IT’S TIME FOR THE BOSS 429

BACK SEAT DRIVING—Ford has brought back every single Mustang worth reviving—the GT, the GT/CS, Steve McQueen’s Bullitt Mustang, the Mach 1, the GT500, the GT350, even a revival of the rent-a-racer in the form of the Shelby GT-H. Next year, it will be the Boss 302. They’ve done ‘em all—but one. Come on, Ford, it’s time to bring back the Boss 429. The original Boss 429 was introduced in 1969 and was the result of NASCAR rules that required a manufacturer to build at least 500 cars of any motor used for stock car racing. The “Shotgun” 429 was Ford’s answer to the Mopar 426 HEMI, which dominated the NASCAR circuits. Ford decided that the Mustang would be the recipient of the new 429 cubic inch motor, and commissioned Kar Kraft of Dearborn, Michigan to build the cars, using the Mustang Mach 1 as the platform. In order to get the massive motor into the Mustang, Kar Kraft had to widen the shock towers and modify the inner fenders, shorten the front springs, and move the battery to rear of the car. The Boss 429 was devoid of fancy stripes, but did include a huge hood scoop, a wheel and tire combination almost too wide for the car, and a great stance. All Boss 429s were equipped with manual transmissions and no air conditioning. Unlike the Boss 302, the 429 was not known for its handling prowess. It did only two things well: Look good, and accelerate in a straight line. 858 Boss 429s were made, the last one rolling off the assembly line in 1970. Today, the cars fetch premium prices at auctions—over $350,000.

So, what would a modern-day Boss 429 look like? Probably similar to the original. As for the hardware, much of it can be borrowed off of the upcoming Boss 302. However, since the Boss 429 is designed principally as a straight line performance car, Ford can design the car for maximum power delivery traction at the rear wheels. As with the Laguna Seca version of the new Boss 302, the Boss 429 can use lightweight alloy racing wheels in staggered widths: narrower in front and wider in the rear. R-compound ultra-high-performance tires in the rear would maintain better contact with the pavement. Does Ford have a suitable power plant it could use? Well, there appears to be just such a motor. Several sources report that Roush Racing has been field testing for Ford an experimental, larger displacement version of the 6.2-liter engine currently in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor code named "777" (7.0 liter, 700 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm) at National Mustang Racers Association events around the country. The 777 Boss runs on E85 biofuel, is naturally aspirated, and reportedly produces up to 800 horsepower. That sounds just about right for the new Boss 429. - Roy Nakano