Lately, I have been trying to think of a single car that would fit everything that you would want to do in the collector car hobby. The basic idea is a one-car collection: You buy only one collector car and that covers everything.
My Pick of the Day is a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302, a car that I think completely fits the bill.
Ford made the Boss 302 at the height of the GM/Ford rivalry in pro racing. The specific reason for the creation of the 1969–70 Boss 302 was to comply with the SCCA’s homologation requirements for qualifying to compete in the 1969 305ci-and-under Trans-Am road racing series.
The engine for the Boss 302 differed substantially from stock Ford 302s, with a thin-wall, high-nickel-content casting. In addition, it featured solid lifters, four-bolt main bearings, and special heads with a canted valve design allowing for larger valves that were developed for the planned 351 Cleveland. The engine was factory-rated at 290 horsepower.
In addition, the Boss 302 package included a four-speed manual transmission, several handling and aerodynamic aids such as a stiffer and lower suspension, front disc brakes, larger sway bars, heavier-duty spindles, and reinforced shock towers. Thinking of a Boss 302 as just a standard Mustang with a few bolt-on performance parts from Ford is a big mistake.
Another cool historical fact is that the Boss 302 was styled by none other than Larry Shinoda, the former GM designer known for the C3 Corvette. Larry took the original 1969 Mustang fastback and deleted the fake air scoops in the rear quarter panels and added a front spoiler and a rear wing, which made the Boss 302 one of the first production cars to feature both of these aerodynamic features. The Boss name came about when Shinoda was asked what he was working on. His answer was “the boss’s car” – the boss being new Ford president “Bunkie” Knudson.
This specific 1970 Boss 302 is painted in its original color of Grabber Green, making this car one of only 241 in this great color. The seller adds that this 1970 Boss 302 has always been meticulously maintained and comes with an Elite Marti Report, which proves its rarity and authenticity.
If you are looking to buy your first and only collector car, one that you can display at shows, take on weekend drives, use during elite rallies such as the Copperstate 1000, and drive in fun events like the Hot Rod Power Tour, this 1970 Boss 302 may be it. At a price of $85,000, it is at the low end of the market for one of these iconic Mustangs and will likely deliver much more than $85,000 worth of fun. When you combine that with the inexpensive running costs of a car like this, I think this Boss is one of the best bargains in all top-tier American performance cars.
Click here or the above pictures to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
