Buzz
©2007 Publications International, Ltd. The design of the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 was heavily inspired by Shelby models. Discover more pictures of this legendary muscle car.Ford's "Total Performance" era was nearing its end, but one last standout still roared from the muscle car lineup: the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351.
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Built on the redesigned Mustang SportsRoof, the new Boss was originally intended to compete in the Trans-Am series, but Ford's withdrawal from organized racing in late 1970 made this goal irrelevant. Despite this, the Boss 351 remained the only 1971 performance car featuring a true competition-level engine.
Unfortunately, the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 had to bear the burden of being the largest Mustang ever produced. The car's wheelbase grew by an inch, while it also added 2.1 inches in overall length, 2.8 inches in width, and gained around 100 pounds. Its design drew from the final Shelby models, which did not continue into '71. As a result, the Mach 1 and Boss 351 became the new performance icons for the Mustang.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd. This muscle car had genuine power: The Boss engine was designed with competition in mind.The Mach 1's top engine, the 429-cid Super Cobra Jet Ram Air, was a powerhouse with 11.3:1 compression, 375 bhp, and 450 lb-ft of torque. However, its low-14 second quarter-mile times were slower than the Boss 351's. The Boss 351 benefitted from less weight and was powered by a specialized 351-cid V-8 engine that Car and Driver claimed made the "Z/28 look like a gas mileage motor."
The Boss 351's engine featured shotpeened and Magnafluxed rods, along with heads from the Boss 302 that had staggered valves and massive ports. It included a radical solid-lifter cam, 11.0:1 compression, a 750-cfm four-barrel carburetor, and delivered a real 330 bhp. Standard features included ram-air induction, a Hurst-shifted four-speed transmission, and a 3.91:1 Traction-Lok differential.
©2007 Publications International, Ltd. With its low-slung seating, awkward ergonomics, and obstructed visibility due to thick sheetmetal, the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 could feel cumbersome behind the wheel.The engine, impressively mild on the streets yet a whirlwind on the track, was paired with a "competition" suspension featuring F60X15 tires. While the car's cornering ability was exceptional, it felt cumbersome and lacked the agility of a Firebird Trans Am. Additionally, the cramped, cave-like cabin made visibility a challenge, the ride was rough, and the layout of the gauges and controls left much to be desired.
The Mustang had transformed from a nimble quarter-horse into a massive Clydesdale, and its finest iteration, the Boss 351, lasted for only one season. It marked a fitting conclusion to Ford's era of Total Performance.
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Specifications
Wheelbase, inches: 109.0
Weight, lbs: 3,281
Number built: 1,806
Base price: $4,124
Top Available Engine
Type: ohv V-8
Displacement, cid: 351
Fuel system: 1 x 4bbl.
Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Horsepower @ rpm: 330 @ 5400
Torque @ rpm: 370 @ 4000
Representative Performance
0-60 mph, sec: 5.8
1/4 mile, sec. @ mph: 13.9 @ 102
