Revology’s “new” 1969 Boss 429 Mustang might, at first, seem like simple stroll down memory lane, but everything is not as it seems. The rabbit hole goes deep with this one.
The Revology Boss 429 isn’t just a re-bodied classic Mustang, or even a new car with an old shell fitted on top. It’s actually a ground-up design. Using a combination of physical scanning and digitally enhanced CAD, the Boss 429 is something we have literally never seen before, even if it looks all-too-familiar. The car is completely manufactured in-house from Revology with little-to-no parts being outsourced.
Because of this process, Revology is able to produce proprietary components, like special interior trim pieces or entire panels, that are to their design and packaging specifications. We aren’t just talking about the little bits either. Many might be wondering if a popular off-the-shelf chassis is used, as it is in so many luxury restomod Mustang builds. Revology is proud to say that this one is all their own.
Speaking of Bosses… Revology CEO Tom Scarpello was along for the ride, telling me about the ins and outs of the project, showing me all the details, and giving some much-appreciated insight as to why a car like this is built so differently. Tom was deeply involved with Ford’s SVT program, as well as Jaguar Land Rover’s performance division, so he knows a thing or two about how to make a car go fast the right way. As we got to talking, and I got to driving, evidence of his expertise in vehicle dynamics immediately revealed itself. It was obvious I wasn’t driving just another classic Mustang.
The heart of the beast is just that. Revology started with a fourth-generation Coyote 5.0-liter V8, but that wasn’t enough. Sure, the 480 horsepower the newest Coyote puts out is plenty, but that isn’t enough for a Boss 429. Revology’s solution, then, is to supercharge the 5.0-liter, resulting in 760 horsepower.
760 horsepower might seem familiar to Ford fans, where the last GT500 made exactly the same power. Remember though, this is a 5.0-liter Coyote, not the 5.2-liter Predator engine. According to Revology, tuning and availability make the Coyote a more suitable solution for making precise amounts of power for a given project.
The Boss 429 happens to take well to all that power, too. I was concerned that, with relatively narrow rear 275-section Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires, the Boss would have trouble putting over 650 wheel horsepower to the ground. I was so wrong. Turns out, past experience from large manufacturers can help your team develop a car that is calm, cool, and collected under the most extreme circumstances.
The transmission making it all happen is the brilliant Tremec T56XL six-speed that provides super-crisp shifts with very positive engagement in every gear. It’s mated to a limited-slip diff and carbon-fiber driveshaft that are things of beauty, both of which you’ll probably never see. The Tremec leaves no ambiguity as to which gear is engaged, while handling power flawlessly.
The suspension has double wishbones in the front, and a multi-link set-up out back. It is both forgiving when you want, but firm when you need and overall feels tuned perfectly The steering is similar, with a weight that even the most avid BMW drivers would appreciate. Slowing things down is a set of Wilwood brakes, again finely tuned to work perfectly with the rest of the car’s components.
The most impressive part is how well everything all comes together to make a wonderfully cohesive driving experience. The weight of all the inputs seems to be equal for everything. There are few surprises with the Boss 429, which makes it a consistently enjoyable vehicle. You can drive it at any level of enthusiasm on the weekend or commuting as a daily.
Revology hasn’t just built a “better” classic Mustang. What they’ve done is absolutely astonishing. The Boss 429 represents far more than just the sum of its parts. This car actually feels more solid, and operates more smoothly than a fair amount of vehicles from brands that swear to us they are the most raw, exciting, cutting edge masterpieces. The Revology Boss 429 re-establishes the status quo, not only within the restomod space, but for the entire automotive industry. This is how a V8 Mustang should be like to drive. To me, this is how most sports cars should feel from behind the wheel.
Revology’s latest drives as good as, if not better than, a new Mustang Dark Horse – but it’s faster, more connected, less floaty, and more focused. It has a similar transmission feel, with a shorter, more positive feeling clutch and shift throws. I gave the last Revology Mustang GT a bit of a hard time in the clutch department. The difference between the Boss 429 and that GT is night and day. This is a more seamless, more raw, intensified experience, but also one that is, oddly, more daily-able. It’s as easy to operate as some manual economy cars.
That’s not an exaggeration. The team at Revology uses the same exact leather Rolls-Royce uses in their cars to line the inside of the Boss 429. It’s an unbelievably soft material that is so good, it almost looks and feels fake, weirdly.
The rest of the interior is as honest as possible. If it looks like metal, it is. If it looks like wood, it is. Precision designed and cut components were created to bring the interior all together in a way that pays homage to the original car as purely as possible, but still accommodates modern interior amenities.
The signature “thud” of the doors and the trunk are some of the most satisfying I’ve ever felt. Think the opposite of Mercedes’ G-Wagen with their famous “click”. This is of the softest closing trunk and doors in the industry, and to think these things aren’t mass-produced is truly shocking. A modern S-Class Owner would be humbled immediately.
The interior of the Boss 429, with its sea of soft leather and digitally-backed electronics, makes for a seriously pleasant time behind the wheel. It elevates the already sky-high experience that is the Revology Boss 429. I didn’t want my drive to end. Somehow two hours of driving through some of California’s best roads on a beautifully sunny day wasn’t enough. This was one I really wanted to take home.
Annoyingly, I don’t have many negatives to speak of when it comes to this car. The only thing I could possibly nit-pick would be wishing for a set of more aggressively bolstered seats. The current set fitted are more supportive and comfortable than before, still looking the part of classic Mustang, but I think having the option for a more aggressive set would be a welcomed addition, even though they might look slightly more out of place. Revology has pushed the performance and quality envelope so significantly, so a fancy set of Recaros could match that performance they have worked so hard to create. I’m willing to bet customers would pay extra for them, too.
Besides that, the Boss 429 is just about the ideal classic dream car. It’s reliable, fast, easy to drive, built like a tank, and stunning to behold. In today’s market, that’s truly a rare combination.