Restored Numbers Matching Mustang Boss 302

Did you notice the last Boss 302 we featured sold in a few weeks? How about the one before that, which was on the showroom floor for all of about 12 days? No question about it, the Boss 302 market is heating up. There are a lot of tired, poorly restored examples out there, and if you're not careful, you'll get burned by a clever fake. Instead of taking a chance, take a good, long look at this 1970 Boss 302 with just 34,189 original miles, a 100% original drivetrain, and a top-flight restoration by one of the top shops in the country. Investment grade? This is the one.

Whenever I think of a Boss 302, I always envision it in Competition Yellow like this one. It's the archetypal Boss color, and a product of the bright, flashy 1960s. Combined with Larry Shinoda's brilliant satin black graphics package, the car is aggressive, yet tasteful, and it's one of the rare muscle cars where the performance actually exceeds the promises its appearance makes.

With just 34,000 original miles, this was one clean Boss before it was stripped to bare metal and restored by the pros at Santa Barbara Muscle Cars. Their website has the full restoration story, and you can see that it was a solid, one-owner car when it arrived. They stripped it to a shell, cleaned any trouble spots (there weren't many), and then refinished it in the original hue. But instead of ancient enamel, it now sports two-stage urethane paint, which gives the rejuvenated Boss a depth and clarity that makes it dazzling in the sunlight. As if that's not enough, there were only 693 Competition Yellow over black Boss 302s built in 1970, making this a somewhat rare piece.

I mentioned the blacked-out pieces, but this car also still sports a fair amount of chrome and bright work. The front and rear bumpers have been restored to new condition, and all the stainless has been polished. The wing and rear window slats, as well as the front chin spoiler have also been coated in more satin black paint to match the stripes, and the new-for-1970 rear valence panel and taillights got their own coat of black, too. The simple grille is in excellent shape and is probably the original piece in original condition, further proof that this is an exceptionally clean car.

This one comes with the optional Shaker hood scoop, and underneath you'll find the original, highly detailed Boss 302 engine. The restorers replaced every missing part, including the emissions control system, distributor, heat shields, and water tubes with correct, NOS Boss items. Ford Blue paint covers the block, heads, and air cleaner underneath the Shaker hood scoop, and the original Boss 302 valve covers were retained. The original Carter X fuel pump was still functioning, but in the interest of reliability, it was rebuilt and reinstalled. Extensive research ensures that every factory marking, decal, and tag is in the correct place, and all the hardware from the shock mounts to the hose clamps, is accurate. Even the fan belts are correct pieces, not generic replacements from the auto parts store.

The only way you could get your Boss was with a 4-speed manual, and the original transmission still lives behind the engine. Out back, there's a highly detailed and correct Ford 9-inch sporting 3.50 gears and a Track-Lok limited slip. This car was so clean, it didn't need any floor patches, and in some areas, the original paint can still be found. The floors are red oxide primer with yellow overspray, as original, and like the engine bay, it is highly detailed. The Boss 302 specific springs carry paint marks, the driveshaft has balance stripes, and the brakes have been fully rebuilt. A new exhaust system has been installed, and it's cool to note that this one was built using the original Ford tooling and the only thing that's not 100% identical to OEM is the part number. Finally, you've undoubtedly noticed that this car is also equipped with the incredibly rare (making this car possibly one-of-one) “Starburst” wheels, which were on the car from new. These unique wheels wear reproduction F60-15 Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, as original.

The beautifully preserved standard black bucket seat interior is all the proof you need that this is a highly original, solid car. Yes, it's all original, from the seats to the carpets to the headliner. After 41 years, it's showing a few signs of age, but we had to look twice at more than a few components to assure ourselves that they were indeed original—they just look too nice. This car was clearly purchased for its performance, and there's no console or other weight-adding options in the interior save for the optional tilt steering wheel. The gauges are still clear and legible, and the mileage shown is accurate. A Hurst shifter controls the 4-speed, and the original AM radio still lives in the dash and functions as it should. The restored trunk compartment has correct finishes throughout, plus a new mat and inflatable space-saver spare with full jack assembly.

We have documents to back up all the claims this car makes, as well. First there's a complete Marti report that decodes the car and its options, and does suggest that this car, with its Starburst wheels, is the only one of its kind built in 1970. We also have the original owner's manual, original title (note that the current title shows that the original owner sold it to the current owner), and a copy of the original window sticker. We also have extensive restoration photos from Santa Barbara Muscle Cars showing every stage of the process, including close-up shots of ever relevant casting number and stamping on the entire vehicle. Talk about documentation!

The day of the Boss 302 is upon us. With its big brother, the Boss 429 now commanding a quarter-million dollars, the more affordable (and honestly, much more fun to drive) Boss 302 is gaining ground fast. This is one of the most correct, solid, and well-documented Boss Mustangs we've ever seen, and it's 2-owner history only adds to the appeal. With top-quality work throughout, and a highly original interior, it's ready to compete at the highest levels. If ever there was an investment-grade Boss 302, this is it. Call now!