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History of the BOSS
(Shinoda) Mustang
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Back
in 1964, Ford's general manager Lee Iacocca, envisioned a small
sports car to replace the full sized muscle cars of the era.
Originally named after the P-51 Mustang fighter plane, the Ford
Mustang (pony car) was a success from the very beginning.
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Five
years later, noted automobile designer, the late Larry Shinoda
(Z28 Camaro, '63 Corvette Stingray, fame), introduced the original
Boss 302 and Boss 429 Mustangs. Bursting onto the racing
scene in 1969'-70', they were the car to beat. Winning both NHRA
drag racing events and SCCA Trans-Am championships, the Boss
Mustangs endeared themselves to both racers and car enthusiasts
alike.
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After
25 years, the BOSS package is back. The original BOSS legend
himself, Larry Shinoda, has once again put his mark on the new
stable of muscle Mustangs. Fords latest Mustang is a very good
looking automobile, but one of Detroit's most notable designers,
Larry Shinoda, knew he could take a great car and make it even
better. His BOSS(TM)
Mustang is distinguished by both graphics and aero dynamic
enhancements, that include logos, stripes, air dams, and a
tasteful rear spoiler. With Shinoda's treatment, our mustang has
looks to match its performance.
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After
seeing the new generation Mustang GT's, Larry decided they were a
little plain and needed to look a bit more aggressive. Adding
ground effects, and a new graphic package, Larry has captured the
1990's Boss look with this pony car.
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With
the original Boss Mustangs popularity, even to this day, racers,
enthusiasts and collectors alike, will covet this new version of
an old classic. *Information written by the Testor Corporation. |
(*Picture from History Channel, "Automobiles:
Mustang", A&E Television Network, 1996)
March 25, 1930 - November 13, 1997
In Dedication to the Late Larry K.
Shinoda
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Larry
passed away at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan of Heart
failure on November 13, 1997. Larry had just passed the final
tissue-match test for his kidney transplant the day before he
died. Though Larry is no longer with us, his legacy lives on.
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Larry
was born in Los Angeles in 1930. He started developing his
artistic talents in grade school while he grew up in Southern
California. He was one of the most talented automotive designers
of his time. After leaving the Art Center College of Design in Los
Angeles, He started working for Ford in 1955. The following year
he started working for Packard and then to GM as the Senior
Designer where he worked very closely with Bill Mitchell he was
put in charge of some special projects like the Sting Ray racer,
Mako Shark I and II, Corvair Monza GT and the Super Spyder.
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While
with GM Larry was responsible for the 1963 Split Window Corvette.
He was also involved in the early Z/28 Camaro as well as numerous
GM show cars. His next move was to Ford in the late sixties, he
came on as head of Ford’s Special Design Center where he
was responsible for the Torino Cobra with it’s powerful
428-cu.in.engine as well as designing the Boss 302 Mustang and
offering up the name “Boss” for the project .
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Along
the way he designed Indy Cars, racing cars, go karts, mobile
homes, semis, and snowmobiles. As an independent stylist on his
own, Larry drew many industrial and automotive designs. They
include the Rick Mears Special Corvette, the new Cragar SS Mag
Wheel, a special limited edition of the Ford Contour, the Explorer
Motor Home, and my favorite the “Boss By Shinoda” package for
the ’94 and newer Mustangs. Larry was very active in the
Mustang, Corvette and old car hobby. He will surely be
missed! |
(*Picture from History Channel, "Automobiles:
Mustang", A&E Television Network, 1996)
Young Larry Shinoda standing beside the '69 Boss 302 Mustang that he
helped design.
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The
BOSS Shinoda 429 was unveiled at the 1994 Mustang 30th
Anniversary show in Charlotte, NC. (See BOSS Photo
Album) Amidst all this, Larry signed autographs on anything from
T-Shirts to posters and even cars. In 1995, he was made a
board member of the Mustang Museum committee and was, even through
illness, very active. I met Larry at Carlisle, PA in 1995 at the All
Ford Nationals, I have a signed Picture of my car from him along
with numerous posters and a BOSS Shinoda Model. |
THE LEGEND LIVES ON!
Shown here is our
1994 BOSS
SHINODA
- Click image for Specs -
OTHER COOL BOSS STUFF
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