Shock Naue Exclusive: Barn Find 1969 Boss Mustang With <10k Miles
Like many enthusiasts drawn to the raw power and iconic style of classic muscle cars, the 1969 Boss Mustang, particularly the legendary Boss 429, has always occupied a special place on the automotive wish list. For me, this dream car was filed under the distant “maybe someday” category. My passion for these vehicles ignited around 1980, shortly after I got my driver’s license. I was immediately captivated by the 1969 and 1970 Mustangs, including the Mach 1, Boss 302, and the formidable Boss 429. This fascination has remained strong for nearly four decades. Over the years, I quickly learned that finding a Boss 429 for sale, especially one that fit within a specific budget, was incredibly challenging, often feeling impossible. Therefore, I knew that if an opportunity ever arose to acquire a 1969 Boss Mustang of this caliber, I would need to be ready to act swiftly.
My chance encounter began last summer during a conversation about cars with a colleague at the office. He heard I was working on older Mustangs and was curious about the specific models. We discussed my current projects, which included ’69 and ’70 Boss 302s. I shared photos of the cars and the shop, explaining the type of work I do, mostly minor restoration projects, excluding paint and body work. He then mentioned that his father owned a red 1969 Boss 429 that he had purchased brand new “back in the day.”
Dusty red 1969 Boss 429 Mustang found in a garage.
He continued, stating the car had “like 8,000 miles on it” and hadn’t been driven in 20 years because it wasn’t running. My initial thought was simply a strong desire to see this car. However, I also had to ask if his father was considering selling it. The answer was a firm “no.” Despite the response, whenever I meet people who own ’69-’70 Boss cars, I always ask if I can come see them. I genuinely enjoy these cars and am always interested in seeing others’ examples. Additionally, I’m always looking for new projects, and I thought perhaps his father might appreciate help getting the car running and back in shape after so many years. After learning he hadn’t been motivated to work on it recently, I saw a potential opportunity to help. We left the conversation there, and he agreed to let me know if his dad would be open to letting me see the car or assisting with getting it running.
Several months passed without any news. Not wanting to be pushy and assuming the car wasn’t for sale, I didn’t press the matter. It was also winter, a time when people are often less inclined to uncover old cars hidden away from the cold and snow.
Side view of the low-mileage 1969 Boss 429 Mustang before cleaning.
The Opportunity Knocks
About mid-January, while driving to Arizona for vacation, I received a call from my colleague. He said that if I was serious about the car, his dad would make arrangements for me to visit. Unsure exactly what he meant by “serious,” I sought clarification. Was this just an opportunity to look at it, or was it actually for sale? The definitive answer was, “It is for sale.” My immediate urge was to respond, “I’ll be over tomorrow,” but we were halfway across the country. A few minutes later, we learned his father (who prefers to remain anonymous) would also be traveling around the time we returned and would be away for several weeks thereafter. Not to worry, we agreed to wait until everyone was back from their trips. In the meantime, my colleague sent me some photos, and I promptly ordered a deluxe Marti report for the vehicle.
Interior of the barn find 1969 Boss Mustang showing untouched condition.
February arrived, and everyone had returned from their travels. We had several phone conversations, and the owner decided he would prefer to wait for warmer weather. This would allow him to get out into the garage, gather up the original parts, and be fully prepared to answer any questions, knowing I was interested in potentially purchasing this 69 boss mustang. By this time, I had learned that the original camshaft was replaced in the early ’70s, and headers had been installed. Photos also revealed that the smog and power steering pumps were removed, the air cleaner snorkel was missing, and the distributor had been replaced. I was also suspicious that the carburetor had been swapped due to the fuel line routing. The owner wasn’t entirely certain about all the details but felt very confident that all the original removed parts were still somewhere in the garage. He reiterated that with warmer weather, he would search and round everything up, along with any documentation he could find showing ownership dating back to the original purchase.
The Day of Inspection
Later, in April, the owner called and said he was ready to show the car and we could arrange a meeting. Checking our calendars, we settled on Monday, April 30th. I noted that it would have been fitting to do this on April 29th (recognized by some enthusiasts as Boss 429 Day), but Monday the 30th it was. My brother-in-law, who had been closely following this story over the past several months, was very keen to come along. Frankly, I specifically wanted him there because he has a keen eye for spotting body work, damage (like from mice), and is good with dealing with titles. So, my focus would be on verifying the car’s authenticity as a true Boss 429, while his would be on its overall viability as any other car. Our combined skills would complement each other perfectly for the inspection of this potentially 1969 mustang boss 429 project car for sale.
Engine bay of the 1969 Boss 429 with performance modifications.
Monday the 30th arrived with great weather – warm and in the 70s, with a few morning sprinkles clearing up in the afternoon. The plan was to arrive around 10 am and inspect the car for about two hours. If it turned out to be too rough or in really bad shape, we could simply call it a day and leave. If it checked out, proved to be the real deal, and we struck a deal, we could then leave, grab a bite to eat, return with a trailer, load up, and head home.
Original Magnum 500 wheel and Boss 429 center cap on the 1969 Mustang.
Upon arrival, the Boss 429 was indeed tucked away in the garage, just as the photos had depicted, covered in a significant layer of dust. However, the odometer read a mere 8553 miles. The car was resting on its original Polyglas tires, which looked fantastic mounted on the original Magnum 500 wheels, complete with the distinctive large Boss 429 center caps. Further inspection revealed an interior that hadn’t seen sunlight in 20 years, and given the extremely low mileage, hadn’t seen much use before that either. There was no cracking, no fading, nothing worn out, and thankfully, no mouse damage—just dust. Opening the glove compartment yielded a collection of invaluable paperwork and factory manuals: the build sheet, Kar Kraft inspection sheet, warranty information, and registration, all dating back to July 1969 when the car was originally purchased in the owner’s name.
The Car’s History and Early Life
The owner was working on a farm in Iowa at the time and had read about Ford’s new Boss 429 Mustang in a magazine earlier that year. Determined to own one, he visited Whelan Motors in Iowa in the spring of 1969 with the intent to purchase a Boss 429. The car was ordered, and he received periodic notifications about its progress and estimated delivery date. This specific car was actually built on July 18th and delivered to the dealership on Monday, July 28th. For the most part, all 1969 Boss 429s were built identically at Kar Kraft, with the only factory option being the paint color. This car featured paint code T, Candy Apple Red. Being built late in the model year, just one week before 1969 Boss 429 production ended, it was delivered with a T-code Boss 429 engine. No other options (like a rear spoiler or slats) were installed at the dealer. The owner took it home the very next day, on Tuesday evening, July 29th.
Rear angle of the dusty 1969 Boss 429 Mustang in the garage.
After driving it for a while, the owner faced a decision that likely many other Boss 429 owners encountered in the early ’70s: “Can I extract more performance from this car?” These cars were delivered to the public in a slightly detuned configuration, and Ford even sent letters to owners describing how to squeeze more horsepower from the “Blue Crescent” 429 engine. Following some deliberation, he decided to install a new, higher-performing Crane hydraulic camshaft kit and headers. The factory dual exhaust was replaced with Thrush mufflers, dumping just under the car before the axle—a classic ’70s muscle car modification. The carburetor was also swapped out for an 850 double pumper, and the distributor was upgraded. While it wasn’t a 1969 mustang boss 429 convertible (as only hardtops were produced), maximizing performance was a common goal.
Verification and Acquisition
Our inspection confirmed that the air pump/smog system was also removed, as was the power steering system, likely for header clearance. Importantly, all these original removed parts were preserved and saved, including the snorkel for the air cleaner, the heat shield, and the original camshaft with only a couple hundred miles on it. The upgraded distributor and the replacement carburetor could not be found during this initial search. The paint and bodywork were in remarkably good shape after rubbing off some of the dust. We discovered all original glass and rust-free sheet metal, along with the original VIN-stamped engine and transmission, confirming its authenticity.
The 1969 Boss 429 Mustang seeing sunlight for the first time in decades.
There had been one minor repair on the left rear quarter panel, for which a receipt found in the glove box showed a cost of $54 in 1973. A few rock chips behind the tires were the only signs on the paint and body that it had ever been used—the owner stated it was never driven in winter or rain. The original tires were still holding air and showed no signs of dry rot or issues; only the valve stems seemed potentially leaky or fragile. The only thing that truly made this car dirty were the occasional trips it made down some Iowa dirt roads back and forth to the farm. Considering the potential ford mustang 429 boss 1969 price for such a low-mileage, documented example, its condition was astounding.
Loading the rare 1969 Boss Mustang barn find onto a trailer.
Satisfied with the authenticity of the car and having the supporting documentation for single ownership dating back to the purchase in hand, we struck a deal. Even though we were missing the replacement carburetor and distributor from the ’70s modifications, we had located nearly everything else, including the crucial original parts, making it essentially complete to return it to near-factory condition.
We hadn’t brought a trailer with us, but I had proactively reserved one nearby at a local U-Haul, just in case. A quick trip to the bank for a cashier’s check, and we returned with the trailer. The car wasn’t running; it did crank over, but after sitting for so many years, we didn’t want to risk trying to start it without proper preparation. So, it was carefully winched onto the trailer after being gently pushed out into the sunlight for the first time in a couple of decades. From this initial view outside, we could see that the paint, trim, glass, and interior should clean up wonderfully. Loading a car like that onto a trailer and driving it 100 miles down the interstate is always a memorable experience, with passersby constantly looking and giving thumbs-ups. It’s the kind of attention a car like this truly deserves.
Cleaning and Finding Parts
A few days after getting the Boss 429 to its new home, the cleaning process began. A couple of buckets of soapy water quickly revealed the excellent condition of the paint and glass underneath the dust. Later, my father came over and helped with the waxing and buffing, while my wife tackled the chrome with some polish. Everything turned out incredibly well after all those years of storage. The interior was carefully cleaned and aired out, and the original rims and tires were also cleaned.
Cleaned engine bay of the recently discovered 1969 Boss 429.
About two weeks after purchasing the car, I contacted the previous owner and asked about coming back out to search for the two missing parts, the distributor and carburetor that were used in the 70s modifications. He had done such an exceptional job saving everything else that it seemed improbable these two parts wouldn’t also be around. He completely agreed and was very gracious in allowing us to return for another thorough search. He admitted he would sleep better knowing whether they were there or not as well. When we arrived, we began a methodical search throughout the three-car garage. Within minutes, the carburetor was located, wrapped in heavy plastic, looking remarkably like the day it was removed nearly 48 years prior. However, after three hours of searching, we could not locate the distributor. We were all puzzled, but the owner stated reassuringly, “If I ever come across it, it’s yours.”
Front view of the cleaned up 1969 Boss Mustang barn find.
A Dream Realized
It is incredibly exciting to now own this car and to contemplate the many years of enjoyment it will bring—working on it, driving it, and learning about all the unique features of the 1969 Boss 429. The current plan is to leave it mostly as-is, preserving its unrestored, survivor-type condition after just being thoroughly cleaned and checked for mechanical soundness and drivability. One of my favorite aspects of this find is the ability to bring a previously unknown low-mileage example out into the public eye for the Boss 429 community to see and enjoy.
Interior of the cleaned 1969 Boss 429 Mustang showing pristine condition.
Thinking back to that initial wish list and the “maybe someday” category, I truly couldn’t have asked for a better scenario to purchase a Boss 429: a one-owner car, related to someone I knew, with incredibly low miles, in excellent preserved condition, and essentially complete with its original rare parts. It is, without a doubt, a truly once-in-a-lifetime find for any classic car enthusiast dreaming of a 1969 boss mustang of this caliber.
Rear view of the low-mileage 1969 Boss 429 Mustang after thorough cleaning.
