Imagine for one moment that you were the successful bidder on this 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351. What would your first order of business be? The paint is tired, making it a prime candidate for a cosmetic restoration. However, it has no significant rust issues, which means that it could be driven and enjoyed immediately. Once you’ve taken a closer look, consider whether you would restore it or whether you would drive it as an original survivor. Located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, you will find the Boss listed for sale here on eBay. While the bidding has reached $29,900, this remains short of the reserve. The owner also offers a BIN option at $40,000.
The news with this Raven Black Mustang seems to be largely positive. Its paint shows its age, but it remains okay if the buyer wants to retain the vehicle as an original survivor. However, there’s no doubt that a fresh coat of paint would cause a dramatic transformation. The panels look pretty straight, with no significant dings or dents. That brings us to the question of rust, and it is here that this Mustang stakes its claim as a promising project car. There is rust, but the owner claims it is restricted to the trunk pan and drop-offs, along with the lower rear quarter panels. It is hard to see in the supplied photos, but it’s good news if that is the extent of the trouble. He says that the floors are original and sound, while it appears that the frame rails, torque boxes, and shock towers are all good. Depending on how bad the rust is, it might be something that can be tackled as time, circumstances, and finances allow.
If there’s a downside to this Mustang, it is that it is no longer numbers-matching. That’s a blow because it will have some impact on its potential value. However, even though the original R-Code 351 is now consigned to the pages of history, its place has been taken by a 351-4V of 1970 vintage. The original motor would have produced 330hp, and the swap will see this figure drop to 300hp. That’s still not a bad number, and when you consider that the car also features its original 4-speed wide-ration manual transmission, 3.91 Traction-Lok rear end, power steering, and power front disc brakes, it will remain a fast and enjoyable beast to drive. Pointed at a ¼ mile, that journey should take around 14.5 seconds. It appears that the Mustang is driveable and roadworthy, as the listing indicates that the owner uses the car for car shows and weekend cruises. Once again, that leaves the way open for the buyer to keep using the Boss untouched.
If this Mustang has a strong suit, it is the state of the interior. The owner acknowledges that spending around $190 on a carpet set would lift its presentation, but that appears to be all it needs. The black vinyl upholstery is in better than average condition, while the dash and pad appear to be excellent. The gauge cluster is crisp and clear and features a factory tach. It isn’t an interior that is fully loaded, but it does include a console and the original factory AM/FM stereo radio. I can’t spot any aftermarket additions, which is refreshing in a Mustang of this vintage.
Now that you’ve had a chance to consider this Mustang and what it has to offer, I must return to my original questions. Would you restore it, or would you retain the car as an original survivor? More importantly, are you tempted to pursue it further? If you do, I’m sure that all of us would like to know what path you choose to follow.
Impressive car, even without its original motor. Would have been nice to see the breakdown of the production #’s as I’m pretty sure that Black was a fairly “rare-ish” color for the year, let alone on a Boss.
“Numbers matching” means a lot here since the Boss 351 was only available in the Mustang for the 1971 model year … otherwise it’s just a nice classic Mustang …
Maybe if it was MATCHING Numbers, But As She Sits, And the work that needs done. It Is A Pa. car. I’ld look it over REAL GOOD. I grew up in that area of Pa. Lots of SALT in the winter, and the RUSTANGS Never faired well. I love these, But Check It Real GOOD ….The Fact That It Doesn’t Have A iNSPECTION Sticker On It Tells Me That Something Isn’t Right. If It Won’t Pass Inspection It’s Not Road Worthy.
No inspection needed for cars older than 1995 in NJ so PA might have something similar. Looks like this car was originally sold in NJ and lived in FL at some point at least.
Interesting that they swapped in the Boss 351 cam into the replacement motor. That must have bumped power up closer to the 330HP I would think
PA inspection is not required for cars registered as antiques. Cars registered as classics require annual inspection, but my ’68 Mustang has a classic plate and hasn’t had an inspection sticker for 15 years, at least.
A lot of guys in PA who own cars like this also have a winter car. I can honestly say my 2011 Mustang GT has never seen a salted road. This would have been a special car when it was new, so I can easily imagine the original owner driving it in fair weather only.
The engine is still missing it’s high compression pistons, and maybe more importantly, the awesome big canted valve cylinder heads……that engine is way short of 330 hp, which, BTW, was underrated on the 351 Boss engines……….the aluminum high rise intake is also missing………
If it’s on the road in Pa, it’s inspected.
CCFisher – that’s not necessarily what happened back in the 70’s. A lot of cars were driven in the salty winter because people didn’t buy cars to baby / collect them. They typically only owned them for a few years before passing them on to get the “latest” model which was usually just a cosmetic change, but marketed as revolutionary.
Snow tires were big business, and I can tell you that both my ’73 Barracuda and ’70 Corvette saw winter duty before my time up here in the salt.
I always had a winter beater since buying my first V8 RWD car at 16 in the Salty North. When you’re a kid who works to buy and feed that cheap muscle car you quickly realize that you aren’t getting to work or school on time in the winter and it’s just dangerous and a hassle. So my dad let me put my muscle car in the garden covered and up on cinder blocks and I drove my beater around all winter. So maybe others did this too…
@Joseph Buechele – I agree the current 351 is nothing like the real Boss, but 315hp isnt unreasonable from the 300hp stock engine. With the right intake and carb to match that cam it could give up another 15hp. And the original was likely closer to 360hp stock from what i’ve read
Hey I found two 1971 models and a 72 is 1800 a bad price were can I see the matching numbers
That Boss motor was everything for this car. Best small block made IMO. With it…you have the last of the Ford Racing muscle cars. A car that could run a 1/4 mile into the high 12’s. Without it, you have a 71 Mustang. Cool, but not legendary.
Ended at $31,100, Reserve Not Met.
I always had a winter beater since buying my first V8 RWD car at 16 in the Salty North. When you’re a kid who works to buy and feed that cheap muscle car you quickly realize that you aren’t getting to work or school on time in the winter and it’s just dangerous and a hassle. So my dad let me put my muscle car in the garden covered and up on cinder blocks and I drove my beater around all winter. So maybe others did this too…
Top seed 351 Cleveland HO in the Boss 351 Mustang, the final Boss of that era. Maybe the best all around of the three. It is one of those cars, like the early Z/28, Olds W/31, where the engine is specific to the car itself. It would be fun to blast around in the Boss up for sale and that Cleveland could be taken well beyond any factory offering, at which point it becomes a built up street machine. Doubtful anymore.
This is one car that the original engine is definitely a deal breaker for me. The 72 Cobra Jet 351 is the only other 4 bolt main Cleveland. Also 71 was the worst year for rust. If I remember correctly the domestic steel workers were on strike and the imported steel of the day was garbage. So great care would be necessary when inspecting…
I had one back in the day and in my humble opinion the engine was the car. No BOSS 351C engine, no car.
A mustang II sport steering wheel would look much better here than dad’s LTD lux wheel.
This is the same car from 2012
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford-trucks.com-vbulletin/1080×810/thumbnail_2021_07_07t171940_062_99401e707a5d9eef851f23dac973ae99448b13f8.jpg
I’ve know this car for years. It was stored in a garage here in Clearwater Florida for decades next to a 1970 Grabber Green Mach1 4spd shaker hood car. The owner passed away and the brother sold me the Mach1 and two Maverick Grabbers very cheap, but wanted mid $30’s for the Boss and thousands of dollars in NOS parts. This was back in 2010. The brother finally sold the car for low $30s in about 2018 but kept the NOS parts. The parts included many rare and valuable parts, but there was supposed to be two NOS 351 Boss carbs, and they were later service carbs, etc. The car has some rust in the rear body panel trunk pan area, but other than that it is solid as a rock with perfect floors. I still have photos of the car in that garage and of the parts and floor pans. I tried to post one but BF would not allow it. Thought some of you might want to see it.
Sad. So, so sad. The guy selling it has had it for a year according to ad. I agree with “sarge”, without that BOSS 351, it’s just no longer a BOSS. I ordered and bought one in ’71. Mine was opposite color scheme, metallic silver with black stripes. The one for sale mentions rust, but doesn’t show it. Looks from one photo its on upper drivers fender. Paint on front spoiler, hood and “corrective” paint on twilight panel are really beat. Why does the carpet look reddish ?? BTW, even with the locker rear it was awful to drive in Chicago Winter, especially slush. Parked it and drove my ’65 Beetle ! Those Autolite carbs James427 mentions are about 4 grand apiece for rebuilds.