Is this cloning: stickering up a car in a way that it names a model designation but isn’t the same as an original model? Is it creating a tribute? Or does any such effort need to pass some kind of tastefulness test? If the latter, this 1970 Mustang SportsRoof with “Boss” stickers on it needs to go to the woodshed, because Ford never made a car that looked quite this way. But if you like the presentation on the car, you have a fair shot at buying it in the next couple of days here on ebay. It is priced at near $15,000, with no mention of a reserve and plenty of bidding action. You’ll find a way to retrieve it in St. Louis, MO, if you win.
The Boss 302 as Ford offered it was a performance and handling model sub-variant built on the 1969, and then 1970, Mustang SportsRoof models. It included a beefed-up drivetrain and suspension with the idea being that it was a homologation effort for racing efforts in the Trans-Am series. Ford sold slightly over 7,000 Boss 302s in the second year of production. Pretty safe to say that this was not one of them. But how does it work as a clone? Not well. The stripe package is not something Ford issued, from all the research, and the harder you look, the weaker the presentation is here. The paint seems considerably perished, and the interior is worn out and/or incomplete in places.
So what you have in the end here is a crusty Mustang SportsRoof somewhat dressed up to pay homage to a much more valuable car. Given that calling something a “tribute” is not an endorsement of the quality of that derivative item, I guess that’s a label you could apply to this car. It’s certainly not a clone. So are you wise to buy it? If you would, forget the Boss nonsense here and ask yourself what it would take to get this car into shape for driving.
The good news is that the Mustang seems to have a clean floor, and that the body, from what inspection photos can afford, appears pretty straight. If there were a way to soak the stickers off of it, it’s probably driveable and enjoyable as is once you replace interior bits and do a bit of polishing. Whether the engine, noted to have 55,555 miles on it, runs well is your guess. I’m always a little suspicious of the accessory aluminum radiator as a sign of cooling issues. By the way, all the real Boss 302s had a four-speed, so we’re not exactly doing the clone thing in the drivetrain department with the automatic in this car. So what’s a 1970 Mustang SportsRoof with mid-level needs worth? Let’s see what the bidders end up saying.
Is it just me, or does the alternator belt look really slack?
Is the tensioner missing?
Scott, there was no such thing as a belt tensioner on a 70 Mustang. One would stick a pry bar between the alternator and the block, tighten up the belt and the bolt on the alternator. Done. This guy could at least dropped a 351 Cleveland in there. Cleveland heads look like BOSS 302 heads on the outside. This looks like a 302 to me. Not many people can tell the difference between a 302 block and a Cleveland block. This is a poor attempt at a BOSS 302 clone. IMHO
Woofer is right . ” there was no such thing as a belt tensioner on a 70 Mustang. One would stick a pry bar between the alternator and the block, tighten up the belt and the bolt on the alternator. Done.”
Amen,
Old School.
Nope, it’s not just you
A clone or tribute should accurately reflect the original, just without correct serial #s or provenance.
This is what my Mustang friends refer to as a “wannabe”.
You, are being too kind
The more photos i see the worse it gets.
YES… The white paint hides a lot. From what I can see the body work is pretty nasty for the effort put in
Must be an example of an inverse relationship between follicles and teeth.
For 15 K with an 8 K body and paint job, 2 K interior and 4 K suspension and dual exhaust fix it would be worth what you have in it. The market is wobbly right now waiting for nov. ’24 to see if everything can come to the surface.
What happens on November 24?
Try November 2024. There will probably be a really big fireworks show.
When you want Boss 302 but your Mom says you have Boss 302 at home
I don’t think Boss Hoss would even approve of this…
Maybe it’s a clone of a Hot Wheels car. It certainly looks like a full-scale version of one! 🤣
Straight white with red interior is always sharp. Just remove the decals, and polish the heck out of the paint. Would look much better imo. But, to each their own.
Isn’t this car already saying “My peepee is tiny, but watch me waste a lot of fuel!”? Adding the stickers saying “Boss” means you definitely are NOT THE BOSS! It’s like a kid wearing a red plastic fireman’s hat.
There are two types of Boss 302s. The ones that were driven and ‘blown up. . . And the ones that were not driven. . . .
What a hideous mess. The seller is barely literate, and actually describes this thing as a “clone”, when it bears no resemblance to a Boss beyond beings Sportroof body. Some idea of the mechanical prowess of the builder is revealed by the four muffler clamps used to attach one of the aftermarket chrome tips. Yuck!
Must be fast! Owner bailed out of 12 grade English class due to poor spelling and the valve covers??? 347 C.I. STROKER… wow.
Clone tribute or counterfeit. If you photocopy money, tell the arresting officers it’s a clone or a tribute, see how that goes.
Circus Wagon!
Does that 15K also include a heat gun to remove those awful stickers?
The cheese(y) factor is strong with this one…