Based on the success of the FR500C and FR500S Mustang road racing programs, Ford Racing recently announced their plans to build a 2010 Boss 302R. The original Boss 302 Mustangs were made famous in the glory days of SCCA’s Trans-Am series, by drivers like Parnelli Jones and George Follmer. Ford was also successful on the street in 1969 and 1970 with a Boss 302 Mustang package. The engine installed in the Boss 302 was a high winding “G code” power plant with solid lifters and other high performance parts.

It appears that Ford may be trying to bring back the street package for 2011 and the Boss 302R is set to be the race version of the car. The Boss 302R will be limited to 50 units, built on the prototype line at AAI (aka Flat Rock Assembly) and is intended for road race use only.

With the 2010 Camaro set for a full assault in the Koni Challenge Series next year, it appears Ford Racing wants its latest Mustang sheet metal out on the track going head-to-head with the competition. With the five year old FR500C Mustang, Ford has won Grand-Am GS Championships in 2005, 2008 and 2009 and looks to defend its title against Porsche, BMW and the return of cross-town rivals Chevrolet.

Like the previous FR500 Mustangs, the Boss 302R will be a factory built racecar and ready for open track events or wheel to wheel racing in SCCA or NASA races.

The base “turnkey” 302R Mustang will come complete with a 5.0L 4-valve engine rated at 400 horsepower. The engine will be mated to a 6 speed Tremec manual transmission with a race spec hydraulic clutch. A Grand-Am legal roll cage and race seat with safety harness is also installed at the factory.

Ford Racing is offering a $50,000 Boss 302R “upgrade” that will make it legal for the Grand-Am’s KONI Challenge Series. The KONI Challenge 302R will feature a sealed 5.0-Liter engine and close-ratio 6 speed Tremec transmission. Suspension updates include KONI dampers and KONI Challenge spec springs, swaybars and bushings. The Grand Am Grand Sport legal Mustang will also feature a seam-welded body, Grand-Am spec roll cage and trunk mounted fuel cell.

Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy The Coyote 5.0-Liter engine is rumored to be powering the 302R, official word should come at the LA Auto Show.

Rumor is that the Boss 302R will feature Ford’s new Coyote 5.0 liter modular engine to satisfy Grand-Am’s request for a street derived engine in the race version of the Mustang. The previous FR500C “Cammer” engine was a 4 valve naturally aspirated motor not factory installed in a “mass produced” Mustang. In 2005, Grand-Am approved the engine for competition but after a few races and protest from other teams, air inlet restrictors brought the horsepower down to the 400 hp range. The Coyote 5.0 Liter engine is planned for the 2011 Mustang GT and the racing environment will be the perfect test before its showroom debut.

The Boss 302R will be built in the AAI Pilot Assembly Line with bodies produced off the mainstream production line.

The Boss 302R is available through Ford dealers that are in the Ford Racing Performance Parts program. Orders will be taken till mid-December and production is expected to begin in first quarter of 2010. The base Boss 302R is priced at $79,000 while the Grand-Am spec 302R package is priced at $129,000.