Fastest Factory Boss
While the Boss 429 racked up some impressive mid-13-second times in magazine road tests, it was the Boss 351 that consistently performed up to Boss standards, running in the high 13s in almost every magazine dragstrip test of the day. Motor Trend magazine, in its January '71 issue, tested a brand-new Boss 351 in a comparison between the Boss, a 429 CJ Mach 1, and a run-of-the-mill 302 hardtop. In the quarter-mile, the Boss 351 registered 13.80 at 104 mph, besting the big-block Mach's 14.61/96.80 by more than half a second and 7 mph. In fact, the 13.80 is the quickest magazine time we've found for a stock Mustang musclecar.
Most Famous Trans-Am Boss
No listing of best Boss Mustangs would be complete without the No. 15 Trans-Am Boss 302s driven by Parnelli Jones during the '69-'70 seasons. Built and campaigned by Bud Moore Engineering, Parnelli's Boss 302s won seven of the 24 Trans-Am events they entered during the two-year span, with five of the victories coming during the '70 season to help Ford win the Trans-Am Championship.
Oddly enough, Parnelli's Boss 302s, like the other competition Trans-Am Bosses, did not start out as street Boss 302s. Rather, they were special-ordered 351, four-speed fastbacks that were completely dismantled and rebuilt to racing specifications by Bud Moore.
Lowest-Mileage Boss 429
As far as we can determine, Bill Kagle's 54-mile '69 Boss 429 is the lowest-mileage Boss 429 in existence. However, unlike Bob Perkins' 900-mile unrestored Boss 429, this one has been restored.
Formerly owned by Perkins (would you expect anything else?), the white Boss was originally ordered for Super Stock drag racing. The engine was pulled and sent to engine builder Ed Pink in Southern California. But, by the time the engine was built to Super Stock specs, the NHRA rules had changed, so the owner dropped the engine into a more competitive Maverick instead.
As a result, the Boss 429 Mustang was stored for many years before it was acquired by Perkins. Kagle purchased the car from Perkins, then employed Perkins to perform the restoration. Why a restoration with just 54 miles? Well, the original owner had the white body custom-painted in pearlescent candy red, which had to be completely stripped before receiving a repaint in the original Wimbledon White. When Perkins completed the restoration, using all original or N.O.S. parts, the Boss 429 was concours perfect.
Best-Optioned Boss 302
When we put out the call for "best Bosses" on the Boss 302 Registry Web site (www.boss302.com), John DeMartino was quick to respond with his well-optioned '70 Boss 302. John ordered the factory invoice from Lois Eminger, and it came back on two pages. The special-ordered Lime Metallic Boss was originally equipped with the rear spoiler, Traction-Lok differential with the optional gear ratio, Convenience Group, clock, Shaker hoodscoop, sport slats, fold-down rear seat, console, power steering, AM/FM radio, Decor interior (an unusual Medium Ginger cloth and vinyl), tinted glass, Deluxe seatbelts with warning light, heavy-duty battery, Magnum 500 wheels, and tachometer. The sticker price was nearly $5,000.
DeMartino, who has owned the Boss 302 for over 24 years, says the car still has its original paint, exhaust, interior, and matching-numbers drivetrain. It's also equipped with a number of dealer-installed items, like Koni shocks, one-piece export brace, hood locks, and an aluminum "Boss 302" oil pan.
Best Boss Engine
While the Boss 302 was a small-displacement engine with large heads, and the Boss 429 was a large engine with a small camshaft and carburetor, the Boss 351 was just right. After all, the Boss 302's big-port, big-valve Cleveland heads, which were borrowed from the 351 that was scheduled to debut in 1970, were designed specifically for the 351 Cleveland engine, upon which the Boss 351 is based. With 330 hp to match the Camaro Z/28's 350, the Boss 351 also boasted better low-end torque, unlike the finicky Boss 302 or exotic Boss 429. All in all, it's the best all-around Boss street engine.