In 50 years of Mustang history there have been plenty of special edition and iconic Mustangs. We thought it might be fun to start a story series pitting two iconic Mustangs against each other for comparison sake and let the readers decide which was the better car. We’re all nostalgic about our favorite Mustangs, what they were, and what they meant, our own versions of “the good ‘ol days.”

For this Face Off we’re stacking up the 2003-04 Terminator Cobra against what was said by its creator John Colletti to be the benchmark and inspiration for this car, the 1969 BOSS 429. We’re going to lay out all the details and we want our readers to discuss below or on Facebook which car they think would win.
Coletti’s Snake

In the late model corner it’s the “Terminator” Sporting 390 hp and 390 ft-lbs of torque, this was the baddest Mustang on the block in decades. The Terminator bottom end was built super reliable thanks to the use of forged internals, a durable cast-iron block, and a new more efficient cylinder head design. Topping off all Terminator engines was an Eaton supercharger, making this the first supercharged factory Mustang in history, and the first with forced induction since the SVO bowed out in 1986.

An independent rear suspension helps corner carvers put even more distance from their competition. The T-56 transmission was something Mustang owners had begged for since 1993, and with solid bottom end capable of taking 700-plus horsepower this snake loved to be modified. When it debuted the Termi was faster than the C5 corvette, the Z/28 Camaro, and was a bargain in terms of bang for the buck.

Zero to 60 was just 4.5 second on the way to a high 12-second quarter-mile time. The top speed of the car from the factory was 155 MPH governed. The only thing that held these brutes back was weight, tipping the scales in coupe form at 3,738 pounds. The Terminator even today is thought by many to be the ultimate Mustang built prior to the ’13-14 GT500 and is on many enthusiasts bucket lists of a car to someday own.

The Hemi Killer

In the classic corner it’s the Mustang that legends are made of, the BOSS 429. Born of a special project to combat Chrysler’s Hemi program in NASCAR, the BOSS used a massive 429 Cubic Inch engine with overhead cams, and semi-hemi heads. High tech features for the day included forgoing head gaskets in favor of O-rings to seal the oil and coolant passages.

Rated at a laughable 375 hp at 5,200 RPM and 450 ft-lbs torque at 3,400 RPM from the factory, we suspect Ford insiders were winking at anyone they quoted those numbers to. Like the Terminator the big BOSS was hampered by weight, tipping the scales at a colossal 3,870 pounds. Zero to 60 out of the box took 7.1 seconds and the quarter mile was done in 14.09 at 102.85. Top speed was rumored to have been over 160 MPH, but we can find no official tests to confirm this.

Also like the Terminator that would follow nearly 35 years later the BOSS featured a stout bottom end and some simple bolt-ons and tuning could get this beast cranking out serious power. We’ve heard rumors that these cars were detuned for their horsepower rating tests so much so that they were running like the choke was stuck on. Debate still rages to this day as to exactly how much power the big BOSS made out of the factory, some say as much as 600 once the carburetor and ignition was properly tuned. Others say these engines can turn as much as 9,000 RPM with no problems.

Never raced in anger in NASCAR, the BOSS, HEMI, and similar designs were all banned before the blue oval had a chance to show the Chrysler guys who really was the BOSS.  The engine has become a legend among drag racers, and enthusiasts alike, and today real BOSS 429’s can fetch over $200,000 at auction.

So you decide, stock to stock which is the better Mustang? Will the Terminator ever achieve legendary status like the BOSS 429? If presented the keys to both and told you could only keep one, which would you take home?