Dual Dilemma

Juggling Two Bosses, a 302 and a 429.

- Steve Temple

Decisions, decisions. When mulling over which Boss Mustang to acquire, the 302 and 429 both have their merits. In the case of Al Geisler, he obviously could not make up his mind since he owns fine examples of both, each of them 1969 models. (Al also owns a substantial number of other muscle cars, primarily Fords, and his rare Cougar GT-E was featured in our Nov. 2016 issue, “Snarling Cat.”) While much has been written about each model individually, rarely have we come across two together, a situation that lends itself to a comparison.

For those who believe there is no substitute for cubic inches, the obvious first choice would be the 429. But when you dig a bit deeper, the selection process gets a little cloudier.

How so? Well, the Boss 302 is a car that you might enjoy driving more, given its original intent to square off against the Camaro Z/28 in the Trans-Am series. Due to race rules limiting engine displacement to 302 cubes, the weight under the hood is significantly less than the 429, resulting in a better balanced car.

“The 302 is a little easier to drive,” Al admits. “The Boss 9 is naturally quicker. There’s nothing like cubic inches.” This differences in power and weight distribution aren’t the only issues, though.

Shinoda Shows a Different Way

Designed by Larry Shinoda, the Boss 302 was way more than merely an engine designation. The car also had a number of handling and aerodynamic aids to enhance its track prowess. Shinoda was ideally suited for such a task, having cut his teeth on Corvettes before he was tapped to join the Blue Oval by Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen, who had already left the General. (The story goes that the “Boss” label was in part a tribute to his new manager, and Shinoda also disguised this secret project as “the boss’s car.”)