The Ford Mustang model named for a 5.0-liter V8 built for Trans-Am racing was the Boss 302.
The Boss 302 Mustang debuted for the 1969 model year, pairing the Mustang body with a 302-cubic-inch, or approximately 5.0-liter, V8. Ford developed the engine to meet the SCCA Trans-Am series’ displacement rules and to challenge Chevrolet’s Camaro Z/28 in road racing.
The street Boss 302 was more than a cosmetic package. It received a high-revving small-block engine, revised suspension, stronger components, and performance-focused details intended to connect the showroom car with Ford’s racing program. Ford produced the model for 1969 and 1970.
The name is often confused with Boss 429, another high-performance Mustang. The Boss 429 used a much larger engine and was associated with NASCAR homologation, whereas the Boss 302 centered on the smaller Trans-Am-oriented V8. “302” refers to the engine’s cubic-inch displacement.