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Set your time machine to 1970. Mirroring the differences between the 1969 and 1970 originals, the changes Ford makes to the 2013 Mustang Boss 302 will be mostly cosmetic. We’re okay with that, since we called both the original and its 2012 redux the best-handling Mustangs Ford had produced yet.

Differentiating between the 2013 and 2012 will be just like separating the 1970 Boss from the 1969. The first-year cars wear C-shaped side striping and large black-out hood panels, while the 1970 and 2013 have “hockey stick” side markings and a center stripe on the hood. Like those on the original Boss, the 2013’s decals will be reflective.

Along with the rest of the Mustang lineup, the Boss gets revised front and rear trim for 2013. Those are functional vents on the bulgier hood, which terminates at a larger, more-GT500-esque grille. Whereas last year’s in-grille fog-lamp covers were molded in and just for looks, the 2013 piece has removable caps that open up to provide better engine cooling. They’re flanked by standard HID headlight units, which have faux slats that recall the outboard vents on the 1970 model. The taillights now are recessed into the sheetmetal, with LED surrounds and a gloss-black panel bridging them.

As another nod to the car’s past, Ford will offer School Bus Yellow paint that matches the color on Parnelli Jones’s 1970 Trans-Am championship car. Color options for the regular Boss 302 include that hue, Grabber Blue, Gotta Have It Green (which we’re told is an electric/neon shade), Performance White, and Race Red. The Laguna Seca will be available in SBY or black, both of which will have gray-trimmed spoilers, mirror caps, grilles, wheels, and interior cross-braces instead of last year’s garish red accents. Both the Boss 302 and Laguna Seca lose their contrasting-color roofs for 2013. We’re okay with that, too.

There are no chassis or powertrain changes for 2013, which, again, is just fine with us. Sync, which wasn’t available in last year’s Boss, is now standard. A wrench to remove the side-exhaust restrictors is not, but it’s the only entertainment-system-adjustment tool required in the Boss. It produces this sound. You’re welcome.

The current Boss 302, like the original, will only have a two-year run; 2014 will bring a new Mustang to coincide with the car’s 50th anniversary. That does, however, pave the way for a Boss 351 in the future. We’d be cool with that.