by Michael Accardi on February 4, 2016
375 hp, 429 cu. in. overhead-valve V-8 engine with Holley four-barrel carburetor and a four-speed close-ratio manual transmission- What more do you want?
During the late 60s Ford was facing increasing competition from its cross town rivals on the race track, Chrysler and their HEMI in particular. Back then NASCAR rules required manufacturers must homologate at least 500 cars equipped with their competition engine of choice in order to be eligible for racing.
It was this environment that birthed one of the most brutal engines ever made available to the consuming public. 429-cubic inches of all American horsepower. Ford then turned around and dropped their NASCAR spec 429 into the Mustang. Because production numbers were so low each Boss 429 started life equipped with a Super Cobra Jet 428, Kar Kraft handled the conversion.
In 1969 you could buy a Boss 429 for just shy of $5,000, the priciest non-Shelby Mustang at the time. Only 859 were produced and the story goes that Ford was losing $1,800 on every one sold.
These were, essentially, NASCARs in street trim.
This particular Boss 429 was one of the earliest cars painted in Candy Apple Red and among the first 50 ever produced. It underwent a full restoration at the hands of Ed Mayer, head judge of the Shelby American Automobile Club. In 2013 it sold for $275,000 at RM Sotheby’sauction in Monterey.