Tucked away in a Mike Wagner’s Wisconsin plating shop, this dusty yet solid 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 waited “at least” twenty-five years. One connection led to another, and a deal was struck to sell the car to a “good home” with another Ford aficionado. Thanks to reader Michael who suggested we feature this story; it’s not every day we can cover a fantastic Barn Find as it transitions from one good home to another. For the whole story check out Jerry Heasley’s article on hotrod.com.
Factory louvers and the rear spoiler add style to this Boss 302, the foundation for Ford’s SCCA racing effort as piloted by Parnelli Jones.
The all-business black interior with four-speed floor shifter and no-console matches the Boss 302’s purposeful racing roots.
In a year when many muscle cars reached their peak horsepower with displacements well over 400 cubic inches, the Boss 302 delivered potent road-racing performance with its high-revving 302. Conservatively rated at 290 HP, these engines have been dyno-tested at 374 HP and 324 lb-ft of torque.
Mike Wagner retired and decided to let someone else restore and enjoy the Boss 302 Mustang he had stored for decades. Pictures courtesy of hotrod.com. What interesting cars are gathering dust in your area?
Maybe the steering wheel has been changed? I thought this model used the plane jane two spoke wheel. Love the exterior look,looks like a real solid body, will bring major bucks.
KS
Looks like a factory rimblow horn steering wheel. An option in 1969 and 1970 mustangs.
I am not aware that the rimblow wheel was a stand alone option. Maybe on a Mustang? On a Cougar you only got the rimblow if you upgraded the interior to the decor style or ordered the XR-7 model. A standard model Cougar received the 2 spoke wheel.
My 1970 had that steering wheel and I will never forgive my 21 year old self for absolutely trashing that exact car in 1974. Truly met all of the requirements of the definition “Young and Stupid”
I’m not a mustang guy at all but the car guy in me makes it so i can respect this one!
Great car!
By the 7th word, I knew Bob Perkins was going to factor into this story somehow
Being so well connected into the Mustang community, he’s been the right guy at the right time in the right place several times.
Good write up.
Restore? Looks like detailing & deferred maintenance.
Such a cool car. I bet we all have a few cool cars gathering dust around us that we know about. I know a guy who has had 2 AAR Cudas in his garage since the ’80’s. I even work in the same place he does and haven’t even bugged him to buy them! Maybe it’s time to make the move. Hope he doesn’t ruin my dream with the “I’m gonna’ fix ’em someday” thing….Ugh
What’s gathering dust? My ’64 500XL Galaxie – one of these days….
Notice how he carefully left the dirt on it throughout the pictures. Smart man. I wonder what he would do if his wife decided to surprise him by washing the car? LOL! Probably drop stone dead from a brain aneuryism. It’d be the world’s first $20,000 car wash.
Next thing you know experts will be archiving all the hand and cat paw prints in the dirt to document its authenticity. Then there will be time spent investigating if a car was actually left in a barn. The right kind of barn will mean extra $$$ at auction.
I read about this car a few months ago on the Mustang and Fords website, this gentleman did all Bob’s plating for his collector cars and they had been friends for years. Bob had told him if he ever wanted to sell it he wanted first chance.
Yeah, Yeah, it sat around a long time, I get it. So wash the darn thing already.
Brian you took the words right out of my mouth. LOL Could someone just wash the car now. Besides the dust looks too perfect ? ? ?
If i went into my garage and took a angle grinder to the masonary wall; and cut a chase in the wall, for just 5 minutes.
I will have a layer of dust on me, twice as thick as this Mustang has. So will my car in the garage.
It seems to be easily replicated.
I remember seeing “spray on mud” in a can for those who wanted the “off road” look on their fenders and doors but didn’t want to actually DRIVE in the mud to get it. Somebody is going to make a killing selling a spray bomb of dust/dirt/mouse droppings that can be applied to the top surfaces of any old car to give it that “barn fresh” look. When you do this, remember that I need a 2% royalty on sale profits for the concept….
I’m a cabinet maker.
Let a car set in the shop a couple of good hot humid days and I can give you better dust than that.
Then leave it in there while I’m spraying lacquer and it will have good staying power.
Just glancing this BOSS over it is not the jewel everyone is making it out to be. Looks like the right rear quarter panel has been been repaired and painted at one point, the lower body line is not right. It is missing the correct distributor, rev limiter, smog setup and maybe the carb as well. These are expensive items to find!
Don’t get me wrong, I would love to have another grabber yellow BOSS 302! Even this cool car! Still neat to read about stuff like this.
Rob Bob Perkins who bought the car has all those parts, he buys anything and everything that comes up NOS because he has the money and he needs them for his collection of unrestored and restored Fords.
clean it up and leave it alone save for the typical detailing and replacing bits here and there.
The year this car was new, 1970, I paid 250.00 for a ’50 Packard out of my grandfather’s garage…….I should have bought a 1970 Mustang Boss 302…but I didnt like the size of the new Mustang iteration…….dont take any stock advice from me.
Looks like the front spoiler was pit on last week. Tires don’t look 25 either. Not as found.
Wash it, change the oil, and drive the hell out of it!