I would prefer a Boss over a Bullitt edition. Either way; it better be more then a name and decals or it will now not be worth having.

 

Unlike the GT/CS I consider the Bullitt to be the pioneer for the next generation SEs with no disappointing upgrades. Logic points to a n/a 5.4, a probable and likely choice for Ford leading to the Boss which would be a few notches below the GT500.

 

Hope the Bullitt comes with more HP. Another SE with stickers and fake scoops would just be lame. A factory CAI doesn't count, btw!

 

I agree with you Justabear.

 

Actually, the front of the new Mustangs have the 67/68 look to them, while the back is pure 65/66 year car. How can you say that a Bullitt model isn't a good choice for this body style? Don't you remember the story Motor Trend ran a several months back? They had Ford paint a yellow GT Dark Highland Green, and it looks awesome. And about the louvers, there is a company already in the prototype stages of making flush mounted louvers. Glass has to be removed for these. I'm on the pre-order list, with others. Plus there is a huge thread in the '05-'08 Exterior Mods section. This car was just screaming for a Bullitt version IMO.

 

Agreed I think 08 Bullitt and then Ford with a big ad campaign to drown out the return of camero and challenger will hit with the 40th anniversary return of the BOSS.

 

I Know all about SHR's flush mount louvers. I've even seen them in person. Nice product. However, they are 65/66 style. That's why I mentioned making some 67/68 style louvers. I remember seeing ONE company that made a 67/68 set that stuck to the outside, but that was over a year ago and I haven't seen them since.

As for the styling debate, the front of the 65/66 and 67/68 look a LOT alike and based on that it can easily be said the '05 was designed after either one or both (yes I know what HTT claims)
Using the honeycomb pattern in the grille: '65
Headlight "vents": '65/66.
Shape of the grille: 65/66.
Recessed headlight buckets: 65-68 (toss-up)
"Plain" Hood: 65/66
"curved" area above the headlight: 67/68 (this, IMO is the ONLY styling cue on the front of the car that is distinctly 67/68)
However, like you said, there's no doubt the back half was designed after the 65/66. The interior is clearly 67/68 though.

Yes. I saw the Motor Trend car and I also saw it up for sale. Once it was painted that dark green all I could see was a Dark Ivy Green '66 Shelby. (the obvious reasons why are stated above)

 

Window louvers: http://www.ssinserts.com/Merchant2/m...gory_Code=111a

 

I believe those are the ones. Thanks! I couldn't remember who made them.
Aren't those the only 67/68 style louvers out there right now?
If they are, you can bet they'll be plenty more by the time the Bullitt comes out.

 

I believe it has to do with CAFE limitations. Ford has to use their allocations across their entire product line and I don't think that Saleen or the others have the same requirements. But I could be wrong.

 

No your pretty spot on, as Saleen is considered a small manufacturer, like all the guys in Europe, since they only put out so many vehicles per year.

 

bullitt whatever, i would rather see a boss.

all i can say is it better not be availible in multiple colors

 

I'd love to see a BOSS.

 

BULLITT is the best. I can surely say that.

 

If they do make a BOSS, they need to make it with the different engine options, just like the old ones. 302, 351, and 428/9, or some similar variance.

It would be great, but they probably won't do it. At least not all 3. They'll probably only do the 302 and 351. No matter what engine, it better have some good power output, or Ford will **** off lots of peoples.

 

Say what, the old Boss Mustangs did NOT have any engine options.

There were 3 models:
69-70 Boss 302
69-70 Boss 429 - these were different cars not just an engine option
1971 Boss 351

 

v10 same thing really. Differences were so minor that I've never heard anyone consider them different models. People just say, Boss 351, 429, etc. b/c it's all about engine size!

 

Actually, they were quite different and distinctive cars well beyond just the motors.

The light small-block Boss 302, with its big-port Cleveland (4V) head 302 was a high winding road racer that emphasized overall vehicle dynamics over just a big, honking motor. It did battle for couple of years on the Trans Am and other road course circuits. A bit weak at the bottom end of the power band for strip and stoplight work but coming alive out in the country side and race track.

The big-block Boss 429 in many ways was just the opposite in character -- a huge honking hemi(crescent)-head NASCAR 429 stuffed into a Mustang with a hammered out engine bay with barely enough suspension mods to maintain a modicum of handling. It really was, in many ways, little more than a fancy shipping crate for the 429 motor to get enough production numbers for that motor to be eligable for NASCAR racing -- ironically, in other Ford/Mercury models. In stock form, it really didn't do as well on the strip as the 428 CJ (basic motor designed for high rpm power but constricted by smallish intake and carb and mild street cam to take advantage of that potential) nor on the track as that massive hunk of motor caused the nose to plow like a John Deere. Probably one of the coolest Ford motors, however, and had stratospheric power POTENTIAL once you uncorked it a bit.

The Boss 351 was in a new body altogether, the yet porkier '71 fastback. The motor was the mid-block 351 with very large port heads, a stout 4-bolt Cleveland block and a high state of tune. It was rated at 330hp, if I recall, but that was probably a conservative rating as it easily pushed the 3700lb Stang down the quarter in the mid-high 13 second range. Probably one of the best overall motors Ford made. Handling was decent in the sense that even a fat man can dance pretty well if he tries hard enough, probably somewhere between the track star Boss 302 and the truckish Boss 429. Probably the best overall street car of the three.

So which precedent for any Nouveau Boss?

A high winding 4V 4.6 feeding through a tight-ratio six speed propped up with uprated suspension and reigned in by Brembo brakes would make a close approximation of the Boss 302. That would contrast well with the GT500 but would really need a good IRS to make it a fully contemporary equivalent of the old Boss 302, given the advancements in suspension technology and contemporary handling expectations. Does Ford finally have the will and wherewithall to bite the bullet and step into the 21st century with an IRS? But would this approach bump up against a possible Shelby GT350?

A big brute along the lines of the Boss 429 already has been done in many ways by the GT500. Hanlding isn't as cloddish, relatively speaking, as the Boss 429's was, but nobody would call it adroit in the twisties either. But again, Ford's already got a powerhouse Stang, so why another?

Perhaps a Boss 351 could be reflected by a highly tuned 4V 5.4, which would better match it to the upcoming Camaro and Challenger hp-wise. Go for an AL block to keep the tonnage down, back it up by a six-cog tranny, itself trailed by a Control Blade IRS to allow it to keep up with its IRS'ed competitors in any competition longer than a quarter mile. Again, upgrade the rest of the suspension too, and especially the brakes so they don't start fissioning from heat buildup by the second lap like the current GT's.

I suspect a Boss 460 (4.6?) would be somewhat the most likely as it would be slightly more parts bin engineering and thus easier and cheaper to pull off. A Boss 540 (5.4?) would be a close second as that would better match, and hopefully excede the Camaro 6.0 (6.2?) and Challenger (S)RT Hemi 5.7 (6.1?). While a bit more to pull off, especially finally bringing an AL version of the tall block Mod (haven't they been promising forever that all Mod blocks would be AL?), but might be the price to pay to stay top dog/stallion.

How "Bold" is Ford, really?

 

Nice write-up, rhumb.
Especially liked the closing statement.

 

+2 bold moves indeed, Ford. It is time for a Boss 302 period