Launched in April 1964, the Ford Mustang needed just a few months to hit the race track. The Shelby GT350 was among the first to tackle circuits across the US, but non-Shelby ponies also found their way into the motorsport scene.
Following a bitter defeat to Chevrolet in the 1968 SCCA Trans-Am series, Ford developed the Boss 302 for the 1969 season. Aimed at the Camaro Z/28, the Boss 302 also spawned a street-legal version for homologation purposes. Introduced alongside the Boss 429, fitted with an engine for NASCAR duty, the 302 had its own unique thing going.
Penned by Larry Shinoda, it featured a unique stripe package, a front spoiler, a rear deck wing, and heavy-duty chassis components. The 302-cubic-inch (4.9-liter) V8 engine was also unique to this car. Rated at 290 horsepower, it mated to a four-speed manual and pushed the 'Stang from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in only 6.9 seconds.
Ford sold 1,628 units in 1969, making the Boss 302 one of the rarest Mustangs from the said model year. Ford failed to beat Chevrolet in Trans-Am but returned with an updated car in 1970. As a result, the production model also soldiered on for one more year with 1970 Mustang design cues and new "hockey stick" stripes.
The second iteration was even more successful, moving 7,013 examples. The Boss 302 also captured its first Trasn-Am title with a comfortable win against the AMCs, Chevrolets, and Mopars.
The story of the streetable Boss 302 officially ended in 1970 and did not get a new chapter until 2012, when Ford introduced a modern version. However, the company initially planned to keep it in production for 1971. Ford even went as far as to build a prototype and show it to the public, but the project got canceled a few weeks later.
Thankfully, the world's only 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is still around to tell its story. After spending some time in storage, this unique piece of muscle car history was restored to its original specifications. Better yet, it was showcased at the 2023 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN), and car enthusiast Lou Costabile was there to document it.
The car is obviously a mix of 1971 design cues and Boss 302-specific parts, including stripes, badges, and the typical flat hood. The 302-cubic-inch V8 is also unique to this car and notably more potent than the two-barrel small-block Ford was offering at the time.
Granted, the one-off is very similar to the Boss 351 that Ford eventually produced in 1971, but it's missing the hood scoops and the rear wing. The car is now part of a private collection that includes all first-gen Boss 302s and rarely comes out of storage. So this might just be your best opportunity to see it up close and personal. Hit the play button below for the full walkaround.
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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