One of America’s greatest racing legends, Rufus Parnell Jones (better known as Parnelli), passed away last year at the age of 90. Although he won the Indy 500 and the Baja 1000 (among many other races), the late, great Mr. Jones might be best known for his championship-winning Trans Am car, the 1970 Mustang Boss 302. You can’t argue that the Trans Am series didn’t sell cars; over 7,000 Boss 302s were produced in 1970, so they’re not particularly rare. They are, however, particularly valuable. Its loud colors, high-winding engine, reflective tape stripes, and race-car aura combine to make the Boss a sought-after pony car. The eBay seller from Auburn, Washington, claims that this Mustang has never been restored, and its current high bid of $55,532 proves that regardless of its originality, it’s a pretty nice ride.
The Boss 302 was not just a car but an engine. Most car fans know the dirt: It’s a 302 block with Cleveland-based heads, which means that it feeds that little small block with giant 2.19″ intake valves and commensurately giant intake ports. The 780-cfm Holley is the kind of carburetor one would expect on a big block. Because of warranty-based cold feet, however, the Boss was saddled with a 6150-rpm rev limiter from the factory, shutting things down just when they started getting interesting. Unfortunately, the factory forged pistons were known to develop cracked skirts, which would have ruined one’s day, rev limiter or no. The odometer on this car reads just over 21,600 miles, and the seller believes it to be original.
The undercarriage is certainly rust-free. It appears that someone at some point installed a pair of long-tube headers, so it must sound as beefy as a bright yellow car with reflective stripes should.
Most Boss 302s came with a standard black interior, and the Hurst-shifted four speed was standard equipment. You also got F60x15 Wide Oval tires, competition suspension with staggered shocks, and rolled fenders for tire clearance. It was a complete package that made for one of the more intriguing performance cars of the era.
Because the Sports Car Club of America changed the homologation rules for the Trans Am series for 1970, factories no longer had to adhere to the 305 cubic-inch limit for the street versions of their race cars, so the Boss 302 was replaced by the Boss 351 for 1971. That left two years of original Boss 302 production, but those two years were enough. Parnelli’s School Bus Yellow Bud Moore Engineering race car seared itself into our collective car-loving unconscious, and considering the spirited bidding on this Boss, that image might stick around for quite a while to come.
Not much off a Ford guy But this is a very clean Mustang!! Just surprised to see it does not have a Tach.
Always nice to know what the motor is doing on any machine Mark. 👍
You don’t need a tach, it has a factory rev-limiter! And yes, it is sarcasm.
Parnelli Jones would be on the Mount Rushmore of driving legends
What a sweet ride!! With a Delco battery. Reserve not met and over a week to go.
Last time it was listed for auction on eBay the high bid was $72,500 without meeting reserve.
Steve R
I am by no means a “Ford guy” but I am kind of partial to the Boss 302 Mustangs. That being said, if you are correct and the owner wouldn’t sell this car for $72,500, then I kinda think that he or she is going to own it for a little longer. I may be wrong (I have said the same thing about Z-28 Camaros and been proven wrong) but I for one do not see that kind of value in a car that is not particularly rare.
Curiously, the VIN is spelled wrong, with ‘Os’ instead of ‘Zeros.’ The internet is not friendly with a back search of either version.
Good eyes Howie.I just found out at my dealership where the owner owns about 20 old cars from the 1930’s to the 1990’s that a few cars had dead batteries and went to change a battery on a 1959 pontiac and it had a battery cover on it like this car. This is just a battery cover with the posts sticking out the top of the cover.
nice car.it so original why the delco battery topper? why not a period motorcraft battery to play the part?
i believe you mean AUTOLITE
21K miles and the armrest is beat to hell? 😬 Perhaps it’s just the lighting. In any case, If I wanted premium dollars, I certainly would have detailed the car before putting it on the market.
Delco battery in a ford? Rookie! 😀
That’s a super nice Boss 302.
My most favorite cars from this era are Boss 302’s, 70 Z/28, AAR Cuda and T/A Challenger.
The Trans am style models really worked excellent on the street. Their brakes and suspension systems were designed for road courses in stead on oval or straight line racing.
And high winding motors sound amazing.
Nice choice of cars Patrick. I would have to add a Buick GSX Stage 1 in there. I was always intrigued how a big car was so fast.
It may be unrestored, but it has been repainted.
Sorry Aaron, nice write-up but……”the odometer reads 21,600 & the owner believes that to be original.” Say what? Integrity & honesty close the deal for me. With that statement, I’ve only got red flags.
No offense taken, Rick…I just write them up using the ad as a guide.
I always liked the Boss 302. Back in 1970, if I had my druthers, I would have preferred a Boss 429. But that’s a long time ago when gas was cheaper.
I’m sure that everyone has a memory triggered whenever he sees a particular car or truck. Every time I see a red/orange ‘65 Mustang I think of my sister’s 4th Grade teacher; I see a blue Boss 351 and I think of my high school biology teacher. I see a yellow Boss 302 and I think of our local Parrish Priest.
Yep, Father MacKenzie loved his Boss 302. You could always recognize it by the Crucifix on the dash.
Interesting how people personalize their cars. I had the Exxon tiger, with the blinking eyes in the rear window; my Biology teacher had the Bobbin-Head dog; My friend, Jimmy, had at least 50 Pine Tree air-fresheners; Father MacKenzie had his Crucifix; would a Rabbi cut a piece off the end of the tailpipe?
A lot to unpack here! Father Mackenzie makes me think of the Beatles song “Eleanor Rigby,” and he drove a yellow Boss 302? Awesome!
The biology teacher with a Boss 351 must not have been too bad either, a Grabber Lime Boss 351 might be my favorite Mustang.
That 351 Boss was some package from the Ford factory 🏭 fellas. 🏁
Yeah, as a matter of fact, every time someone mentioned Father MacKenzie, Eleanor Rigby would play in the back of my mind…
How about the white Angora cats with the red eyes (illuminated lamps tied to the brake/turn signals) sitting on the rear deck looking rearward?
Mine was the Exxon tiger…
Seeing a 1969 Boss 429 reminds me of the hot substitute teacher at my junior high. She also drove a 1967 Chevelle SS 396. Wow!
I will take a 70 Z28 RS instead.