FROM THE BARRETT-JACKSON AUTOMOTIVE EXPERTS: Kevin Marti compares two Boss 302 Mustangs that crossed the auction block

July 6, 2015
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

and Kevin Marti

The highly collectible Ford Mustang Boss 302: What makes one more valuable than another?

Kevin Marti, a member of Barrett-Jackson’s team of automotive experts.

At the next Barrett-Jackson auction, hundreds of great automobiles will be available for purchase. Some will sell for tens of thousands, while others will command prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Why such a difference?

I’m often asked what makes one car more valuable than another. There isn’t a simple answer. Curb appeal, rarity, aesthetic beauty and general appeal are factors. Paint color can greatly influence price. Authenticity is important to many people. Cars with a proven pedigree of originality will command higher prices than a car cobbled together from a few donor cars, no matter how well-restored.

Let’s look at one of most well-known collectible performance cars, the Boss 302 Mustang. The Boss 302 has such a storied history that Ford even resurrected the moniker to be used on some 2012 and 2013 Mustangs. But we’ll focus on the classic 1969 and 1970 models. Because of what these ponies were built for, they were often run hard and put away wet. Many of the engines blew up with only 30,000 miles showing on the odometer. Survivors are rare.

There are always a few Boss 302s sold at a Barrett-Jackson auction. At the January 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, there were several. For example, an Acapulco Blue 1969 Boss 302 (Lot #2049) was sold for over $148,000 while a Grabber Blue 1970 (Lot #540) went for $77,000. Both cars were painted with very popular colors. Both cars had good curb appeal. On the surface, the restoration of each vehicle seemed meticulous. Let’s examine how two nearly identical cars could have such a gap in value.

When I am asked to review cars like these, I start by studying two very important databases. I have a relationship with the Ford Motor Company that gives me access to production records of over 120 million Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles produced since 1967. In addition, I have a relationship with the National Motor Vehicle Title Information Service (NMVTIS), a government organization that is tasked with post-production record-keeping. This information is indispensable in my quest to get to know the cars. At the beginning of each auction cycle, the serial number from certain Ford-produced vehicles to be sold at the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction may be given to me for review. Where applicable, a Marti Report is run on those vehicles, which essentially is a summary of data pertaining to each vehicle as it was produced by the factory.

In the case of both of these Boss 302s, Marti Reports were requested and run to determine if the descriptions provided by the consignors were accurate. This is done to help protect the consignor from any misunderstandings with a potential buyer. Of course, buyers can benefit from a Marti Report as well. They can have an added assurance that the description they read about the car portrays the pedigree of the vehicle as accurately as possible.

This 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Fastback (Lot #2049) sold for $148,500 at the 2015 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction.

The 1969 Boss 302 was restored to its original production configuration. That is, an examination of the Marti Report showed that the options listed for the vehicle in the description matched how the car was originally built. Although the 1970 Boss 302 had a few options like the rear spoiler and sport slats, studying the Ford production records revealed they were not originally installed on the car. Further, this Mustang went through a color change. The original color of the car was White, not Grabber Blue. These changes diluted the collectability of the vehicle.

The consignor of the 1969 Boss had us search all Boss 302 production records to see how unique his car was. As a result of my research, he was able to make a claim in the description that his car was a one-of-one. Further enhancing the desirability of this Mustang was the claim that it had a matching-numbers drivetrain. Although technically Ford did not stamp serial numbers on all of their drive train components, they did have some components serialized and had casting dates for all major components.

gA week before each Barrett-Jackson auction begins, the consigned vehicles start arriving at the auction site. At that point, these specific Boss 302s were reviewed by me to help verify the claims made in the descriptions. When the 1969 Boss 302 was reviewed, it was determined that the casting numbers and date codes were correct for the vehicle. A Boss 302 with matching parts is very rare indeed. A significant number of Boss 302 Mustangs have service engine blocks installed, which is to say the original block no longer resides with the vehicle.

Further examination of both vehicles showed a significant difference in restoration. The 1970 Boss 302 was equipped with an aftermarket power steering pump. The battery was an off-the-shelf unit from a chain auto supply store. The 1969 Boss had been accurately restored to Mustang Club of America standards, including the correct battery, correct tags and production markings. These particulars matter to individuals looking to add one of the meanest muscle cars ever produced to their collection.

“The devil is in the details,” as the saying goes. In this case, there is something heavenly about putting forth the extra effort in those details. It is the difference between a good selling price and a fantastic selling price.

Kevin Marti of Phoenix, Arizona, whose Marti Reports of Ford vehicle authentication have become an industry standard, is known as the world’s leading authority on anything built by the Ford Motor Co. He has been part of the Barrett-Jackson team for several years.