I grew up in Melvindale, Michigan, a small city just south of Dearborn and very close to the Ford Rouge Plant. In fact, I could literally see the Ford factory in the distance from my front door every morning when I went to school. I remember our fourth grade class went out on a field trip to tour the Mustang factory and we got to see steel being poured, and Mach I Mustangs going down the assembly line. I will never forget how at the very end of the assembly line one man would pump a couple gallons of fuel while another would jump in and start the car for the first time with a roar, immediately drop it in gear and screech out of the plant with the tires squealing all the way to the parking lot. A memory I’ll never forget.
@@thewriter2549 No cameras, we were just kids on a school field trip watching how Mustangs were built. I was amazed how the car was started up and immediately floored out of the factory tires smoking, not even enough time for motor oil to flow through the engine. I did end up buying my own yellow 1973 Mach I Mustang 351 Cleveland for $1100.00 dollars when I got out of the Navy 13 years later.
I almost bought a 1971 Boss 351 black and silver with black interior for $800.00 that needed a windshield and door glass in 1980 right after I got out of basic training from.the Army. Still kicking myself for that one. This has to be the most iconic , one of one Boss 302 never made. Great video on a really cool Mustang.
Same at the GM assembly plants I toured while in college at GMI in the 1980s - those guys would rip right out of the end of the assembly line on a smooth concrete floor - most plants had an oopsie parking area where they would park a car that needed something done to it before shipment, and you would see them park the car over in that area instead of driving outside to the parking lot/rail yard. The guys were so good at driving through tight spaces with the massive concrete columns holding the upper floors (the old Albert Kahn-designed assembly plants) that you just expected them to spin out and smash a pole, but narrowly-missed them. Sometimes you don't want to see how the sausage is made LOL!
I love the minutae that Bob knows about these cars and the amount of work he must have gone through to hunt through copious dealerships and deal with even more people on auction sites to buy all these parts new old stock. Truly truly amazing work by Bob and thank you Jerry for bringing us the latest installment of the 1971 Boss 302, I have been waiting a long time for this and it has been worth it.
It took a while, made a couple of trips to Wisconsin. The research is fun but also time consuming. When Bob said that Ford just needed a sporty car to go to the show, I thought yeah, that's right. Research, restoration and Perkins add up to uncovering history.
Thank god we still have guys like Bob around who have the most unbelievable knowledge of these cars. He's really a special kind of person to preserve these 1 offs. Can't imagine what it was like to buy cars like this in 70-71.
I have a 70 Mach I with almost every factory option available including A/C that I bought from the original owner in 78 when I was still in high school and Bob is the most knowledgeable person on the planet when it comes to mustangs and his inventory of original ford parts right down to original batteries is unbelievable, he has spent a lifetime gathering original parts that no one else has, he is the definition of automotive passion.
One of the coolest cars ever! Thanks for your awesome find and restoration. i am know a ton of people are happy about it. It belongs in showcase and books and magazines all documenting in depth of an extraordinary historic vehicle.
As always, this was an amazing video. The fact that you put this on the internet documenting it for ever....and the quality that guy put into it just amazes me. What an incredible car and as always, that you for your effort.
Thanks, I like to see credit go where credit is due and Perkins deserves the credit for sure. No other place has the combination of restoration, collection, and passion for classic performance Mustangs at so high a level.
i agree. if you haven't seen the videos of lil red and green hornet, which where 67 and 68 exp 500 prototypes. they actually talk to a guy who actually worked on the car back then. unbelievable what they went through, just like this boss to get it as close as original. this is one of my favorite people to watch, very smart.
Bob Perkins is really interesting to listen too.......because he is so knowledgable on Mustangs and Boss's and Shelbys.....and his shop and showroom are awesome!
I truly love to listen to a person that really really know what they are talking about talk. Usually you only get that from a person that has a real and true passion for what they are talking about. It was a privilege to watch this video.
Not a Ford guy but I think this guy made all these facts up as he went. Lol! I loved the knowledge and dedication this guy has! I revisit this video every once in a while.
Wonderful resto on that one of Boss 302 1971. You truly are the only guy to own this car . My bucket list has me wanting to stop by and view your collection
Absolute 💯 % respect for the way Bob restored the Boss 302. People need to realize that these cars were just thrown together on the assembly line in a specific time frame. There were gap issues, stuff didn't line up perfectly. Overspray, orange peel paint, and then there was the Dealership prep and installation process for certain things. Thanks for the video!!
Yes, these cars were poorly built on the assembly line, but if I were restoring one, I would definitely make it as perfect as possible. With today's technology, used properly, it is possible to make some serious improvements, without changing the appearance. And I don't mean putting computer engines in them or 30" GHETTO wheels on them. I just mean restoring them to a higher level of fit and finish than they were originally.
In Australia the best Ford engines were these 302's. I owned a Ford 77 XC Falcon GS with 302 C4 Auto. Best vehicle I've ever owned and never beaten from a standing start at lights over 400 or 800 metres.
The documentation, date codes, tags, proper paint marks is just insane, this has to be the most original documented Mach 1 in the world and it`s a one of one car with all the paperwork to boot. What an amazing effort, who has all of this NOS stuff just lying around for this year only, the research and calls to dealerships and finding the proper drive shaft with the paint marks still on it, just crazy, who has the knowlede to even put this together just as it came, is crazy to me. I don`t care if it cost $200k, there is no question this car is PRICELESS, well done sir. I work for Ford just North of Detroit at the Sterling Axle Plant, Ford is secrative about this stuff, it`s amazing this car wasn`t crushed so nobody could have a one of one, and you have it, just insane. Thanks for the follow up video.
Bob spent years and years driving around the country in a box truck buying up parts from dealerships, knowing the value they would accrue as the years went by
Crazy story, incredible documentation and a restoration of such a rare machine. Thanks to Bob Perkins for his love, knowledge, collections of parts, meticulous attention to detail and dedication to restore.
An amazing story about a one of a kind Car. The details on its build is a great story and to still have it around is very cool. I love this body style…obviously.
Wish my dad was still around he would’ve loved to learn about this rare gem. He had several classic mustangs from the 60s and got me into them. Thanks for sharing this story.
Almost makes me tear up, having owned a couple of 1960's Fords, but nothing this special. The detail is obsessive, but I agree that it's necessary, for this car. I think of all the people involved with it, and it's just incredible to see it in such a perfect state, over 50 years later.
As far as "holy grail" mustang's go, this has to be it. I love all the old classics like the Nova's, chevelle's, Camaro's etc. But for some reason I just love the old mustang's. I love the content, I just wish it wasn't so far and few between videos but I understand it takes time to find, film, and edit the content. No matter how long it takes, I'm here for it.
Thanks, this one took me several months to produce. I do have another one filmed and have started editing, hoping to complete in a few more weeks. I also need more leads on stories. I've had at a half a dozen great stories pitched to me in the last year from viewers, but every time they have already pulled the car out of the barn (or other storage) and it is too late to do the story because I need video and I need to interview the former owners when something is done, like the car gets sold or something.
Thanks for the videos on this car, Jerry. What a great find and a great job by Bob. I remember seeing pictures of this car in the Mustang Recognition Guide when I was a little kid; I had to get a second copy later because I wore it out reading it in the third grade.
What a truly amazing and unique car, im sure he is but I would feel and be very blessed to be able to say I have the only 71 boss 302 and as he said the only complete boss collection. Congratulations bid truly amazing.
Yeah, but did you notice the restoration uncovered the real reason, I believe, that Ford built this car? I always thought Ford built it and then they got the directive to kill production. Didn't you?
@@thewriter2549 yea for reason, unsure why. Also, thought there was more of a story to the motor, that they made 2 motors and the one never even made it into a car, and one that was originally in this car was long gone, but found the other one & put that in this car. Hope that made sense.
Bob Perkins said it. Ford needed a sporty Mustang for the car show. So, they went ahead and built this Boss 302. They had the engines. They had all the Boss parts. I probably should have mentioned that Ford had 7 engines that day, August 3, 1970, to install in Boss 302s, but they built only this one car. Of course, they had more Boss 302 engines built and ready to install, as well as parts that were in the dealer inventories. This information comes from the Ford data base, licensed by Kevin Marti.@@PAPosse
@@thewriter2549 isn’t the reason for the 2 door tags because it went to a dealership in California and they pulled the 302 & put a 351 in it before they sold it. Maybe I’m thinking of another Bob Perkins story, not sure
I worked for Far Best Corporation in Los Angeles back in the mid to late 70s. There were 2 brothers working there, Marcus and Mario, Marcus owned a 71 Boss 351 that was factory stock and Mario owned a highly modified 69 or 70 (I don’t remember which year it was,it’s been a long time) Boss 302. They used to race each other on McKinley Street on the weekends and Marcus always won! I never knew Ford made a 71 Boss 302!
I love these old car history stories! I had two Mustangs, my dad bought me a cherry 67 Mustang when I was 17 in 1977. It was owned by an old couple who lived next door, and it was clean! However, I later found out it was an inline 6 cylinder, 3 speed stick with at least a 100LB clutch! I kept bending the clutch arm having to have a welder reweld, and strengthen it. Instead of having the clutch redone, I sold it for $1600 to another young man my age, and his father so the history carried on. I bought new a 1991 Mustang GT 5sp which I drove to Vegas in 2 1/2 hours several times. The drive is supposed to take 3 1/2 hours from the Inland Empire area so I was cooking most of the way. Top speed I drove was 140, but there was pedal left so I assume it would have gone 150 easy, maybe higher? One of my favorite carts for sure, but I have to say my absolute favorite is my first car, also a Ford, a 1966 cream yellow Galaxie with a black hardtop, a lot of memories with that car. 👍😎✌🗽
My first car was a 66 mustang convertible 289 with Pony interior. The Original owner in Park City UT replaced the automatic with a manual 4 speed. Clutch arm was also bending. I had a welder in 1980 weld over a sleeve so I drive it to my CA Prom. Lots of body rust from UT. It had an original 1966 8track stereo.
@@ericanderson1691My friends brother had a 66, 289, auto, and I have as many memories in that mustang as I have in any car I ever drove. We used to party all the time in it, smoke so thick you couldn't see the person next to you! 😁I look back, and think I liked the Mustang better than what replaced it so why didn't I take it to a trans shop as something was obviously wrong with the clutch. Dad would have paid for it I'm sure as I was just 17. Oh well, young, and stupid!😁
History has actually been lost because he’s replaced most of the significant parts. Can you imagine doing that to, say, the original space shuttle? Not a very intelligent man, quite the opposite.
His knowledge is amazing! I especially like that he made it as it was, with the same odd paint defects and one-off parts. I didn't hear any ego, just solid knowledge. Takes me back. I lived in Royal Oak during that time, not far from Woodward. Knew several auto engineers that took company and competitor cars home to evaluate them. Had a Sunbeam Tiger daily driver that I put 100K miles on. Gas 19.9! Good times!
I really enjoy your unorthodox editing. I haven't seen anything like it on this website and its quite fun while being very clear in getting the story across clearly.
Omg super find and the sticker under a sticker? thank you for sharing all of this with us and pulling stuff off the motor just to show it this is amazing and your knowledge is amazing also!
My Dads pal bought a 70 302 and he drove it home from the dealer with parking brake on He drove past our house and you could see the smoke billowing out of the wheel wells! lol
Jerry - ‘love you, your work and especially all that these 3 ‘71 Boss 302 videos represent. The inventory shown in earlier video was amazing, but the unique parts and reference to them in the various invoices featured in this video (and for all time!) is mind-blowing... What would RUclips be without people like you for folks like us...?!
@@sergeantmasson3669 - thanks for taking the time to comment, but i respectfully disagree with your remarks - I’m with Jerry Heasley on this matter. I don’t think this is “all faked.” I believe Jerry, that it’s all true and that more than one was built on the first day of production and that this one has survived to this day. More than that, Jerry has worked indescribably hard on gathering the evidence of how the first ‘71 Boss 302’s were resourced, built and used for however short a period of time - and this one-and-only ‘71 Boss 302 has survived.
@@jeffreynolds3848 I couldn't care less about opinions. I'm a 50+ master level factory certified auto/truck tech. Most of those years at the largest Ford dealership in my state. From 1965, until I retired, I attended every Ford tech schools. I did extensive research to find any accurate information on this supposed 1971 Ford Boss 302 Mustang and none exist anywhere. I also know a ton of information about Boss 302 Mustangs and restoration aspects. There's a long list of reasons why I know for sure that this '71 Boss 302 Mustang is fake. If you go back and look at the original videos, for this car, my comments show the reasons why it's fake and how it was faked. There are hidden ID numbers on Mustangs that tell what the cars are. Even the VIN has info in it unless it's been tampered with. It should show a G code. That car came from the factory with a 351c engine in it which is what was in it when Bob Perkins bought it. Another issue is the rear valance would not have been painted black, from the factory, with a license plate attached. The valance would've had factory cutouts for the tailpipes. Bob was wrong about twin tip tailpipe extensions. '67-'68 390 GT Mustangs had them too. My '69 Boss 302 Mustang also has them. '71 Boss 351 Mustang and '71 351 Mustang Mach I had them too. BTW, the dash mounted ID VIN plate, the engine is H as in 351. Boss 302 would G.
@@jeffreynolds3848 Ford would never do double stickers on the door jam either, NEVER. Those stickers can be bought blank and the numbers can be typed in using a typewriter.
@@jeffreynolds3848 Jerry also stated that only 14 '69-'70 Boss 302 Mustang "show cars" were ever built. That's wrong also. '69, there were 1,628 built and '70, 7014 were built. So much about this car is bullsh*t lies that prove it's fake. Even the engine is a service replacement engine and not a "from production line" engine. That car came from the factory with a 351c engine, PERIOD.
Thanks. I have so many more facts for this story that I could make another video, like with the multiple invoices from Kevin Marti, a telegram Ford sent to California, and more video interviews with people associated with the car. Some of that information is in the other 2 videos that I produced on this car, both on my channel. My pet peeve with videos is to hear that term "deep dive" or to hear the host say in the video what they are going to do, which is a waste of my time as a viewer and a sign the video is short on facts and they are stretching the story with fluff.
I was a big fan of American muscle cars from the 70' when I was 18 years old, today not so much. Now I am 65 years old and love Ferrari, Lamborghinis and Italian cars. They are fast, nice to watch and higher quality. Did I mention Australian cars? They have one brand name Holden, it sucks big time, it's pure garbage. Thank you guys for uploading this Ford Mustang video, still in mint condition, a real beauty if you ask me.
First car I ever owned was a 67 mustang. My daily driver during the summer is 2016 GT Cali w/ a 6 speed. This video is amazing to see, the amount of detail put into this car is kick a%%
Thanks for sharing! I have great memories of class mates giving me rides in their mustangs, and finally got to buy my own '89LX5.0. I still have it 965000+ miles on it. Mostly original.
My brother in laws owns a 65 Dodge Hemi Charger 1 of 1 he bought it directly from Chrysler it was the mock up of the fully finished production model for 1966.
My brother bought a fully loaded black with Argent silver stripes mach1 1971 in 1977. Just like the mach1 is shown in this video. I love these body styles. They said back then a fully loaded mach 1 could cost over $5000.00 DOLLARS. Actually more than a corvette that year . My brothers had a 351 Cleveland 4 v with ram air 290 horse power with a C6 and 9 inch rear end all standard on his car.
Right on, I started producing magazine articles for Mustang Monthly at Bob's shop in the mid-1980s. He pretty much gave me exclusivity, with a few exceptions, and that was because tape recorded everything he said, and then later transcribed hours of these recordings. Later, he proofed the copy of the final article. Other journalists that came to Bob's shop did not go to the trouble of tape recording and proofreading, which resulted in some mistakes in print that Bob would not tolerate. Bob used the correct technical names for every nut and bolt and part and he got these terms out of the Ford assembly manuals, which were not available to the public. Bob would go to Detroit and he had a network of Ford engineers and assembly line workers that gave him an inside edge on restoration. For example, some of the original parts were never available over the counter, such as oil filters and battery cables. He found these parts through former Ford employees, so the oil filters he called "lunch box" parts, if you get my drift. How else did these assembly-line-only parts get into restorations except that employees took them home in their lunch boxes, which a screw-on oil filter or a battery cable end would fit into?. Sometimes, Bob found these parts at garage sales in the Dearborn area. I have tons of these Bob Perkins stories that I should probably make into videos.
Right on, I started producing magazine articles for Mustang Monthly at Bob's shop in the mid-1980s. He pretty much gave me exclusivity, with a few exceptions, and that was because I tape recorded everything he said, and then transcribed hours of these recordings. Later, he proofed the copy of the final article. Other journalists that came to Bob's shop did not go to the trouble of tape recording and proofreading, which resulted in mistakes in print that Bob would not tolerate. Bob used the correct technical names for every nut and bolt and part and he got these terms out of the Ford assembly manuals, which were not available to the public. Bob would go to Detroit and he had a network of Ford engineers and assembly line workers that gave him an inside edge on restoration. For example, some of the original parts were never available over the counter, such as oil filters and battery cables. He found these parts through former Ford employees, so the oil filters he called "lunch box" parts, if you get my drift. How else did these assembly-line-only parts get into restorations except that employees took them home in their lunch boxes, which a screw-on oil filter or a battery cable end would fit into?. Sometimes, Bob found these parts at garage sales in the Dearborn area. I have tons of these Bob Perkins stories that I should probably make into videos.
@@thewriter2549, you should absolutely create videos from that historical supply my friend! There is a lot of very interesting and talented restoration content to sort through on here. But there is something very unique and captivating the way Bob explains the detail of how he proceeded through gathering up exactly what would have been logically used in the creation of, for example, a one off unit like this BOSS 302 from a production focus and intention. It’s just so damn interesting because he not only points out the part, he narrates the precise reasoning and intention behind why it would exist in its placement. It’s very cool stuff and if you have more of this type of content, by all means put it out there. Even if it’s a narration over an accompanying still image collection of relevant content, it would be terrific. I’m sure Bob would even participate in selecting the content and contribute in an important way. Very good stuff for sure!! 👍🏻😎👍🏻
@@thewriter2549 , I neglected to comment in the affirmative about the knowledge of what “lunch box” parts refers to, lol. Cool story. Through our network of close friends from high school, one of them had a roommate in college whose father just happened to have worked for Chrysler and had a very fruitful network for obtaining these impossible to find “lunch box” parts. That worked out in a very big way. Back in high school, my friend worked his a** off to buy his dream car and in his senior year, 1983, had finally found and purchased a beautiful purple/white/white Hemi Cuda. This was well before the appreciation and subsequent price of these cars went nuts. He actually still has this car. Well, while he was trying to make the car as factory correct and original as possible, there were a number of parts that were just not obtainable through traditional outlets. This connection to these Chrysler lunch box parts let him do an extraordinary job of creating an extremely impressive factory production line accurate restoration. Actually, the condition of the car was already near perfect when he found and purchased it, but he was able to go through every painstaking detail similar to how critical Bob does with his highly critical restorations. That car has been his passion for decades and the last time I spoke with him (probably 8-10 years ago) the car was still absolutely perfect. When one makes the comment “He’ll be buried in that car.”, this is probably one of those times it might actually happen, lol. Kinda like Chicagos “Willie The Wimp” and his Cadillac coffin. 👍🏻😎👍🏻
That last outtake: “I’m sure Bob would have been reasonable.” Bob: [Grins and slightly shakes his head no as they both chuckle]. Absolutely priceless. 👍🏻😎👍🏻
Didnt have a Boss but in 1975 at 19 y o I had a 71 Mach 1, 351 Cleveland 4brl, Hurst 4 speed and AC. It was silver pewter, with the basic Mustang red/black int. Did not have ram air. It had 21000 miles on it. Everyone liked that car.
Thank you Jerry for documenting this incredible car. Thank you Bob for doing such a great job. I own a 351 B that was exported to Switzerland and I thought mine was rare. Always amazing the things you find. All the best from Austria
It's nice to see this article again. I've seen it before. I'm amazed that the heavy 71 was going to front up with that 302 Boss engine. I have the factory pictures from my Consumer Guide, and everything he says rings true. The hand touched up 351 stencils, the painted over 1971 number plate, the clearly D1ZZ and ZB part numbers, man, what an awesome car. 🥝✔️
I had a 71 Boss 351 in high school. It was the same color as this 71 Boss 302. I had chrome bumpers and front, rear spoilers. Oh I wish I still had that car. It had 62k on the odometer when i bought it in Feb 1978.
I had a 1970 Boss 302 in 1970, it came with the decor package, it had a fold down back seat and that same pop down gas cap, it was grabber yellow without a shaker.
I work in an automotive paint factory . We still do 2 tones the way this would have been done in production. The minor color is painted first, then masked. The final body color is then painted, so the door jams and all the other areas that can be seen are the final color.
I grew up in Melvindale, Michigan, a small city just south of Dearborn and very close to the Ford Rouge Plant. In fact, I could literally see the Ford factory in the distance from my front door every morning when I went to school. I remember our fourth grade class went out on a field trip to tour the Mustang factory and we got to see steel being poured, and Mach I Mustangs going down the assembly line. I will never forget how at the very end of the assembly line one man would pump a couple gallons of fuel while another would jump in and start the car for the first time with a roar, immediately drop it in gear and screech out of the plant with the tires squealing all the way to the parking lot. A memory I’ll never forget.
Wow, thanks for that story. Did anybody bring a camera to take pictures?
@@thewriter2549
No cameras, we were just kids on a school field trip watching how Mustangs were built. I was amazed how the car was started up and immediately floored out of the factory tires smoking, not even enough time for motor oil to flow through the engine. I did end up buying my own yellow 1973 Mach I Mustang 351 Cleveland for $1100.00 dollars when I got out of the Navy 13 years later.
I almost bought a 1971 Boss 351 black and silver with black interior for $800.00 that needed a windshield and door glass in 1980 right after I got out of basic training from.the Army. Still kicking myself for that one. This has to be the most iconic , one of one Boss 302 never made. Great video on a really cool Mustang.
Same at the GM assembly plants I toured while in college at GMI in the 1980s - those guys would rip right out of the end of the assembly line on a smooth concrete floor - most plants had an oopsie parking area where they would park a car that needed something done to it before shipment, and you would see them park the car over in that area instead of driving outside to the parking lot/rail yard. The guys were so good at driving through tight spaces with the massive concrete columns holding the upper floors (the old Albert Kahn-designed assembly plants) that you just expected them to spin out and smash a pole, but narrowly-missed them. Sometimes you don't want to see how the sausage is made LOL!
Best I got was touring the Lordstown Vega plant.
Needless to say there was no roaring engine or screeching tires at the lines end.
I love the minutae that Bob knows about these cars and the amount of work he must have gone through to hunt through copious dealerships and deal with even more people on auction sites to buy all these parts new old stock. Truly truly amazing work by Bob and thank you Jerry for bringing us the latest installment of the 1971 Boss 302, I have been waiting a long time for this and it has been worth it.
It took a while, made a couple of trips to Wisconsin. The research is fun but also time consuming. When Bob said that Ford just needed a sporty car to go to the show, I thought yeah, that's right. Research, restoration and Perkins add up to uncovering history.
What a Diamond!! Right man has the car, for now!!
Thank god we still have guys like Bob around who have the most unbelievable knowledge of these cars. He's really a special kind of person to preserve these 1 offs. Can't imagine what it was like to buy cars like this in 70-71.
I have a 70 Mach I with almost every factory option available including A/C that I bought from the original owner in 78 when I was still in high school and Bob is the most knowledgeable person on the planet when it comes to mustangs and his inventory of original ford parts right down to original batteries is unbelievable, he has spent a lifetime gathering original parts that no one else has, he is the definition of automotive passion.
is that one of one too?
One of the coolest cars ever! Thanks for your awesome find and restoration. i am know a ton of people are happy about it. It belongs in showcase and books and magazines all documenting in depth of an extraordinary historic vehicle.
As always, this was an amazing video. The fact that you put this on the internet documenting it for ever....and the quality that guy put into it just amazes me. What an incredible car and as always, that you for your effort.
The car is in the right hands now. The paper trail alone is outstanding.
I loved listening to Bob Perkins when i was a little kid. We had a 70 Shelby he helped us get perfect to show.
Wonderful followup Jerry, thanks for your passion for detail and the insight into Bob's method
Thanks, I like to see credit go where credit is due and Perkins deserves the credit for sure. No other place has the combination of restoration, collection, and passion for classic performance Mustangs at so high a level.
Has to be one of the best documented restorations ever.
i agree. if you haven't seen the videos of lil red and green hornet, which where 67 and 68 exp 500 prototypes. they actually talk to a guy who actually worked on the car back then. unbelievable what they went through, just like this boss to get it as close as original. this is one of my favorite people to watch, very smart.
@@dannyshaffer1851 couldn’t agree more
Correct. This is a restoration, not much left on that’s original bar the stickers. It’s a shame.
Bob Perkins is really interesting to listen too.......because he is so knowledgable on Mustangs and Boss's and Shelbys.....and his shop and showroom are awesome!
Never get tired of hearing Bob geek out on the details. I absolutely love it. “If you don’t like it, don’t look at it”
I truly love to listen to a person that really really know what they are talking about talk. Usually you only get that from a person that has a real and true passion for what they are talking about. It was a privilege to watch this video.
Not a Ford guy but I think this guy made all these facts up as he went. Lol! I loved the knowledge and dedication this guy has! I revisit this video every once in a while.
Wonderful resto on that one of Boss 302 1971. You truly are the only guy to own this car . My bucket list has me wanting to stop by and view your collection
Back when rendering was all physical, not digital. Thanks to Bob for sharing more of it with you. Thank you for sharing it with us Jerry 👍
Absolute 💯 % respect for the way Bob restored the Boss 302. People need to realize that these cars were just thrown together on the assembly line in a specific time frame. There were gap issues, stuff didn't line up perfectly. Overspray, orange peel paint, and then there was the Dealership prep and installation process for certain things. Thanks for the video!!
Yes, these cars were poorly built on the assembly line, but if I were restoring one, I would definitely make it as perfect as possible. With today's technology, used properly, it is possible to make some serious improvements, without changing the appearance. And I don't mean putting computer engines in them or 30" GHETTO wheels on them. I just mean restoring them to a higher level of fit and finish than they were originally.
In Australia the best Ford engines were these 302's. I owned a Ford 77 XC Falcon GS with 302 C4 Auto. Best vehicle I've ever owned and never beaten from a standing start at lights over 400 or 800 metres.
I could watch Jerry all day! What a True living legend!
The documentation, date codes, tags, proper paint marks is just insane, this has to be the most original documented Mach 1 in the world and it`s a one of one car with all the paperwork to boot. What an amazing effort, who has all of this NOS stuff just lying around for this year only, the research and calls to dealerships and finding the proper drive shaft with the paint marks still on it, just crazy, who has the knowlede to even put this together just as it came, is crazy to me. I don`t care if it cost $200k, there is no question this car is PRICELESS, well done sir. I work for Ford just North of Detroit at the Sterling Axle Plant, Ford is secrative about this stuff, it`s amazing this car wasn`t crushed so nobody could have a one of one, and you have it, just insane. Thanks for the follow up video.
Bob spent years and years driving around the country in a box truck buying up parts from dealerships, knowing the value they would accrue as the years went by
It's not a Mach 1, it's a Boss 302. Pay attention in class!
The level of accuracy on this car is commendable.
@julios1968, It's all FALSE.
Crazy story, incredible documentation and a restoration of such a rare machine. Thanks to Bob Perkins for his love, knowledge, collections of parts, meticulous attention to detail and dedication to restore.
That 5 years sure flew by!
I couldn't believe it, either!
An amazing story about a one of a kind Car. The details on its build is a great story and to still have it around is very cool. I love this body style…obviously.
Really appreciated being able to meet Bob and him going to the effort to bring this car to the 2023 Boss Nationals in Moline, IL. Best, Kelly
Amazing! As much of a feature about Bob and who he is. They guy that found it and sold it really is a hero.
Wish my dad was still around he would’ve loved to learn about this rare gem. He had several classic mustangs from the 60s and got me into them. Thanks for sharing this story.
Did he subscribe to Mustang Monthly?
@@thewriter2549 for a time, yes. He always had a few magazine subscriptions going. He also did National Geographic for ages.
Almost makes me tear up, having owned a couple of 1960's Fords, but nothing this special. The detail is obsessive, but I agree that it's necessary, for this car. I think of all the people involved with it, and it's just incredible to see it in such a perfect state, over 50 years later.
Wow! Incredible restoration and attention to every single little last detail.
As far as "holy grail" mustang's go, this has to be it.
I love all the old classics like the Nova's, chevelle's, Camaro's etc. But for some reason I just love the old mustang's.
I love the content, I just wish it wasn't so far and few between videos but I understand it takes time to find, film, and edit the content.
No matter how long it takes, I'm here for it.
Thanks, this one took me several months to produce. I do have another one filmed and have started editing, hoping to complete in a few more weeks. I also need more leads on stories. I've had at a half a dozen great stories pitched to me in the last year from viewers, but every time they have already pulled the car out of the barn (or other storage) and it is too late to do the story because I need video and I need to interview the former owners when something is done, like the car gets sold or something.
Thanks for the videos on this car, Jerry. What a great find and a great job by Bob. I remember seeing pictures of this car in the Mustang Recognition Guide when I was a little kid; I had to get a second copy later because I wore it out reading it in the third grade.
I helped write that book. Thanks for posting a comment.
What a truly amazing and unique car, im sure he is but I would feel and be very blessed to be able to say I have the only 71 boss 302 and as he said the only complete boss collection. Congratulations bid truly amazing.
I remember this story, it’s unreal
Yeah, but did you notice the restoration uncovered the real reason, I believe, that Ford built this car? I always thought Ford built it and then they got the directive to kill production. Didn't you?
@@thewriter2549 yea for reason, unsure why. Also, thought there was more of a story to the motor, that they made 2 motors and the one never even made it into a car, and one that was originally in this car was long gone, but found the other one & put that in this car. Hope that made sense.
Bob Perkins said it. Ford needed a sporty Mustang for the car show. So, they went ahead and built this Boss 302. They had the engines. They had all the Boss parts. I probably should have mentioned that Ford had 7 engines that day, August 3, 1970, to install in Boss 302s, but they built only this one car. Of course, they had more Boss 302 engines built and ready to install, as well as parts that were in the dealer inventories. This information comes from the Ford data base, licensed by Kevin Marti.@@PAPosse
@@thewriter2549 isn’t the reason for the 2 door tags because it went to a dealership in California and they pulled the 302 & put a 351 in it before they sold it. Maybe I’m thinking of another Bob Perkins story, not sure
I worked for Far Best Corporation in Los Angeles back in the mid to late 70s. There were 2 brothers working there, Marcus and Mario, Marcus owned a 71 Boss 351 that was factory stock and Mario owned a highly modified 69 or 70 (I don’t remember which year it was,it’s been a long time) Boss 302. They used to race each other on McKinley Street on the weekends and Marcus always won! I never knew Ford made a 71 Boss 302!
I love these old car history stories! I had two Mustangs, my dad bought me a cherry 67 Mustang when I was 17 in 1977. It was owned by an old couple who lived next door, and it was clean! However, I later found out it was an inline 6 cylinder, 3 speed stick with at least a 100LB clutch! I kept bending the clutch arm having to have a welder reweld, and strengthen it. Instead of having the clutch redone, I sold it for $1600 to another young man my age, and his father so the history carried on. I bought new a 1991 Mustang GT 5sp which I drove to Vegas in 2 1/2 hours several times. The drive is supposed to take 3 1/2 hours from the Inland Empire area so I was cooking most of the way. Top speed I drove was 140, but there was pedal left so I assume it would have gone 150 easy, maybe higher? One of my favorite carts for sure, but I have to say my absolute favorite is my first car, also a Ford, a 1966 cream yellow Galaxie with a black hardtop, a lot of memories with that car. 👍😎✌🗽
Hey my 66 Galaxie hardtop was red w a white top. Had a lot of fun with it as well!
My first car was a 66 mustang convertible 289 with Pony interior. The Original owner in Park City UT replaced the automatic with a manual 4 speed. Clutch arm was also bending. I had a welder in 1980 weld over a sleeve so I drive it to my CA Prom. Lots of body rust from UT. It had an original 1966 8track stereo.
@@ericanderson1691My friends brother had a 66, 289, auto, and I have as many memories in that mustang as I have in any car I ever drove. We used to party all the time in it, smoke so thick you couldn't see the person next to you! 😁I look back, and think I liked the Mustang better than what replaced it so why didn't I take it to a trans shop as something was obviously wrong with the clutch. Dad would have paid for it I'm sure as I was just 17. Oh well, young, and stupid!😁
Very Interesting piece of History!
Fascinating!
History has actually been lost because he’s replaced most of the significant parts. Can you imagine doing that to, say, the original space shuttle? Not a very intelligent man, quite the opposite.
His knowledge is amazing! I especially like that he made it as it was, with the same odd paint defects and one-off parts. I didn't hear any ego, just solid knowledge. Takes me back. I lived in Royal Oak during that time, not far from Woodward. Knew several auto engineers that took company and competitor cars home to evaluate them. Had a Sunbeam Tiger daily driver that I put 100K miles on. Gas 19.9! Good times!
I really enjoy your unorthodox editing. I haven't seen anything like it on this website and its quite fun while being very clear in getting the story across clearly.
Omg super find and the sticker under a sticker? thank you for sharing all of this with us and pulling stuff off the motor just to show it this is amazing and your knowledge is amazing also!
Awesome video. What a cool story brought to light!!
Bob has a surgeon's eye for detail. Phenomenal.
An amazing story, and a very happy ending for that car. Thanks Jerry!
this is a Icon of a car, history alone is a collection
My Dads pal bought a 70 302 and he drove it home from the dealer with parking brake on He drove past our house and you could see the smoke billowing out of the wheel wells! lol
My dad sold his 70 Grabber Blue Boss 302 back in the early 80’s when I was very young and to this day it’s still a sore subject of regret.
was that one of one too? ever made ?
Thirty years ago i visited Bob Perkins' shop. It sure has expanded since then.
Hey Jerry it’s Bryce, awesome video like always man, keep up the great work 💪🙏
Hey, thanks! How are you doing?
@@thewriter2549 of course! I’m alright thanks! How are you?
I had a 1971 Mach 1 Grabber Green in high school. First car I rebuilt engine tinted window painting the black trim and stripes etc. I LOVED that car
And you sold it
Jerry - ‘love you, your work and especially all that these 3 ‘71 Boss 302 videos represent. The inventory shown in earlier video was amazing, but the unique parts and reference to them in the various invoices featured in this video (and for all time!) is mind-blowing... What would RUclips be without people like you for folks like us...?!
@jeffreynolds3848, all faked. Ford did NOT build any '71 Ford Boss 302 Mustang.
@@sergeantmasson3669 - thanks for taking the time to comment, but i respectfully disagree with your remarks - I’m with Jerry Heasley on this matter. I don’t think this is “all faked.” I believe Jerry, that it’s all true and that more than one was built on the first day of production and that this one has survived to this day. More than that, Jerry has worked indescribably hard on gathering the evidence of how the first ‘71 Boss 302’s were resourced, built and used for however short a period of time - and this one-and-only ‘71 Boss 302 has survived.
@@jeffreynolds3848 I couldn't care less about opinions. I'm a 50+ master level factory certified auto/truck tech. Most of those years at the largest Ford dealership in my state. From 1965, until I retired, I attended every Ford tech schools. I did extensive research to find any accurate information on this supposed 1971 Ford Boss 302 Mustang and none exist anywhere. I also know a ton of information about Boss 302 Mustangs and restoration aspects. There's a long list of reasons why I know for sure that this '71 Boss 302 Mustang is fake. If you go back and look at the original videos, for this car, my comments show the reasons why it's fake and how it was faked. There are hidden ID numbers on Mustangs that tell what the cars are. Even the VIN has info in it unless it's been tampered with. It should show a G code. That car came from the factory with a 351c engine in it which is what was in it when Bob Perkins bought it. Another issue is the rear valance would not have been painted black, from the factory, with a license plate attached. The valance would've had factory cutouts for the tailpipes. Bob was wrong about twin tip tailpipe extensions. '67-'68 390 GT Mustangs had them too. My '69 Boss 302 Mustang also has them. '71 Boss 351 Mustang and '71 351 Mustang Mach I had them too. BTW, the dash mounted ID VIN plate, the engine is H as in 351. Boss 302 would G.
@@jeffreynolds3848 Ford would never do double stickers on the door jam either, NEVER. Those stickers can be bought blank and the numbers can be typed in using a typewriter.
@@jeffreynolds3848 Jerry also stated that only 14 '69-'70 Boss 302 Mustang "show cars" were ever built. That's wrong also. '69, there were 1,628 built and '70, 7014 were built. So much about this car is bullsh*t lies that prove it's fake. Even the engine is a service replacement engine and not a "from production line" engine. That car came from the factory with a 351c engine, PERIOD.
Cant wait to see this 1 i had seen this car years ago and its always fascinated me
Always love the videos with Bob. I learn so much!! Just amazing!
Such a cool Boss!
Wow amazing episode, love the deep dive.
Thanks. I have so many more facts for this story that I could make another video, like with the multiple invoices from Kevin Marti, a telegram Ford sent to California, and more video interviews with people associated with the car. Some of that information is in the other 2 videos that I produced on this car, both on my channel. My pet peeve with videos is to hear that term "deep dive" or to hear the host say in the video what they are going to do, which is a waste of my time as a viewer and a sign the video is short on facts and they are stretching the story with fluff.
Wow, fascinating. I think digging up the history and documentation is as fun as owning and restoring the car.
He achieved the impossible so one would have to declare the value priceless . Wow !
Amazing car!!! Saving this in my mustang list Glad I run into this video !!!!
I was a big fan of American muscle cars from the 70' when I was 18 years old, today not so much. Now I am 65 years old and love Ferrari, Lamborghinis and Italian cars. They are fast, nice to watch and higher quality. Did I mention Australian cars? They have one brand name Holden, it sucks big time, it's pure garbage. Thank you guys for uploading this Ford Mustang video, still in mint condition, a real beauty if you ask me.
What an amazing restoration. 👏
Jerry, thanks for the great videos. Loved learning about this very special car.
First car I ever owned was a 67 mustang. My daily driver during the summer is 2016 GT Cali w/ a 6 speed. This video is amazing to see, the amount of detail put into this car is kick a%%
Amazing find. And it’s in the right hands.
Bob is an absolute guru Mustang aficionado.
great vid. lot of detail, love these rare one of a kind cars.
This is the importance of keeping things original
If they wanted to keep it original they would have preserved it and not restored (destroyed) it.
Thanks for sharing! I have great memories of class mates giving me rides in their mustangs, and finally got to buy my own '89LX5.0. I still have it 965000+ miles on it. Mostly original.
My brother in laws owns a 65 Dodge Hemi Charger 1 of 1 he bought it directly from Chrysler it was the mock up of the fully finished production model for 1966.
Can you send me an email about this? (jerryheasley@gmail.com) Perhaps I could do a video?
I have 71 mach 1 351c cj 4sp car grabber blue have had 40 years garaged excellent video 😊
Nice 👍 car. Is this something that is covered up and looks like a barn find?
@@thewriter2549 is in dry basement with cover my understanding is this is detuned boss
Ps back in the day I got in alot of trouble with this car ran like wild animal cheers 🥂
Another thing forgot to mention body graphics were not black like most mach 1 they were Argent silver u brought back alot of memories excellent guys
I remember seeing that 1st video.Thanks.
My brother bought a fully loaded black with Argent silver stripes mach1 1971 in 1977. Just like the mach1 is shown in this video. I love these body styles. They said back then a fully loaded mach 1 could cost over $5000.00 DOLLARS. Actually more than a corvette that year . My brothers had a 351 Cleveland 4 v with ram air 290 horse power with a C6 and 9 inch rear end all standard on his car.
Nice car, I was born in 1971... I still have my 1991 GT I bought new.
Absolutely amazing
I always love hearing Bob detail the mission of restoration of something special more than just seeing the result. What a gem this guy is. 👍🏻😎👍🏻
Right on, I started producing magazine articles for Mustang Monthly at Bob's shop in the mid-1980s. He pretty much gave me exclusivity, with a few exceptions, and that was because tape recorded everything he said, and then later transcribed hours of these recordings. Later, he proofed the copy of the final article. Other journalists that came to Bob's shop did not go to the trouble of tape recording and proofreading, which resulted in some mistakes in print that Bob would not tolerate. Bob used the correct technical names for every nut and bolt and part and he got these terms out of the Ford assembly manuals, which were not available to the public. Bob would go to Detroit and he had a network of Ford engineers and assembly line workers that gave him an inside edge on restoration. For example, some of the original parts were never available over the counter, such as oil filters and battery cables. He found these parts through former Ford employees, so the oil filters he called "lunch box" parts, if you get my drift. How else did these assembly-line-only parts get into restorations except that employees took them home in their lunch boxes, which a screw-on oil filter or a battery cable end would fit into?. Sometimes, Bob found these parts at garage sales in the Dearborn area. I have tons of these Bob Perkins stories that I should probably make into videos.
Right on, I started producing magazine articles for Mustang Monthly at Bob's shop in the mid-1980s. He pretty much gave me exclusivity, with a few exceptions, and that was because I tape recorded everything he said, and then transcribed hours of these recordings. Later, he proofed the copy of the final article. Other journalists that came to Bob's shop did not go to the trouble of tape recording and proofreading, which resulted in mistakes in print that Bob would not tolerate. Bob used the correct technical names for every nut and bolt and part and he got these terms out of the Ford assembly manuals, which were not available to the public. Bob would go to Detroit and he had a network of Ford engineers and assembly line workers that gave him an inside edge on restoration. For example, some of the original parts were never available over the counter, such as oil filters and battery cables. He found these parts through former Ford employees, so the oil filters he called "lunch box" parts, if you get my drift. How else did these assembly-line-only parts get into restorations except that employees took them home in their lunch boxes, which a screw-on oil filter or a battery cable end would fit into?. Sometimes, Bob found these parts at garage sales in the Dearborn area. I have tons of these Bob Perkins stories that I should probably make into videos.
@@thewriter2549, you should absolutely create videos from that historical supply my friend! There is a lot of very interesting and talented restoration content to sort through on here. But there is something very unique and captivating the way Bob explains the detail of how he proceeded through gathering up exactly what would have been logically used in the creation of, for example, a one off unit like this BOSS 302 from a production focus and intention. It’s just so damn interesting because he not only points out the part, he narrates the precise reasoning and intention behind why it would exist in its placement. It’s very cool stuff and if you have more of this type of content, by all means put it out there. Even if it’s a narration over an accompanying still image collection of relevant content, it would be terrific. I’m sure Bob would even participate in selecting the content and contribute in an important way. Very good stuff for sure!! 👍🏻😎👍🏻
@@thewriter2549 , I neglected to comment in the affirmative about the knowledge of what “lunch box” parts refers to, lol. Cool story. Through our network of close friends from high school, one of them had a roommate in college whose father just happened to have worked for Chrysler and had a very fruitful network for obtaining these impossible to find “lunch box” parts. That worked out in a very big way. Back in high school, my friend worked his a** off to buy his dream car and in his senior year, 1983, had finally found and purchased a beautiful purple/white/white Hemi Cuda. This was well before the appreciation and subsequent price of these cars went nuts. He actually still has this car. Well, while he was trying to make the car as factory correct and original as possible, there were a number of parts that were just not obtainable through traditional outlets. This connection to these Chrysler lunch box parts let him do an extraordinary job of creating an extremely impressive factory production line accurate restoration. Actually, the condition of the car was already near perfect when he found and purchased it, but he was able to go through every painstaking detail similar to how critical Bob does with his highly critical restorations. That car has been his passion for decades and the last time I spoke with him (probably 8-10 years ago) the car was still absolutely perfect. When one makes the comment “He’ll be buried in that car.”, this is probably one of those times it might actually happen, lol. Kinda like Chicagos “Willie The Wimp” and his Cadillac coffin. 👍🏻😎👍🏻
That last outtake: “I’m sure Bob would have been reasonable.” Bob: [Grins and slightly shakes his head no as they both chuckle]. Absolutely priceless. 👍🏻😎👍🏻
Nobody restores Mustangs like Bob Perkins. The details just make your head spin.
Wonderful Video. Thanks!
Back in my 20s I went through two mustangs. The second was a 1970 Boss 302. Had a lot of fun with that car.
Didnt have a Boss but in 1975 at 19 y o I had a 71 Mach 1, 351 Cleveland 4brl, Hurst 4 speed and AC. It was silver pewter, with the basic Mustang red/black int. Did not have ram air.
It had 21000 miles on it. Everyone liked that car.
What a cool story. Thanks for sharing!
I've seen the other videos on this car you guys did with him. This one was amazingly interesting.
Wow very cool video! Such an amazing piece of mustang history! Beautiful work bob!
@michaeladamo1188, all faked.
"A Boss 302? Oh no. THE Boss 302. And it's gorgeous. :)
Thank you Jerry for documenting this incredible car. Thank you Bob for doing such a great job. I own a 351 B that was exported to Switzerland and I thought mine was rare. Always amazing the things you find. All the best from Austria
@v8austria This story is false.
It's nice to see this article again. I've seen it before. I'm amazed that the heavy 71 was going to front up with that 302 Boss engine. I have the factory pictures from my Consumer Guide, and everything he says rings true. The hand touched up 351 stencils, the painted over 1971 number plate, the clearly D1ZZ and ZB part numbers, man, what an awesome car. 🥝✔️
My ex-girlfriend's dad had a 71 Boss 351. Awesome car.
The early 3rd Gen like these are by far my favorite mustang.
Beautiful piece of Mustang History!
The ultimate Ford nerd with the ultimate rare Ford. It's a match made in heaven. 😅
Love this story!
Great Video!!! Thanks
I had a 71 Boss 351 in high school. It was the same color as this 71 Boss 302. I had chrome bumpers and front, rear spoilers. Oh I wish I still had that car. It had 62k on the odometer when i bought it in Feb 1978.
Thanks for the follow up video, I have been wondering about this car...
I had a 1970 Boss 302 in 1970, it came with the decor package, it had a fold down back seat and that same pop down gas cap, it was grabber yellow without a shaker.
Thanks gentlemen.
Nice collection
That car rewrites the record books as the rarest TRUE factory Mustang in existence! 😮
I like the term you used, "rewrite." If I could have only thought of that because I think it fits.
God bless you God bless you I owned a 1988 Fox body GT with t-tops in it 5-speed thank you
He is amazing 😊
Never been a Ford guy but this is cool. Thanks for sharing!
I've been waiting for this. Unreal !
Great shop man. Oh, I wish!
I work in an automotive paint factory . We still do 2 tones the way this would have been done in production. The minor color is painted first, then masked. The final body color is then painted, so the door jams and all the other areas that can be seen are the final color.