Within collector car circles, there’s a word bandied about that causes even the most crusty veterans to cringe; attrition. Attrition is what happens to cars when they are wrecked, stolen, scrapped, crushed, or otherwise removed from this world. While attrition is most often concerned with those cars still on the road, no collection is 100% safe from fire, theft, or natural disaster.
But what do you call it when a rare-but-new car is crashed before it is even delivered? We call it bad luck. Over at the Mustang Source forums there is a rumor goin’ ‘round that a recent train derailment in Texas had some high-priced casualties, namely eight 2012 Boss 302 Mustangs…three of them the race-track-ready (and more expensive) Laguna Seca models. And there is indeed a story in the Corsica Sun Times regarding a train derailment carrying a load of new cars.
A Union Freight train carrying a load of new cars derailed on its way to Spring, Texas, in the Houston area. Six cars out of the 75 (plus three locomotives) jumped the tracks, resulting in an ugly wreck. As word of the wreck spread, dealerships started calling those who had ordered 2012 Boss 302 Mustangs to inform them why their delivery was delayed. Ford has yet to put out an official comment on the incident, although it is company policy that any vehicle damaged during transit is crushed in its entirety.
So, if it is true that there were eight Boss 302 Mustangs on board (including three Laguna Seca models) that means eight Bosses are heading to the crusher. Such a damn shame to be sure, but Ford is sure to fast track replacement Mustangs to their rightful owners. We wouldn’t mind taking those wrecked cars off of Ford’s hands either. After all, how bad could they be?