TWO TRICK PONIES
Classic & Sports Car|June 2023
In the late 1960s, the Ford Mustang appeared in both race-homologation Boss and roadgoing special Mach 1 forms, free from impending regulatory restriction
SIMON HUCKNALL 
TWO TRICK PONIES

This doesn't feel quite right. Like watching an episode of Countryfile with incidental music by Motörhead, wrestling this 1970 Boss Mustang along sinuous roads against a bucolic English. backdrop rankles a little. It's no fault of the car, a more perfect example of which would be hard to find. It's more that the Boss 302's headbanging soundtrack conjures memories of epic car movies - Bullitt, Gone in 60 Seconds (the '74 original, of course) - or even Jim Morrison's part-homage to his beloved GT500, HWY: An American Pastoral. And none of those, as I recall, were set in North Yorkshire.

Then you start to acclimatise to this heavymetal American. Sure, there's no vertiginous urban landscape to get it airborne, or a vast, arid vista to admire from its vinyl Hi-Back bucket seat as you spool through The Doors' songbook in your head. But its unruly appeal fast becomes infectious: just muscle the Hurst shifter into first, watch the Shaker bonnetscoop snap to one side as you stab the throttle and then giggle inanely as the Boss unleashes a torrent of V8 mayhem down the road. It's no sophisticate, but my god is it engrossing.

For the observant among you, this Mustang - a 1969-built, 1970-model-year Boss 302 matches neither McQueen's 1968 390 GT nor 'Toby' Halicki's 1974 Mach 1, which were produced before and after this 1969-'70-series car. But to me they all speak of that magical era, shortly before Detroit's V8s were finally neutered by regulation. Talking of Mach 1s, we also have one joining the Boss today, equipped with a Cleveland 351cu in V8 and automatic transmission: the same series and basic design as the 302 but, as we'll find out, a demonstrably different car to drive.

この記事は Classic & Sports Car の June 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Classic & Sports Car の June 2023 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

CLASSIC & SPORTS CARのその他の記事すべて表示
RAY HILLIER
Classic & Sports Car

RAY HILLIER

Double-chevron oddity proves a break from the norm for this Crewe specialist

time-read
3 分  |
December 2024
SHORT BACK & GLIDES
Classic & Sports Car

SHORT BACK & GLIDES

Eccentric enthusiast Captain RG McLeod's series of Manx-tailed Bentley Specials reached its zenith with this unique S2 Continental.

time-read
7 分  |
December 2024
People's choice
Classic & Sports Car

People's choice

The diminutive but multi-million-selling Fiat 850 packed a remarkable diversity of form and function into its compact footprint

time-read
10 分  |
December 2024
PLASTIC BREAKS FROM THE NORM
Classic & Sports Car

PLASTIC BREAKS FROM THE NORM

Glassfibre revolutionised niche car-body production, but just occasionally strayed into the mainstream.

time-read
9 分  |
December 2024
A SENSIBLE SUPERCAR
Classic & Sports Car

A SENSIBLE SUPERCAR

The cleverly conceived four-seater Elite secured Lotus a place at the big players' table, but has it been unfairly maligned since then?

time-read
9 分  |
December 2024
"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"
Classic & Sports Car

"I had a habit of grabbing second place from the jaws of victory"

From dreams of yachting glory to the Le Mans podium, via a stint at the top of the motorsport tree, Howden Ganley had quite the career

time-read
8 分  |
December 2024
Still going strong
Classic & Sports Car

Still going strong

Herbert Engineering staked its reputation on the five-year warranty that came with its cars. A century on, this Two Litre hasn't made a claim

time-read
9 分  |
December 2024
One for the kids
Classic & Sports Car

One for the kids

General Motors was aiming squarely at the youth market with the launch of the Pontiac GTO 60 years ago, and its runaway success popularised the muscle-car movement

time-read
8 分  |
December 2024
A NEW BREED OF HERO
Classic & Sports Car

A NEW BREED OF HERO

Launched at the turn of the millennium, the GT3 badge has already earned a place alongside RS, CS and turbo in Porsche lore.

time-read
10 分  |
December 2024
Brits with SIX appeal
Classic & Sports Car

Brits with SIX appeal

The straight-six engine is synonymous with a decades-long legacy of great British sports cars. Six variations on the sextet theme convene for comparison

time-read
10+ 分  |
December 2024