Standing out from the customizable Mach 1, the Boss 302 and 429 were all about exclusive performance. The Boss 429 took center stage with a monstrous 429 cubic inch V8 built for NASCAR dominance.
Homologated for this limited-edition Mustang, the engine’s 375 horsepower propelled the Ford Torino Talladega to victory on the high-speed ovals.
While the Boss 302 wasn’t quite as powerful, it also sported a distinctive stripe package and a one-of-a-kind engine.
Developed to meet SCCA Trans-Am racing regulations, it packed a 302 cubic inch V8 with special modifications, including a heavy-duty crankshaft, unique freeze plugs, and larger valves borrowed from the 351 cubic inch Cleveland engine.
This unique setup unleashed 290 horsepower, a substantial 80-horsepower jump over the standard 302 small block. Unearthed from a field by the YouTube channel “The Cougar Eliminator Den” in 2023, a classic Mustang emerged after a staggering 30 years basking under the open sky.
Parked alongside a 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminator, its twin in terms of the potent Boss 302 engine, the Mustang endured the harsh elements for three decades. While far from perfect, the muscle car showed surprising resilience.
Unfortunately, a more thorough inspection revealed a disheartening truth the floor pans were riddled with rust. As expected, the V8 engine refused to turn over, and a simple fix wouldn’t be enough to coax it back to life.
But there was a silver lining the Mustang still possessed its numbers-matching engine, a detail that would surely excite restoration enthusiasts.
