Original Boss302 vs. 2012 V6?

FastDriver

FastDriver

My dad had a bra
SN Certified Technician
Sep 5, 2001
5,312
1,920
224
Fort Knox, KY
#1
I just read an "article" or blog that got me a little hot: http://v6mustangperformance.com/news/2011-mustang-v6-versus-a-1970-mustang-boss-302/

Wow... That guy doesn't have a clue. To start with, the Boss302 performance figures are inaccurate. It was certainly not a 16 or even a 15 second car. Here are some numbers I found from a quick google search: http://www.mustangspecs.com/boss/70boss.shtml - 14.6@98. I've seen them before from a magazine somewhere, and I've seen quicker numbers for the Boss429 going mid 13s. 2nd, He spends half the article talking about the change in HP ratings, but fails to bring up the fact that the original Boss was under-rated. Last, though he might be right about this, he excuses the new V6's poor braking performance saying there was something wrong with the surface. Maybe so, all I know is that 130ft from 60-0 was not too shabby back then, but is nothing worthy of note these days.

Quick estimates with online trap to HP calculators are telling me using his curb weight, and a 98mph trap speed that those old motors made around 220-230 rwhp at the wheel or about 265hp at the crank.

It would be interesting to see the original Boss 302 tested against a new V6 trying both old tires, and new tires. However, while I don't know which would come out on top in performance comparisons, I think it would be a disservice to the legend. It's no surprise that technology improved over the 43 years since the original Boss 302's production.
 

  • Sponsors (?)


#2
I think it's quite plausible that a 2012 V6 would smoke an original Boss 302. Not to rag on the original 302 but 40+ years of technology makes it possible. In 1969 & 1970 the Boss 302 was a marvel in its time.
 
#3
The boss is still more badass. weekend car. the 2012 V6 could be a daily driver, but still should get a GT.....there shouldnt be a comparison between the 2. the first mustangs and from on have led up to the creation of the V6. Id rather hear some good ole History then a damn comparison
 
#6
I don't know...I don't see anything wrong with the article. My impression was that he is simply showing how much technology has advanced in 40(+) years putting the performance of a modern "regular" Mustang on par with the cream of the crop from back in the day...even if you assume quarter mile times and braking distances are equal.

I don't see that anywhere near a slam of the classic - simply more praise for the modern....just a reality check.
 
#8
Maybe mildly...but I see it more as a play on words (since they are comparing to the classic Boss 302). I see it as a V6 owner who is proud of how the performance of his new V6 rivals that of the legendary Boss 302. Let him be proud and happy - he has a great car. That being said, it will never be a Boss 302...and that is also saying something.

- also, I do NOT know where he got that 16-second quarter mile stat.

The Boss stood out among its peers at its time, and for that it has earned a reputation as a legendary classic. The new gen V6 Mustangs will never be described as "legendary" nor have the cult status or reverence that the original Boss 302's have 40+ years later.

When it comes down to it, I sure hope 40+ years of technological advancement can match the performance of the predecessor with relative ease.
 
#10
I wonder what the old trans-am cars would lap leguna seca in.

JKidd, you're right about everything. It just got my panties in a wad when I read it... ok? Damn, can't a guy get his panties in a wad every once in a while? ;)

1995cobraR said:
In other news, a 2013 Mustang GT is faster than a 2003 Mustang GT. ;)
Click to expand...
The '03 is legendary...........LEGENDARY!
 
#12
Ah, yes...the old "wadding panties" issue...happens to the best of us (plenty of times for myself as well).

You bring up an interesting query - what times did the full-race trans am cars run at Laguna Seca and how does that compare to the new street car Boss 302. Gotta do some digging.
 
#14
JKidd said:
I don't know...I don't see anything wrong with the article. My impression was that he is simply showing how much technology has advanced in 40(+) years putting the performance of a modern "regular" Mustang on par with the cream of the crop from back in the day...even if you assume quarter mile times and braking distances are equal.

I don't see that anywhere near a slam of the classic - simply more praise for the modern....just a reality check.
Click to expand...

Exactly... frankly if after 40 years a base model Mustang can't compete with the top model at the time that would be quite pathetic. We're finally starting to rise above the over-regulated automotive industry that really choked performance from the mid 70's all the way through the 90's.

Think back to when the automobile industry was relatively unregulated and look at the performance/refinement difference in cars produced in the 40's and 50's to those produced in the 60's and 70's.
 
#15
Here... If you haven't seen this before it's pretty entertaining. Especially when you compare the times to, lets say, a modern econo-box. Back in 2006 they took several "muscle cars" with straight-off-the-showroom-at-the-time setups, and put them through modern tests that they commonly use for modern cars (braking, slalom, etc.)







 
#16
JKidd said:
1970: Parnelli Jones won and qualified with a lap time of 1:11.90
2012: 1:39.5
Click to expand...
The problem is that Laguna Seca has changed the course several times. It was a 1.9 mile track in 1970 , and it is now a 2.238 mile track.

The track record for the 2.238-mile course is 1:07.722 seconds in a Penske CART car. It's fair to say an open-wheel CART car is faster than a 1970 Boss 302 :shrug:.

The SCCA Trans-Am cars had rules that are much stricter than today's vintage rules. The bias-belted tires are much better today than in 1970. Valve-trains are much improved. Brake pads and calipers are better.

Today's Boss has radial tires (the race radials are much better than any bias tire). It has a lighter 6-speed (vs. a 4-speed then).

At Road Atlanta, vintage production cars now have a better lap time than a 1995 SCCA TA tube-frame car.

Bud Moore cars (the Parnelli Jones and the George Follmer cars at Laguna Seca during the Monterey Historics):
View attachment 158850

View attachment 158851

My car at Road America:
65RA2008.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 65RA2008.jpg
    65RA2008.jpg
    46.6 KB · Views: 125
#18
A couple of years back, Parnelli Jones was the Grand Marshal of the Pacific Northwest Historic Races. The Trans-Am class featured a bunch of the original T/A cars including two 70 Bosses: George Follmer's and Parnelli's. During the feature race, Parnelli joined in driving his Saleen Parnelli Jones edition S197. In his street car, he put everyone else to shame. It was quite fun to watch. He was almost two seconds a lap quicker around Pacific Raceways than the vintage race cars.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Colorado66
Progress Thread 2014 V6 'chelle-b Ii'
Replies
30
Views
6K
2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
Noobz347
Noobz347
FoxMustangLvr
Excellent Hagerty Article About The "kings Of The Street"
Replies
11
Views
2K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
NIKwoaC
NIKwoaC
M
2011 V6 stang official release
Replies
48
Views
10K
2010 - 2014 Specific Tech
SS02
S
C
  • Locked
The Teal Terminator!!!...LOTS of details
Replies
41
Views
17K
SN95 Mustangs For Sale (1994-04)
CarCrazyRDM
C
CarMichael Angelo
The rematch (Or how I learned about nitrous....The hard way) only 1 left!
Replies
11
Views
3K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
CarMichael Angelo
CarMichael Angelo
Top Bottom
Back
New
Hot
Menu