Starting with the 1969 model year the Ford brought the road racing Mustang program in house by creating the Boss 302 with styling by Larry Shinoda, suspension was design by Kar Kraft. Engineer Matt Donner was the man responsible for the excellent Boss 302 chassis, which quickly impressed the critics with the way it hugged the road. The engine was a Ford 5.0L block with the new 351 Cleveland heads. The car was originally to be called the Trans Am, until Ford found out GM had already licensed the name from the SCCA.
Advancement for the Mustang in 1969 also came in the form of living up to the company vision of "models for specific segments of the market". In doing so, the 1969 Mustang for sale offered the widest choice of models and powertrains not only among Mustangs but also among all muscle cars. Perhaps at the time no one except visionaries within the Ford fully appreciated what that would mean. In retrospect, it is clear that building the Mustang presence throughout the automotive market helped establish it as the de facto sports car of choice in the U.S.
Exterior Design 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302