This Original-Owner 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Has Been Sitting for 50 Years
Daryl Cook is the original owner of this complete Bright Yellow Boss 302 Mustang. He bought the car new from Zaeski Ford in Union Grove, Wisconsin, in 1970, drove it 11,530 miles, then parked it for 50 years. At 74 years old, Cook recently made a serious assessment about his ability to drive the car with its heavy clutch and peaky powerband. After visiting several Mustang restoration websites and turning down an offer from a buyer who, "wasn't a Mustang guy," he found Bob Perkins, Head Authenticity Judge for the Mustang Club of America.
Perkins is much more than an MCA Gold Car Judge, he is the leading Boss Mustang collector and restorer in the county and has been gathering all things Boss since 1980 and parking them in a showroom next to his restoration shop. In 1982, he bought the find of his lifetime: a 1970 Grabber Orange Boss 302 with 1,500 original miles. Five years ago, he bought a 1,600-mile 1970 Boss 429, also Grabber Orange. Both these Mustangs have achieved MCA's coveted Thoroughbred Gold Authenticity Award.
Perkins looked the car over in Cooks garage located in southern Wisconsin. The body had "a little bit of road rash," which "some of it would clean off." The fastback would need a thorough cleaning for a full evaluation, but there were no rust holes, no severe surface rust, and no door dings or dents. The Polyglas raised white letter Goodyear tires, mounted on stock rims with mint-condition hub caps and trim rings, were the same F60 x 15's on the car when Cook drove it home from the dealership.
Perkins looked in the door jambs and underneath to verify original paint. The sun shined into Cook's garage and lit the factory acrylic enamel on the passenger side. The angle of incidence was just right to reflect shimmering "orange peel." Original paint was a must for this low-mileage car to have the show car potential that Perkins was hoping for.
