Find of the Day: Ford’s 1969 Boss 302 was the Best Production Mustang of its Time
06/17/2023
Flashback to the 1968 racing season when Ford was biting its nails over being bossed around by the Team Penske Camaro Z28 driven by Mark Donohue, which earned Chevrolet 10 race wins out of 13 in the season’s SCCA Trans Am races. Enter the Mustang Boss 302 for 1969, Ford’s answer to SCCA production-class domination.
To meet the SCCA’s homologation requirements, Ford had to offer the muscle machine in sufficient numbers to the public. According to our 1969-‘70 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Buyer’s Guide, today the scarcest Boss 302s are those built for the 1969 model year with just 1,934 produced. The numbers more than tripled for 1970, increasing the production count to 6,318.
This restored example from 1969, listed for sale on Hemmings Auctions, is one of the rare ones.
According to the seller, the car was restored by its previous owner and was treated to a few engine upgrades, as well as an electric power steering conversion. Its high-performance 302-cu.in. four-barrel OHV V8 was rebuilt and the body re-sprayed Bright Yellow, one of the four color options available for 1969. Based on the listing description, the car is period-correct and in fairly original condition.
This is an opportune chance to own a piece of muscle car and motorsports history. Back in June 1969, Car and Driver release their raving review of the new Boss 302, stating, “Without a doubt, the Boss 302 is the best handling Ford to ever come out of Dearborn – and it may just be the new standard by which everything from Detroit will be judged.”
“…the Boss 302 is easily the best Mustang yet, and that includes all of the Shelbys and Mach ls. After receiving no recognition other than gold stars for attendance in our road tests for the last several years Ford has learned its lessons well. The Boss 302 Mustang earned itself an A for this semester.”
Read more about the history of the Mustang Boss 302 here or go check out this car’s auction on Hemmings.
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