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Ford car names

mikethebike

mikethebike

Active Member
Banned
Does anyone here know just where Ford got the idea for the name 'BOSS' and where TASCA Ford got the idea for their 'BEAT THE BOSS' campaign? I'm asking because we had this discussion at a local bar and nobody knew where they got the idea.

OK, I've gotten 6 replies to this...I KNOW it was marketing. And yes, the term 'boss' was slang for being very desirable (see American Graffiti, the scene where Mackenzie Phillips is in the deuce coupe and she refers to the '55 as being 'boss'). But Ford was NOT the first to use either of those terms in print or advertising. They in affect stole it and it was all legal because the other guy never copyrighted the word or phrase. I'm wanting to know WHO they stole it from. And what is your proof? And do you know WHO was the Ford guy who did it?
 
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As far as I know, "Boss" was just the name that Ford decided upon for the the specialized Boss 302 (Windsor block/Cleveland heads) small block, designed to compete in the SCCA/Trans American racing series. The resulting engine, and the car it went in, became the "Boss" Mustang. In other words, I don't think Boss is an acronym for anything, it's just a tough sounding name for a tough little engine.
 
Yep. Just like MOPAR's "Magnum" engine, Corvette's "Blue Flame" 6 cyl., Olds 455 "Rocket".

I think the 429 Mustang also carried the "Boss" name.
 
"Boss" was also used as a slang term back in the sixties, as in: "That's really BOSS, man!" to mean something "cool"...

But I'll go along with the use of Boss by Ford as just a marketing tool....
 
adam-ads said:
http://www.boss302.com/story.htm says it was Larry Shinoda who came up with the name.
Click to expand...

Very good. Now, who thought of the car and where did he come from. The Boss web-site probably will not tell this to you. The Ford guys REALLY hate this fact. Hint....he also thought up the 428-Cobra-Jet and the Boss-429 Mustang.

But nobody has of yet found who was 'THE BOSS' and who used the term 'beat-the-boss' before Ford and TASCA Ford stole them both.
 
Larry Shinoda named it in homage to Bunkie Knudsen

Lawrence Kiyoshi (Larry) Shinoda (March 25, 1930 – November 13, 1997) was a noted automotive designer who was best known for his work on the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang.

In 1968, Henry Ford II hired former GM executive Bunkie Knudsen to be president of Ford. Knudsen recruited Shinoda to come to Ford in hopes of improving the styling and sales of Ford's lineup. Shinoda's first project at Ford was a high-performance Mustang known as the Boss 302 Mustang.[3] Reportedly Shinoda chose the name "Boss" as a homage to Knudsen. He led design for the Mustang models for 1970-1973 as well, but when Knudsen was fired from Ford late in 1969 Shinoda left as well.

Scott
 
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SPL db said:
Larry Shinoda named it in homage to Bunkie Knudsen

Lawrence Kiyoshi (Larry) Shinoda (March 25, 1930 – November 13, 1997) was a noted automotive designer who was best known for his work on the Chevrolet Corvette and Ford Mustang.

In 1968, Henry Ford II hired former GM executive Bunkie Knudsen to be president of Ford. Knudsen recruited Shinoda to come to Ford in hopes of improving the styling and sales of Ford's lineup. Shinoda's first project at Ford was a high-performance Mustang known as the Boss 302 Mustang.[3] Reportedly Shinoda chose the name "Boss" as a homage to Knudsen. He led design for the Mustang models for 1970-1973 as well, but when Knudsen was fired from Ford late in 1969 Shinoda left as well.

Scott
Click to expand...

Close, and cudos on the Knudsen connection. There is more to it. Knudsen created the followig cars at Ford:

BOSS-302
BOSS-429
And the car I believe to be the best FACTORY (no Shelby) Ford of the day.... the 428 Cobra-Jet Mustang.

I really doubt anyone will get this unless you are my age and from Burlington, NC. 'THE BOSS' was Ronnie Sox and Chrysler sent Sox&Martin around the country in 67 conducting car clinics and also allowing a local hot shoe to climb inside a fully prepped 440 GTX and have a chance to 'BEAT THE BOSS' in his 426 Hemi. 2 years later Ford launches the BOSS 302/429 cars and around the same time TASCA Ford has their little 'beat the boss' competition with $10,000.00 going to any car who could beat them on street tires running through mufflers. A big block privately owned, unsponsored Chevy finally did.:thmbsp:
 
Shinoda will, one day I predict, be regarded in the same league as Harley Earl, Bill Mitchell, Raymond Loewy, or Bob Gregorie...
 
FORD CAR NAMES..........

In keeping with their "Western" theme (Ranger, Pinto, Maverick, Mustang, Bronco), Ford will soon be unveiling it's new Alternative Fuel vehicle, the "Brokeback"

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