Without a doubt, the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 has some large shoes to fill. True, the first Boss 302 was only in production for two years and only won the Trans-Am championship once, but its meaning and what it symbolized for that era is much deeper than that. The Boss was engineered for one reason, to win, to win the Trans-Am championship and surpass the Camaro. It was built in a time where pride was everything for a manufacture, and the Boss 302 was Ford’s way of rekindling that sense of pride and restoring their selves as the premier muscle car company. More important than anything else the 2012 iteration must embody that same spirit.

Ford Boss 302 Mustang History



Competition is the mother of innovation, and the story of the Boss 302 Mustang is no different. The Mustang’s legacy was forged in the Trans-Am racing series where it won the prestigious championship in 1966 and again in 1967. The success the Mustang experienced was a direct confirmation of Ford’s motto which was, “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.”

However, it was competition from Chevrolet and their Camaro Z/28 that sparked the birth of a legend. Not only did the Camaro cut into Ford’s sales, the bigger blow was dealt on the race track when Chevrolet brought home the Trans-Am championship in 1968. Unrelenting, Ford went back to the drawing board in order to one-up their fellow Detroit rival, thus in 1969 the Boss 302 was presented in retaliation.

The name of the car was derived from the engine, which was the key component that needed to be overhauled in order to compete with the Camaro. The 302-cubic engine was mated with the canted-valve cylinder heads from the Cleveland engine which was already in development. The main goal was to maximize flow, and the new Cleveland heads were up to the task. This combination pushed its output to 470-bhp, while the production version was rated at 290-bhp.

The man in charge of designing the Boss 302 was Larry Shinoda, a former GM employee. Some of the styling cues that set the Boss apart from the standard Mustang are the black horizontal rear window shades, side “hockey stick” stripes, and front spoiler and rear deck wing.

Despite a competitive initial showing by the Boss 302 in 1969, it was unable to capture the Trans-Am title, again Chevrolet held that honor. It was in 1970 (with the help of renowned driver Parnelli Jones) that the Boss 302 was able to reclaim the championship and place Ford back in the pony car war.

The Boss is Back

Of course, the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 comes with a 5.0 liter V8 under the hood, producing 440 hp making it Ford’s most powerful naturally aspirated Mustang. When it comes to the engine, the main goal remains the same, increase the flow. This time the Boss 302 accomplishes that by way of new cylinder heads.

It should also come as no surprise that it’s already being touted as the best handling Mustang in the stable. Even though it retains its live-rear axle, good handling characteristics come by way of a modified suspension and stiffer chassis. Definitely a key area considering Ford is trying to best the BMW M3.

You may wonder why Ford has taken the 2012 Boss 302 and positioned it against the M3. The comparison may seem odd considering the Boss’ former rival and the fact that the M3 is a different kind of sports car that caters to a different audience. The reason again links back to the Trans-Am series, which is now known as the Grand-Am Continental Tire Challenge. For the past six years the premier GS category has gone to either the Ford Mustang or BMW M3. The pony car war has evolved into a world war, and Ford must top Bavaria’s best to capture the glory.

In theory the Boss 302 has returned as Ford’s ace in the hole once again to do battle in one of the most important series in America. With that said the purpose-built nature and true essence of the Boss 302 remains intact. Unfortunately, like its predecessor the new generation 302 also failed to win the champion in its debut, so 2011 will mark the year where we will truly find out whether or not it lives up to its name.