Everyone has their own personal favorite Mustang, mine just happens to be the Boss 302. As a former racer myself, the track-bred suspension and high-winding small block mean the Boss is a car that does more than just look great—it dances when you want to dance. I would also argue that the 1969-70 Mustang fastback is perhaps the best-looking Mustang of all time, with the perfect blend of aggression and detailing to make them as joyous to look at as they are to drive. And for those of you who think only a big block will suffice, I submit that perhaps you haven’t driven a Boss 302, because that built 302 delivers a healthy whack of low-end torque but keeps on pulling long after the 390s and 428s have run out of breath. If you like being involved with your car when you drive, few cars satisfy like the Boss 302.

And yes, this is a real-deal Boss, complete with its original window sticker and Marti Report attesting to that fact. You’ll note that the paperwork says this one was originally Grabber Green, but not too long ago it was treated to a full repaint in Bright Red, which was on the Boss 302 color chart yet seldom chosen for some reason. It looks fantastic on this car, with an aggressive look that’s exactly right without being too obvious about it. You’ll note that the stripes, Boss 302 graphics, and blacked-out tail panel are correct, but they are painted on—not decals—and buried under the clearcoat for a seamless look. It carries a correct chin spoiler and rear window slats, but no rear spoiler which we like quite a bit. Note how clean it looks, particularly in the profile shots! This car never had a Shaker hood, but a scoop similar to the Mach 1 was installed and looks appropriate. Fit and finish are quite good, with clean, straight bodywork and a fantastic shine to the paint; this car really knows how to attract attention. There are a few signs of use and one small dent in the lower right front fender (you can’t even see it in photos), but otherwise it presents extremely well throughout.

The standard black vinyl interior feels pretty dressed up for a car built for combat. High-back buckets are sporting yet comfortable, and a generous amount of faux woodgraining helps warm things up in the otherwise all-black passenger compartment. You’ll note the gauges are all fully operational, the factory AM/FM radio now powers upgraded speakers behind the back seat, and the 4-speed with Hurst T-handle shifter racks through the gears easily in the heat of battle. Replacement door panels, carpets, seat covers, and even a fresh dash pad all look great and even the clock ticks away reliably! Those rear seats do fold down, making the Boss a relatively practical pony car, and the trunk is solid and tidy with no issues that are going to ruin your day sometime in the future.

It carries a D1ZE-6015-B block, which is a service replacement Boss 302 V8 with 4-bolt mains that was likely installed in early 1970 or ’71 by the dealer—this shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. It was crazy to put a 7000 RPM V8 in the hands of average car buyers. That engine is why this Boss is affordable, but it changes nothing about its personality—it still fires up with a ferocious bark, there’s that characteristic solid lifter clatter, and the sucker pulls like a freight train at virtually any speed. It’s nicely detailed with a correct air cleaner, Ford Blue engine enamel, and a set of finned aluminum valve covers, all inside a gloss black engine bay that’s probably nicer than stock. Power steering and brakes are welcome options, even on a car built to race, and this one does run beautifully. There’s a big radiator up front that keeps things nice and cool and it wouldn’t take much to move this engine bay up to the show car category (but that would be a real shame on something that runs this well).

Underneath, it’s solid with original floors and rockers, factory suspension, and a few red-painted details to help it stand out. The Toploader 4-speed manual gearbox offers precise throws and with 3.50 gears on a Track-Lok, it’s a reasonable cruiser when you aren’t set on “kill.” This car has been upgraded with rear disc brakes, which are certainly welcome on a car with this much performance potential, and we can find no issues in the usual problem areas like the torque boxes and inner rocker reinforcements. The dual exhaust system features mellow-sounding mufflers that don’t get annoying on the road but sound spectacular at full-bore, and the suspension has been lowered a bit to give it a killer stance. 7- and 8-inch Magnum 500 wheels are fitted with staggered 215/60/15 front and giant 295/50/15 rear BFG radials that really fill the fenders.

As I mentioned, documentation includes the original window sticker and a Marti Report verifying that this is a genuine Boss.

Make no mistake, this is a driver-grade Boss. But rather than let that be a demerit in your investment portfolio, look at it instead as the opportunity to own one of the best-driving machines of the muscle car era. Wickedly fast, more than competent in the corners, and still a car that attracts crowds wherever you stop, this Boss delivers just as much fun per mile as its more expensive, pedigreed siblings. If the drive is more important than numbers, and you like the idea of a discount price, then you need to call right now because I guarantee you’re not alone. What a fun car!