The fastest stock Cobra Jet Mustang tested was a 68 ½ CJ tested by Hot Rod magazine it ran13.56 @ 106.64 with a 4speed and 3:89 gears and it was one of the first 50 built which were not GT’s.
It was less sound deadening materials. All the 68 ½ CJ Mustangs built after that were GT’s except for possibly one. Sorry but a stock CJ engine would not run 12’s in any of the cars it was produced in.
Here are some test times done in the 68 to 70:
Super Stock & drag Illustrated Aug 69
Cougar 428 CJ C6 3:91 gears 13.91 @ 102.92
Cougar Boss 302 4spd 3:50 14.84 @ 98.25
Car Life July 68
Cougar 427 c6 3:50 open 15.12 @ 93.6
Cougar 302 4v Auto 3:00 17.41 @ 79.9
Cyclone 428 CJ C6 3:91 tl 14.01 @ 99.44
Car Life March 69
Mach 1 428 CJ C6 3:50 tl 13.90 @ 103.
Car Craft Nov 69
Cougar Boss 429 Prototype 3:91 13.88 @ 102.10 I have it in print so it has to be real LOL
Torino 429 SCJ C6 3:91 13.85 @ 104.06
Super Stock & Drag Illustrated
68 ½ Cougar CJ C6 3:89 13.42 tweaked and driven by Dyno Don
I have tests of Boss 351 Stangs running anywhere from 13.90 to 13.50 I can’t give dates cause the
Mags are not at my house.
Do not discount the 351C engines there were tons of street racers who after blowing up big blocks
Went to Cleveland’s that motor basically carried the flag for Ford Mercury from the early 70’s thru
The 80’s and they were feared buy the competition. And that comes from an FE lover.
You want to see some of the fastest FE cars around come to the FE Shootout in the end of April
At Beaver Springs PA. And while your at it bring your car and make some passes see what it can really do.
The only test I’ve seen that really eclipses the Boss351 is the tests like this early production Boss 429 running racing fuel and mysteriously needing upgraded valvetrain from the factory before it would run properly. Lousy mileage too. 13.34 @107
From Hi-Performance Cars, Sept 1969
In the same issue, the 440 six pack Super Bee ran 14.85.
Ford changed the cam when the Boss performed so poorly, so this could have been done to the car. My friend bought one new and his ran hard, he did not take it to the track but I was with him when he ran a 440 6pack Challanger from a 10 MPH roll and held him off twice. The Challenge was supposed to be a 12.6 car. It was an every day car yea snow tires in the winter. Remember driving to the NY Auto show in 1970 and parking the Boss on the street in Manhattan. I had the chance to buy it in 1973 for 1,200 with a 429 SCJ engine that was installed after the Boss gave up. My parents would not let me buy it cause they figured I would do serious damage to myself. So it was buy it and find another place to live. I SHOULD HAVE MOVED. So now I tell my Mom how much they are worth.
The 427, 428, 429 will all outrun a Cleveland.
Not in stock trim, which was the question. Of course a 427 Cobra will blow any Mustang or Cougar into the weeds,
and you can massage anything to be crazy fast.
So the CJ GT-E wasn’t the only car we talked Dad into buying back in the day. We also still have his BOSS 351.
Now that car is fast. Don’t forget BOSS motors - 302s and 351s - pulled hard to 7K. The B351 smokes the B302
and pulls away handily from the CJ cars. The B1 is surprisingly well balanced and is a kick to drive. My recollection
of my brother’s 427, which has been hibernating for at least 25 years, is that it felt a bit lazy compared to the CJ
cars. All of our cars are pretty close to stock. I don’t have numbers, just SOP experiences.
Well I did say in my opinion and you know what they say about those. I have always admired Boss 351s since the first time I saw one. I haver never driven or even ridden in one. I do now own my first cleveland in the Ranchero but not running all that great yet. I might need to treat it with a little more respect.
On that 68.5 that Dyno tested, 3.89 gears? Not much differance but wouldnt 3.91 be right?
I did not have the article in front of me but it seems 3:91 gears did not come into production till 69 I dont think there is any real differance in the 1/4 mile.
I am lucky to have driven or been driven in 68 1/2 CJ Stang, GT 500KR rag top, 69 Boss 9 , 69 GT 500 drag pak, 70 Boss 302 70 Torino Cobra 429 SCJ and a 71 Boss 351, that a Chevy guy ended up with and he could not believe how fast it was and it handled. To me weather the Boss9 was the fastest or not it was the most awesum ride. Dont know how fwr 'Elk Creek is from Beaver Springs Pa. (20 miles from livingston) but you would enjoy the FE Reunion I was incorrect calling it a shootout lots of NSS Fords
I just checked my Marti and my 68 1/2 CJ came with 3.91 Trac Lok. They are so close I do not think any difference either. I owned a 427 GTE and a early 67 GT500. I love Cougars but a Boss 9 if I found one I could afford might get me back in a Mustang. My first two cars were Mustangs but my first nice car was a 68 Cougar XR7 302 4bl. 3 speed that I bought for 700.00 dollars in 1973. Except for the Shelby I have been hooked on Cougars and still am.
I should know better the 681/2 cars had 3:91 gears thats what my friends has, wonder if the first 50 Stangs came with 3:89 gears I will look into it. And I would off my 3 Mustangs and 2 Big Block Cougars to own a Boss 9 . And I really like my Cougars, love the fact that I have never seen a twin to either one.
Great reading guys. You all have picked the best of the best for comparison. I lean heavily towards Cougars but a Boss 429 Mustang would make me want to add on to my shop.
Steven