94gt

We have seen two versions of the Boss asthetically from the Boss 302R. One modeled after the 1970 and another taking cues from the 69 model minus the painted roof and pinstriping. Just curios which most people would prefer in the commercial model coming out next year.

fiveoh2go

The '70 Boss.

yeahyouknwit

could just be me but all i see are red x

Pro Mod

+1. But I'll take the 1970 treatment please.

vyto2

Right click each box and open in a new tab...

stangfoeva

'70 ftw

mustangmaniak2010

This

Or this

1969 for me alll the way!!!!

Twin Turbo

I'm with you, I prefer the '69.

I'd love the road going 2012 Boss to take some inspiration from this, but I think it'll take the '70 look previewed by the 302R

stangfoeva

Whoops meant '69 FTW lol

Dave07997S

My dad had one just like the 1969 Boss 302, except he took off the Magnum 500's and put on half moons. Those were really popular back then.

Dave

YSUsteven

MustangFanatic

'70 for me!

rhumb

2012 for me. All the previous Bosses were pretty different from each other, stylistically, and rather understated and functional. I hope the 2012 keeps with this overlying idiom rather than trying to recreate a specific previous models style. The Bosses were pretty modern, stylistic, for their day and I hope the next one reflects that same ideal. Not every Mustang model could or should be retro, sometimes its best to show that the company has new, fresh ideas and is not constantly regurgitating from some golden past.

stangfoeva

I'll agree to this ^^^

94gt

It already is retro ny the very name itself. I just showed the top photos with the modern interpretations of classics mustangs of the past.







If there is not going to be any DNA in the vehicles or retro styling cues it shouldn't be a Boss. It should be something entirely new. That said the 2 new race versions are stunning renditions of the past classics. Another thing this model is from the golden age of muscle cars, how many classic mustangs come to mind made after the early 70's. Not many! Really alot of forgettable designs. I think the all new Mustang will come in 2014 being smaller and totally new. I will take the modern interpretation of the 1969-70 mustang on steroids in the 2011.

94gt

How come the images post while I am writing and then go to links once I post? How do I get the pictures to stay on the post? Actually my whole page is links while using another computer at school I get all the photos.

Red Jay

a chop i made just now....

rhumb

I suppose where we would differ is whether to recapture the original spirit and intent of the Boss or specific stylistic details and elements. Those aren't necessarily the same and indeed, could be quite contradictory, which is why I argue against doing an easy retro reinterpretation/recreation of some model year Boss.

You could readily recreate various stylistic elements and yet, in that very process, miss the whole original spirit of the car which was to be a modern, of its day, homologation model for the Trans Am series racers. The Boss's styling details were pretty modern for the day and fairly restrained for the most part (other than the Boss 302 side stripes). As I mentioned, even then the styling changed and varied greatly between years and models ('69 vs. '70 vs. '71; 302 vs. 351 vs. 429).

It strikes me that what most marked the Boss series of cars was not some specific stylistic elements, indeed they were quite varied in this aspect, but rather the idea of a serious, modern high performance car. Thus, in terms of that overall spirit, to have a new Boss revert to some decades old styling elements of some particular model would fly in the face of that.

The truest reinterpretation of a 2012 Boss would have very modern and unique styling elements and would be primarily a very serious, engineering and content-wise, performance car with most of the attention devoted to very substantial upgrades of both the drive train and chassis that were more than simple tuning mods like, say, the Bullitt models of late. All three original Bosses had substantially uprated and upgraded motors, each with pretty much unique heads and beefed up bottom ends. The chassis too, were fairly modified from the standard fair. Styling changes, while there, definitely took a back seat to the real meat put into these packages -- they were anything but tape stripe and spoiler packages that so often pass of as SEs these days.

Again, I would argue that the inspiration for a new Boss (302/5.0) ought to be the overall spirit of the car and not get mired down in some specific stylistic elements from yesteryear. That approach would far more closely reflect what the original Bosses actually from a conceptual standpoint. Create a quasi race track car that emphasizes overall balance and performance over simplistic straight line acceleration (the Boss 302 actually wasn't a particularly good drag car), a true high performance driving tool for the serious driver.

Such an approach would be far more challenging for Ford than simply check listing various design elements from, say, a '70 Boss, but in the end would, I think, far more revitalize and make relevant the Boss marque for 2012 and beyond.

Twin Turbo

Very valid point, rhumb. For what it's worth, I think Ford will deliver on both counts. I expect this to be much more than just a "sticker" package, with the emphasis on a tuned Coyote. Chassis-wise, I suspect they will dip into the FRRP catelogue. Whilst that may not seem to be trying too hard, I'd argue that we're luckier now as, back in the day, it would have been a lot more difficult/impossible to purchase the suspension and braking mods seen on the original Boss cars. Today, Ford offer a whole host of tuning goodies to "lesser" Mustangs and the best of these will be made available on the new Boss. I guess we've never had it so good.

Styling-wise, take the numbers and sponsor decals off the 302R and I reckon you're pretty much there already with what Ford will offer.

MustangFanatic

I do agree with rhumb, I'd love to see Ford deliver a Boss 302 that wasn't simply a copy of a previously done model - the pieces are all there to make a truly awesome Mustang that upholds the essence of the Boss Mustangs without simply copying the formula. I don't believe a shaker hood fits with the current car and should not be offered - if Ford feels it must be offered, then make it optional. I'd say the same for the strip package, I've never been a big supporter of stripes so again I'd like to see Ford make the stripe package at least optional. Would love to see Ford keep the sweet BBS wheels from the 302R for the street version!