AUTO MODIFIED 2011

Bunkie was able to lure several GM Design Engineers over to Ford in 1968. One of them was designer Larry Shinoda, the man who had drawn up the Z/28's sport image in 1967. Shinoda was tasked with besting a performance legend that he had helped to create. Shinoda contributed the new cars stripes, spoilers and window slats, as well as its name. Two Boss Mustangs were born in 1969, both originally developed concurrently by Ford's performance contractor, Kar Kraft Engineering, in Brighton, Michigan.

There were also four distinct special models of the 1969 Mustang for sale. These included the Mach 1, the Boss 302, the Boss 429, and the Shelby. While the standard models sold best, these models forged the Mustang's iconic status. The Mach 1 fastback boasted a 351 V8 with dual exhausts, and it had the handling suspension to match. Ford designed the Boss 302 as a "killer" fastback called the Trans Am until Pontiac claimed the name. The 302 Boss V8 produced 290 rated horsepower at 4600 rpm, but actual horsepower was a lot closer to 400. The Boss 429 was the costliest non-Shelby to date, but this one never lived up to the hype due to a chassis that couldn't live up to the car's maximum output. Likewise, the Shelby, while winning style points, lost performance points due to weight that limited performance. Modern enthusiasts are able to overcome these limitations though.
2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 New Generation