Mustang rear-end collision fire danger hype

Are you planning on being hit from the rear at high speed in the near future?

CBS has recently been airing footage about the possible danger of raw fuel
being thrown into the passenger compartment in a high speed rear end collision.

I'd like to point out that your classic Mustang has already survived 30
or more years without suffering such an indignity. Statistically, very
few of the millions of classic Mustangs have suffered this fate over the
last 30 years!

Even keeping in mind that you'll likely be paralyzed for the rest of your
life anyway after your neck is snapped backward over the low-backed seats
with no headrests, there is no need for you to pay outrageous prices, or
try to find a "patented" solution.  What's to patent???  It's a piece of
sheet metal, cut in the same shape as the piece of fiberboard that it
replaces.  Simply go to a (good) hardware store and get a piece of 14 to
16-gauge steel, take it home and cut it to shape.  Then screw it in place.

This won't really do anything, other than delay the spread of the very
unlikely-to-occur fire to the interior of the car for a short time, while
you're waiting to be rescued (since you won't be able to get out on your own.)

A more expensive drop-in solution is available from Mustangs Plus -- a
racing fuel cell, with a protected internal bladder, for a mere $800 or so
-- a worthwhile (and required) expense for those who stand a *real* risk of
a high-speed collision.  Of course, you'll also want to install a
heavy-duty roll bar, three-point harness, more supportive (and locking)
full-height seats, and a collapsible steering column. (Don't forget to also
wear a helmet and fire-resistant clothing at all times while the vehicle is
in motion.)

The facts are quite simple: the design of the gas tank by current standards
are not up to par; however, by 60's standards, they were at the top of their
class.  Now, factor in the rusty cars out on the road today (any make and
model), and figure out in your head what would happen if it too got rear ended
by a truck these days.  If you're worried about the possibility of being rear
ended and having your gas tank explode, then a simple piece of metal behind
your seat will just not do, as liquids have a way of finding there way thru
any gaps/holes.

In short, you could save a great deal of money and lost sleep by simply
accepting the fact that your classic Mustang or other classic vehicle will
*never* be as safe as a modern car, so it's best to simply practice prudent
defensive driving techniques and keep your speeds down.  If safety is truly
a concern, there are a great many more practical, potentially lifesaving
modifications that should be made before pouring $800 into preventing an
extremely rare (though media-hyped) high-speed-rear-end-collision
resulting-in-passenger-compartment-fire scenario.  Stop listening to the
whistle blows of years gone by, Ford never had any recalls for this type of
problem on the Mustang, as the cars design passed all highway safety tests
for that time period.  Go find yourself a good racing fuel cell, if that
will give you a better piece of mind.