Most-Optioned Boss 351
Like most performance cars, the majority of Boss Mustangs were delivered without a lot of extra-cost, extra-weight options. Paul Woodlief's '71 Boss 351, however, is loaded with 15 extras, making it both a luxury car and a high-performance machine. According to the report from Marti Autoworks, Paul's Boss was special-ordered as a "marketing vehicle" with power windows, tilt steering, Rim-Blow steering wheel, AM/FM, console, fold-down rear seat, Mach 1 interior, Interior Convenience Group, Deluxe seatbelts and warning light, tinted glass, rear-window defroster, power steering, rear spoiler, and Magnum 500 wheels, plus "no charge" special-order Grabber Orange paint (the car is currently painted Medium Yellow Gold).
According to Paul, "It was 'sold' to the Ford Marketing Corporation Detroit District Sales Office for $3,592. The factory sticker price was $5,198."
Best '69 Boss 302 Restoration
According to Boss restoration guru Bob Perkins, "To my knowledge, there has never been another '69 Boss 302 restored to that level of authenticity." He's talking about Danny Guerra's yellow '69 Boss 302, a 13,000-mile car that Perkins restored in 1982 using either the original equipment or N.O.S. parts.
"It was a great car to start with," Perkins says. "It's 100 percent virgin sheetmetal--not even a rust repair." The car still has its original "no-size" Polyglas Goodyears, and the exhaust system is N.O.S., right down to the hangers and clips. The correct shocks, belts, hoses, and battery cables--"all the trick stuff," in Perkins' words--are still on the car.
Guerra keeps the car in storage, refusing to drive it because he doesn't want to risk wearing out the tires or creating moisture in the exhaust system. The car has been done for over 20 years, but Perkins says, "It is still better than any other one out there. It was ahead of its time."
The Silver Boss
You're right, Ford didn't offer the '70 Boss 302--or any '70 Mustang, for that matter--in silver. But the original owner of Dave Houston's '70 Boss 302 special-ordered the car in Light Gray Metallic, a Thunderbird-only color in 1970. Frankly, the black stripes really look good on the bright silver exterior. Houston's Boss 302 is also well-optioned with black deluxe interior, Convenience Group, fold-down rear seat, and power steering.
"I don't plan to ever sell it," Dave says of his unique Boss. "I will be delivering pizzas at a third job to keep it!" Smokey's Trans-Am Boss
On January 10, 1969, Ford produced seven 351-powered Mustang fastbacks destined for duty as Trans-Am Boss 302s. Three went to Bud Moore, three to Shelby, and one to Kar Kraft to be converted to Trans-Am specs for Smokey Yunick, longtime NASCAR competitor and a close personal friend of then-Ford President Bunkie Knudsen. The car was even painted in Yunick's trademark black with gold color. Although Yunick never entered the car in Trans-Am competition, it was prepped at Yunick's "Best Damn Garage in Town" for NASCAR's Grand Touring Division and entered in one race at Talladega. A broken rocker arm ended its day and career in NASCAR.
In 1989, the Smokey Yunick Boss 302 was located and purchased by vintage race car collector Ross Myer, who restored the historic Boss to its original Trans-Am specifications.