The 1960s and 70s are often considered the golden era of muscle cars. We can talk about the multiple models from Mopar and classics like the Camaro and Chevelle from Chevrolet, but the Ford Mustang is arguably the one that started it all.
As the Mustang evolved throughout its first generation, it received several updates and different model trims to help it stay relevant against Dodge and GM. However, due to the popularity of the Ford Mustang Mach 1 and various Shelby Mustangs of the era, the 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 often gets overlooked.
With that in mind, HotCars digital artist Timothy Adry Emmanuel looks to change that with a new restomod render of the overshadowed classic car. Read on to find out how he turned a 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 into a beast that can take on any new modern sports car.
Updating The Classic Muscle Car For 2023
The first thing we notice about this Boss 351 restomod is how well it retains the essence of the original. The front end is essentially the same rectangular shape but with a few modern updates.
First is the lighting. The round headlights are still intact but are now blacked out with a small rectangular lamp inside. A pair of round fog lamps replace the original amber lights, and a new front splitter finishes off the front end.
The original's hood vents are intact but are now wider and deeper (to feed a more powerful engine, we presume). A set of massive deep dish chrome wheels give this car quite a presence, with fat sticky tires to help at the drag strip.
Around the back, the taillights get an update to the iconic 3-light sequential setup still found on modern Mustangs. The rear wing remains virtually untouched from the original, letting fans know this is still a Boss.
While the exhaust pipes in the rear are noticeably absent under the rear diffuser, a look to the side of the car reveals a single exhaust pipe, letting the fans know this is no EV.
This Ford Mustang Boss 351 Gets A Real 351
In an age where car model numbers no longer mean the displacement of the engine (we're looking at you Mercedes-AMG C63), to be a true Boss 351, you need to have a true 351 cu. in. displacement engine.
The best engine that fits the bill is the 5.8-liter supercharged Trinity V8 engine from the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Even in stock form, the engine puts out a brutal 662 hp, and that was a decade ago. While this kind of power would be great for a restomod such as this, a few minor tweaks like a pulley, cold air intake, throttle body, exhaust, and a tune can get this beast north of 800 hp.
With that kind of power and the updates HotCars digital artist Timothy Adry Emmanuel did to the styling, this 1971 Mustang restomod truly earns the title of Boss.