Vehicle Description
Well past a half-century of motoring, the Ford Mustang remains one
of the world's strongest automotive brands. While some of their
rivals have taken a misstep or two, Ford has consistently ensured
America's favorite pony car remains a stylish and affordable
platform. Because of that, each generation finds a devout following
and, ultimately, a place in the collector car world. In recent
years, 71-73 Mustang prices have seen steady growth, and high-end
cars like this awesome Boss 351 are starting to claim a few rays of
spotlight. Equipped with a correct 351/Toploader drivetrain, and
wrapped in a high quality, body-off restoration, this fully
documented coupe has all the hallmarks of a great collector piece.
If you're a blue oval fan who's looking for a thrilling muscle car
that can be shown AND enjoyed, this second-generation Boss is your
hot ticket!
BODYWORK/TRIM
Corralled in the Arizona heat for the first 20 years of its life,
this awesome pony is a strong example of just how good this
generation of Boss can look. Unfortunately, those two decades
involved a lot of track brawling, and, by the time its second owner
stepped up to the plate, most of the car's Boss-exclusive
components had been either swapped or modified. It took that owner
three years of parts sourcing, but, after a solid restoration, this
Ford was back on the road. In 1998, the car was purchased by its
third owner: Ken Maisano of MASCAR Auto Body - yes, the same outfit
that's been featured countless times on Overhaulin'. In addition to
sourcing more correct parts, Ken stripped the car bare and financed
a detailed, ground-up freshening. Naturally, that rebuild included
correct Grabber Blue pigment, which, in this application, takes the
form of high quality Spies Hecker 2-stage. And today, this Boss
rolls as a revered collection of well-aligned panels and ridged
character lines that presents a better-than-factory appearance.
For the 1971 model year, Ford product planners, aided by former GM
exec Bunkie Knudson, designed a bigger, heavier and more luxurious
Mustang. The idea was to cash in on the burgeoning large luxury
coupe market; and not only did the car grow, it also received
styling cues which exaggerated both its length and weight. At the
front of this Ford's body, prominent, silver-trimmed sportlights
and inset, crystal clear headlights combine with a traditional
galloping horse emblem, a bright chrome bumper and an aggressive
chin spoiler to construct a clean and solid face. Sprinkled down
the car's fuselage you'll find fresh marker lamps, flush door
handles, vivid "BOSS 351 MUSTANG" call-outs and traditional Ford
racing mirrors. At the top of that fuselage, like-new glass, which
is framed by bright stainless trim, highlights both the car's long
ram air hood and dramatic fastback roofline. And at the back of
that roofline, a jewel-like fuel filler and traditional Mustang
tail lights ride between a fresh bumper, a prominent wing and a
third "BOSS 351" call-out.
ENGINE
Naturally, this all-American blue oval is a lot more than just a
pretty body. Under the car's 'long and low' hood you'll find 351
cubic inches of Ford V8 that was balanced, blueprinted and
completely overhauled by Ken Maisano Racing Engines in March of
2007. In factory guise, Ford's venerable Boss 351 utilized Boss 302
heads, a solid-lifter cam and shot peened and magnafluxed rods to
turn stout 11 to 1 compression into an honest 330 horsepower.
Today, this big coupe makes roughly 100 more horses thanks to a
mild cam upgrade. At the top of the engine, an old school
carburetor snipes air from a restored, single-snorkel air cleaner
that's decked in a sweet combination of factory fresh decals and
bright blue paint. Below that carb, a clean aluminum intake anchors
a correct Autolite coil and traditional points distributor between
fresh Autolite Radio Resistance wires and finned valve covers.
Below those covers, fully restored exhaust manifolds funnel spent
gases in to high performance, true-dual pipes. And in front of
those manifolds, a correct radiator cycles water through pliable
Autolite hoses and reproduction screw clamps. As you can see, the
car's proper bay has been coated in a smooth sheen of Satin Black
paint. All the engine's correct ancillary components, from its
Autolite rev limiter and Autolite voltage regulator to its Autolite
alternator and reproduction Autolite battery, are present and
accounted for. And the road-ready powerplant is fast, potent and
runs every bit as good as its brilliant Ford Blue paint
suggests!
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Given its body-off restoration, the bottom of this premium Ford
looks exactly how you'd expect a well-maintained classic to look.
The motor spins a rugged Toploader 4-speed that's been completely
rebuilt by Orange County Transmission of Costa Mesa, California.
Holding that drivetrain off the ground is a correct Competition
Suspension, which makes excellent use of a thicker sway bar,
stiffer springs and staggered rear shocks. Above that suspension,
solid floorpans sport a familiar combination of oxide and
undercoat. At the ends of that suspension, factory power steering
combines with fresh fuel components and power front disc and rear
drum brakes to make easy work of turning, stopping and
accelerating. In the middle of the floors, a big, true-dual exhaust
system jettisons roasted dinosaurs through an H-pipe crossover and
traditional turbo mufflers. And at the edges of those floors, power
meets the pavement through chrome Magnum 500s, which spin F60-15
Firestone Wide Oval 60s around galloping horse center caps.
INTERIOR
Inside this Grabber chariot, a correct Black interior features
fresh bucket seats and a roster of correct equipment that blends
seamlessly with the car's bright facade. Everything from the door
panels and headliner to the black carpet and pony-branded floor
mats appears to be restoration-fresh. The dash is loaded with
vintage telemetry, and features glossy black trim that's clean and
tasteful. A correct Philco AM radio rides between well-integrated
accessory gauges and a chrome Hurst shifter that's founded on a
factory console. The driver spins a 2-spoke factory steering wheel.
And the passengers stash supplies in a completely restored trunk
that features a correct mat, a correct lid decal and a familiar
Space Saver spare.
PROVENANCE
According to Kevin Marti of Marti Auto Works, this clean coupe was
bolted together in Dearborn, Michigan on May 26th, 1971. Here's a
thorough breakdown of the car's original Door Data and optional
equipment:
DOOR DATA:
SERIAL NUMBER: 1F02RXXXXXX
1 - 1971 model year
F - Built in Dearborn, Michigan
02 - Mustang Sportsroof
R - 351 cubic inch, 4V Boss engine
XXX,XXXth Ford vehicle scheduled for production at Dearborn
05/71 - Assembled in May of 1971
63D - Mustang Sportsroof
J - Ford #3657-A Grabber Blue paint
1A - Black Ruffino with Corinthian Vinyl bucket seats
V - 3.91 Traction-Lok axle
5 - 4-speed, wide-ratio manual transmission
75 - Phoenix Ordering District
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:
4-speed, wide-ratio manual transmission
Traction-Lok differential
F60x15 wide oval raised white letter tires
AM radio
FEATURES
Featured on the cover of The Mustang Forty Year History by Randy
Leffingwell
Featured in Mustang Milestones by David Newhardt
Featured in the February, 2004 ...for more information please
contact the seller.