was born in a very similar method, except with the intent of homologating Ford's new "semi-HEMI" 429 C.I.D. engine (to race in NASCAR, rather than Trans Am. The abundant larger engine within the Boss 429 reflects the less restrictive engine displacement limits of NASCAR at the time.

The Boss 302 pony was designed by Larry Shinoda, a former g worker. The automobile featured a reflective "c-stripe". The faux air scoops within the rear quarter panel fenders of the regular production 1969 Mustangs were eliminated on the Boss 302, (only), models. A black horizontal car window shade and a blackout hood were each choices. it absolutely was one amongst the primary production models with a front spoiler and rear deck wing. The name "Boss" befell once Shinoda was asked what project he was functioning on, he answered "the boss's car" as a result of the project was a secret. conjointly Shinoda had referred to as it the "Boss" as associate deference to the new President of Ford Semon "Bunkie" Knudson WHO had brought Shinoda over from GM's Chevrolet Division once Knudson had left.

Changes for the 1970 model year enclosed facet "hockey stick" stripes that started on the highest of the hood, along side the 1970 grille that replaced the four headlights with 2 vents within the outside position whereas retentive twin headlights among the grille gap. the twin exhaust was redesigned, along side the competition suspension and a typical Hurst shifter. The intake valves were slightly smaller, and forged metal valve covers replaced the chrome. With a prompt value of $3,720, a complete of seven,013 were sold-out.

Standard were disc brakes on the front, larger sway bars,a lower ride height, heavier duty spindles, strengthened shock towers, a four speed manual transmission, and therefore the solid-lifter Boss 302 V8 engine with its free-breathing Cleveland vogue heads, that had valves larger than most motors over a 3rd larger in displacement. This "G Code" engine was rated at 290 horsepower (216 kW), but modern-day tests show the engine could are for the most part underrated, with dynos showing in far more than 380 power unit in some cases.

The 1970 automobile may accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in vi.9 seconds. The linear unit (~400 m) took fourteen.6 seconds at ninety eight mph (158 km/h).

Although Ford's Drag Pack choice with a special oil cooler was ne'er formally offered on the Boss 302, it absolutely was typically enclosed with the four.30:1 rear shaft magnitude relation. This desired choice is recognizable once the hood is opened to reveal Ford's vertically mounted oil cooler ahead of the radiator. Ford conjointly had associate choice for Boss 302's and 429's for deluxe interior instead of normal interior

Trans-Am athletics

The SCCA Trans-Am series was widespread within the late Nineteen Sixties, particularly once the birth of the "pony car". a sort of "stock-car" athletics sometimes continued road courses, the series restricted most engine displacement to five liters, or 305 three-dimensional inches. In an attempt to be competitive, varied city automobile makers made some spectacular variants of their usual "pony car" lineups in each road and track trim (for homologation purposes), equipped with high-performing variants of their "small" 300-inch category V8 engines so as to form the maximum amount power as doable from the restricted displacement. The Boss 302 program was a part of an attempt by the Ford Motor Company to win the desired SCCA Trans-Am Championship in 1969 and 1970. Penske Camaros had triumphed in 1968 and 1969. Team Penske switched to AMC Javelin the subsequent year that the Boss 302's direct competition within the 1970 series were the Aare River Cudas, the Pontiac Firebird, the Team flora Camaros, and therefore the Penske AMC Javelins.

The Ford entry for 1969 and 1970 was the Boss 302 pony. The manufacturing plant effort was headed up by Bud Moore, WHO fielded 2 cars within the 1970 season, and won the championship that year. The Bud Moore Mustangs edged out Team Penske's Javelins, and lead Penske driver Mark Donohue lost bent on Bud Moore driver Parnelli Jones. Then, in 1971 AMC came out with a redesigned Javelin and came to the track with ex-Mustang driver, Saint George Follmer and Mark Donohue. With Mark Donohue behind the wheel of the AMC Javelin, the pony and therefore the others were drill 1971, and once more with Saint George Follmer driving the Javelin in 1972.

Australian traveling Cars

The Boss pony platform practised athletics success in Australia, with Canadian-born driver Allan Moffat, driving his Coca-Cola-sponsored pony to a recorded a hundred and one wins from 151 starts. Moffat's automobile was a present from Ford's yank in-house racer fabrication and engineering facility, Kar Kraft, and finished off by Bud Moore Engineering. Moffat raced the pony within the Australian car Championship (ATCC) from 1969-1972. though he didn't place within the high ten in 1969, he finished sixth in 1970, second in 1971 and third in 1972. As of Gregorian calendar month 2012, this automobile has been absolutely reconditioned to original, and is in hand by Australian state primarily based collector David Bowden WHO often shows the automobile at historic events throughout Australia.

Since its restoration, the sole person Bowden has allowed to drive the automobile (other than his son Dan) is its former owner Allan Moffat. Moffat has same that the automobile is his favorite automobile of his thirty years in athletics, which the gift of the automobile from Ford in 1969 was a crucial  moment in his career.

Collectibility

The Boss 302 is reproduced as a model and toy, with diecast models as well as Hot Wheels, Matchbox, and Ertl's "American Muscle", and plenty of others. it's recognizable by the "hockey stick" facet stripe, rear louvers and chin spoiler (although those options can even signify a Boss 429 Mustang). The 1970 is obtainable, however there also are some 4-headlight 1969 models further.

Many "Boss clones" (i.e. replicas) are created, with varied degrees of accuracy, out of standard fastback cars thanks to the relative rarity and expense of existing samples of the initial cars, particularly race-prepped models.

In 2007, a combine of reconditioned 1969 Boss Mustangs sold-out for $530,000.

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