The early 1970s may have ended the golden muscle car era, but Detroit automakers were still battling for horsepower glory on showroom floors and race tracks in 1969. Ford, for instance, introduced three new performance-oriented Mustangs that year.
Available with a variety of engines and some race-inspired features, the Mach 1 became so popular that it prompted Ford to discontinue the Mustang GT. The other two additions sported "Boss" badges and hit dealerships for homologation purposes.
The Boss 429 stands out as the most potent. Equipped with an engine designed for NASCAR, the Boss 429 hit public streets with 375 horsepower on tap. It was the most powerful first-generation Mustang. The limited-edition muscle car, produced in 859 units in 1969 and 499 examples in 1970, enabled Ford to use the Boss 429 V8 in the championship-winning Torino Talladega.
But I'm here to talk about the other Boss model, the 302. Unlike the Boss 429, the Boss 302 homologated an entire car for competition. More specifically, it was conceived to make the Mustang eligible for then-new SCCA Trans-Am regulations.
Sporting a unique stripe package and equipment combo, the Boss 302 relied on an exclusive 302-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) V8 mill. The latter featured solid lifters, four-bolt mains, and larger valves from the 351-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) Cleveland engine. It delivered 290 horsepower, a rating that put it in the same ballpark as the Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.
The Boss 302 failed to win the Trans-Am championship in 1969 but achieved glory the following season. The production model remained in showrooms for two model years, moving 1,628 units in 1969 and 7,013 examples in 1970.
The 1969 version is obviously the rarest of the Boss 302 bunch, but not exactly impossible to find. It's not quite as expensive as the Boss 429 either, but values are definitely on the rise. By the way, we picked the Boss 302 as the classic American muscle car to buy in 2024.
While it may be more common than other rigs from the era overall, some 1969 Boss 302s are downright scarce in certain options and color combinations. Calypso Coral, for instance, is a hue you won't see very often. Rare on every 1969 Mustang, this bright orangey paint found its way on only 169 Boss 302 units. The museum-grade example you see here is one of them.
Restored to perfection inside and out, this Boss 302 may actually be rarer than that. While most of its siblings were ordered with black interiors, this one sports white upholstery. Unfortunately, we don't know how many left the assembly line with this color combo without a Marti Report, but it's safe to say the numbers drop below 50. For reference, only 17 of the Shelby GT500 models produced in 1969 were delivered in Calypso Coral.
The Boss 302 you see here is parked next to an all-black 1969 Boss 429. Many consider these Boss rigs the most beautiful Mustangs ever built, and I can't say I disagree. Check them out in the video below.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
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