Readers Ride: 1970 Boss 302 Mustang
Ripping upward the route for iv decades. The twelvemonth was 1972, when Al Willingham, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, went machine shopping amongst his dad. Willingham had only returned domicile after serving 2 years inwards the U.S.A. of America Navy. Money was tight but a Wimbledon white 1970 Boss 302 Mustang caught the younger Willlingham’s oculus on a used machine lot. Asking cost $2,700. Four-speed, hockey stick stripes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Boss! Willingham negotiated a bargain amongst the dealer as well as his dad. His dad was out $2,400. Four decades later, Willingham is nonetheless reaping dividends on those payments made to his dad.
 |
| All 1970 Boss 302 Mustangs received four-speed transmissions as well as a Hurst T-handle shifter to stir the gears. |
See the Boss
Recently, I met Willingham at the Birmingham Ford as well as Mustang Club machine present at Jim Skinner Ford inwards Birmingham, Alabama. Willingham had only won a door prize. A walking cane amongst a small, toy Mustang for the handle.
“If yous e'er run across the car, I tin run across you,” said Willingham. “Because it never leaves my sight.”
Willingham placed the cane on overstep of the fold-down nurture topographic point inwards his Boss 302 Mustang. Willingham's human face upward lit upward equally he began to speak close his many adventures inwards the car. Street races as well as eluding the cops inwards the machine sealed a bond long agone that this machine possessor won't easily break.
 |
| Decals on factory, finned aluminum valve covers denote the 1970 Boss 302 engine. |
Hell on wheels
Willingham as well as his Boss 302 had a reputation for high-speed hijinks inwards Tuscaloosa, Alabama. If yous cruised the boulevards of Tuscaloosa inwards the 1970s yous may accept seen a trio of Boss 302s. Willingham's white Boss 302 made the rounds amongst a greenish Boss as well as a yellowish Boss, owned past times a twosome of his buddies. These fast friends were hell on wheels as well as a cop’s nightmare.
Pays to survive first
During his route warrior days inwards the 1970s, Willingham raced a Chevelle as well as came out a winner inwards to a greater extent than ways than one. He had the Chevy compaction as well as decided to rapidly line into a parking lot to cool his engine. Just equally he did he spotted cherry as well as bluish lights inwards his nurture thought mirror. Willingham watched equally the Chevelle blew past, followed past times only about other Chevelle that was trying difficult to grab his Boss Mustang as well as the commencement Chevelle. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Tuscaloosa cop pulled the ii Chevelles over equally a grin Willingham skulked like shooting fish in a barrel through the darkened parking lot.
 |
| Willingham, inwards a higher house right, relishes the musculus machine glory days of the 1970s as well as his 1970 Boss Mustang. |
Half a 1000000 miles as well as nonetheless going
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pile of speeding tickets as well as a blown engine were the solely things that could dull Willingham's Mustang. He continues to keep the Boss inwards stock condition, solely replacing parts as well as pigment equally needed dorsum to manufacturing flora specs.
“I guess I accept a one-half 1000000 miles on it,” Willingham said. “The Boss was my daily driver for a long time.” Despite the miles, this Boss looks no worse for the wear. The ’Stang received a Wimbledon White repaint close xv years ago.
Willingham, non 1 to dorsum downwardly from a race, managed to blow-up the 302 engine non long after he got it. Since then, he has had the engine rebuilt twice. The stout Ford 9-inch nurture goal is nonetheless the master copy amongst stock 3.50 gears.
“If yous tin tear upward a Ford 9-inch nurture goal yous tin tear upward a steel ball,” said Willingham.
The transmission is nonetheless the master copy 4-speed, wide-ratio as well as has never been apart. Surprisingly, the Boss gets decent gas mileage, similar that matters. I asked anyway.
“My Boss came amongst a 600 cfm carburetor as well as gets 21 miles per gallon on the highway,” said Wilingham. “Other than the driver's topographic point beingness replaced, the interior is all original.”
 |
| Reflective dark stripes adorn 1970 Boss 302 Mustangs. |
Many happy returns
I could nation Willingham loves his machine equally much now, equally he did iv decades ago. The await inwards his eyes when he talks close it made me believe this was the greatest machine on the planet. I envy this guy. Willingham got the machine he wanted as well as hung on to it. The 1969-1970 Boss 302 Mustangs sure as shooting await similar a corking investment inwards hindsight. Willingham's Boss 302 is priceless.
Jody Potter
— Junkyard Life
1970 Boss 302 Mustang specs:
Engine - 302 cubic inch V8, rated at 290 horsepower
Carburetor - 600 cfm, 4 barrel
Transmission - Wide-ratio 4-speed manual
Rear end - 3.50 gear ratio
Color - Wimbledon white
Wheels - Chrome Magnum 500
Original MSRP - $3,720
 |
| Chrome air cleaner lid was criterion on 1970 Boss Mustangs, a shaker scoop was optional. |
 |
| Al Willingham has logged to a greater extent than than a one-half 1000000 miles behind the cycle of his 1970 Boss Mustang. |
 |
| Front mentum spoiler on the Boss amplifies the aggressive await of the redesigned 1970 Mustangs. |
 |
| Ford produced 7,013 Boss 302 Mustangs inwards 1970. |
 |
| A apartment dark deck lid as well as dark nurture spoiler Pb to a blacked-out tail panel on 1970 Boss Mustangs. |
