Mustang 1965-73

1970 Mustang

The 1970 Mustang lineup included two sixes and five V-8s. The Boss 302 appeared early in the year and helped retool the TransAm racing world. It was a done by famed designer Larry Shinoda.

Misunderstood and shunned by true believers -- people who think the only "real" Mustangs are those built and sold before 1966 and those built after 1979 – Mustangs made between 1970 and 1973, are getting recognition.

Roundly criticized as overbloated barges, these Mustangs were the largest produced and sold by Ford. They also included some of the great names associated with the marque, the Boss 302 and Mach I.

Interestingly, though considered an aberration by many, HowStuffWorks.Com and auto historian Gary Witzenburg note that had the 1970-73 Mustangs been produced and released just three years earlier they probably would have been champions in the pony car wars (the same automotive arms race that brought forth the Camaro Z28, the Pontiac GTO, Olds 4-4-2 and American Motors' Javelin).

Looking at the 1970 Mustang, you can see it's not a small car, having been built on a 108-inch wheelbase and having an overall length of 187 inches. It is roughly 71 inches wide. Its lines seem a logical extension of the 1969.

The front end features a blacked-out eggcrate design surrounded by a bright oval. Like the 69, the 1970 sports dual headlights. The turn signals are just to the side of each headlight and consist of a pair of fared, angled light bars.

The front end features a rounded, downward lip. The hood follows about a 4 degree slant to the windshield. The windshield flows nicely into a rounded reverse-raked roof and on through a nicely sloping rear window. The line is carried through the short deck to the scooped rear panel that sports dual tri-taillights. Ford also made a blacked out treatment available.

Perhaps the most memorable model to come out of 1970 is the Boss 302, developed by Larry Shinoda for his boss, Seman "Bunkie" Knudsen. Knudsen, who presided over Chevy's climb to dominance in TransAm racing, watched Shinoda develop the Z28 Camaro, the model that leveled the playing field in TransAm. Knudsen, named Ford president in 1968, brought Shinoda with him and presided over Ford's use of the Torino platform for the 71-73 Mustangs.

The Boss was Ford's best performer in the 1970 year, says HowThingsWork.Com and Witzenburg. The Boss was powered by Ford's short-block V-8 that was bored out to 302 cubic inches. The engine uses a Holley 780 CFM four-barrel carb. Power was delivered to the rear wheels through a four-speed Hurst shifter. The standard rear end had a 3.50:1 ratio (two performance rear ends were also available, a 3.91:1 and a 4.30:1). It featured a special sports suspension package with tougher settings. The tires were wide 15-inchers on six-spoke chromed wheels. Ford built 7013 of these special models for 1970.

For the 1970 year, four models were available – convertible, fastback, notchback and Grand coupe. The engine choices were wide and included:

Models included:

©2012 - Mustang 1965-73.com (privacy)