This exceptional 1970 Boss 302 Mustang was the timingtower.com pick for 2025 at the 48th Western Street Rod Nationals in Bakersfield.
When Steve Lantz rumbled by in his Red Mustang Boss 302 it drew our attention and we immediately saw our pick for the timingtower.com award at the 48th NSRA Western Nats. In 1970 Ford combined the attractive, aggressive styling of the Mustang with a special edition high performance small block to create the Boss 302.
Steve bought this car a little over a year ago. It had been mostly restored, but Steve finished the job. The car is stock but for the carburetor. The original carburetor is nearly impossible to find and very expensive if it is found.
The attention grabbing Candy Apple Red was introduced as a new color option in 1970 and only 505 of the Boss 302s were painted this color. Buyers of these cars had a wide choice of exterior colors (11).
Interior colors varied based available production options with black or a black and white combination. Additionally buyers could customize their Boss 302 with different seat trim and console options. Steve’s car has black seats with red accents and wood vinyl dash trim.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s, American manufacturers of pony cars were all interested in fielding cars in the national Trans Am Championship series of road races with an eye to winning the Manufacturers Championship and subsequent bragging rights. The engine size was limited to 5.0 liters which is just over 305 cubic inches. To qualify for the series the manufacturer had to produce a certain number of cars with the basic race engine for sale to the public. Hence. Chevrolet sold the Z 28 and Ford the Boss 302 Mustang. Camaro dominated the Trans Am series in 1968-9, but Ford came back to take the Manufacturers Title in 1970.
The Boss 302 Mustang was the street version of the race car. The engine featured a special 302 block topped with canted-valve 351 Cleveland heads. The engine was laughably rated at 290 horsepower (as was the Z28 Camaro 302) but actually produced over 340 horsepower. The Boss 302 Mustang also included race-like body and suspension modifications.
Congratulations Steve for being the proud owner of this spectacular Boss 302 Mustang.
