The Boss 429 (also known as the "Boss 9" by enthusiasts) is arguably one of the rarest and most valued muscle cars to date. Only 859 Boss 429s made. Rumor has it the Ford lost a bundle with every one they made. Also, you had to beg a Ford dealer to get one, and they would want a 100% cash deposit up front.
The origin of the Boss 429 comes about as a result of NASCAR. Ford was seeking to develop a Hemi engine that could compete with the famed 426 Hemi from Chrysler in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series (then known as "Grand National Division"). NASCAR's homologation rules required that at least 500 cars be fitted with this motor and sold to the general public. After much consideration, it was decided by Ford that the Mustang would be the car that would house this new engine.
The cars were rated very conservatively at 375 hp (280 kW) and 450 lb·ft (610 N·m) of torque. Actual output was well over 500 horsepower (370 kW). Some people have claimed it to produce 600 or more horsepower, citing extensive testing to prove the results, though nothing has been actually proven.
Unfortunately sales started to drop off for the 1970 Boss 429 Mustangs and with higher production costs, gas costs, and other internal Ford problems, it was decided that 1970 would be the last year of the Boss 429.
These cars are highly coveted and super rare. As of 2008, auctions on eBay and at Barrett-Jackson have brought bids of over $375,000. In 2013 an unrestored Boss 429 Fastback sold for $417,000 at auction.
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| How'd they shoehorn that monster into the engine bay? |
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