Bruce Lewis’ Former BOSS Returns

Ayrburn’s Head Judge Bruce Lewis isn’t just running the Mustang Stampede class in 2026—he’s also the former owner of this very special 1970 BOSS 302.

Bruce, widely regarded as New Zealand’s Mustang guru, passed the keys to a passionate enthusiast back in 2016… and what followed is the stuff of petrolhead legend.

The new owner, already a long-time Mustang tragic (with a ’69 S Code in the garage that won Best of Show in 2006), had long dreamed of a BOSS. The car Bruce sold him then was given the full works over 8 years—thanks to a full rotisserie restoration by Steve Sankey—it became a concours-winning masterpiece.

Completed in December 2024, the BOSS roared into the 2025 Ellerslie Concours, where it won both Masters Class and Top Car of Show. Now back in Wellington and cared for by Bristol Motors (also exhibiting at Ayrburn), the car is ready to shine again—this time at the Ayrburn Classic in Bruce’s very own Mustang class.

A full-circle story if ever there was one. And this time, the BOSS is ready to run.

Historical note:

The Boss 302 Mustangs are arguably the most revered of the classic Mustangs—thanks to their hard-fought success in the brutal Trans Am series. Races were often door-to-door brawls, and the Boss 302s usually crossed the line bearing the scars of battle. It was raw, loud, and gloriously chaotic—which is exactly why fans loved the series then, and why the Boss 302 remains a legend today.