Boss 302R Mustang is Ready to Race, Ford Says

Posted & filed under Racecar Insurance.

Every savvy car shopper knows that you should shop for insurance at the same time you’re pricing your prized auto, but what if you’re looking for for something a bit beyond the norm? Does that still hold true? Actually yes.

Consider the newest in Ford’s line of Mustangs, the Boss 302R. It’s a race-ready machine that was designed as an homage to Parnelli Jones’s championship winning car, the 1970 Boss 302 Trans-Am race car. In the Boss world, the “302″ refers to the engine size – 302 cubic inches, or 5.0 liters.

This year’s Boss – the 302R – is based on the same basic design as the street-legal 2011 Mustang GT, but the interior’s been replaced by a roll cage, racing seats, and safety harnesses, and there’s also a race-spec suspension and a telemetry system onboard, not to mention the racing tires and Brembo brakes. Ford says that the car, which also comes with a $79,000 price tag, is race ready, and can be ordered from any dealership – ask at the parts desk – though only 50 units will be built, with delivery planned for Fall 2010.

If that isn’t enough to get you thinking about race car insurance, consider that Ford is also selling the Boss 302R1, which has been built with the intent to qualify for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series (previously known as the Koni Challenge series). It’s a direct descendant of another Mustang, the FR500, and it comes with a sealed, high output 5.0-liter V-8 engine and a close-ratio six-spped manual gearbox, among other powerful features. Five of thse cars will be delivered to race teams in time for racing season to open this month.

Why would a buyer have to even be responsible for racing insurance? Because the driver is the at-risk party, and if you’re buying a car to race yourself, you must have insurance. In fact, not only must you have special insurance as the driver – but your car, equipment, and tow trailer must be insured as well.

Race car insurance is generally sold by specialty companies…but even though the product is different, certain rules still apply: experienced drivers with clean records will spend less than younger, inexperienced motorists, and the lower deductible, the higher the premium.

Alternatively, you can buy a 2011 Mustang GT, and merely dream of racing on a professional track.