Classic or Plastic???, Crash test.

[neil]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xwYBBpHg1I

[static1800]

What a waste of a classic car! does anyone have the idea that 59 model Chevy would be safer than a brand new car? Interesting but not surprising to see the outcome of crash shame to wreck the old thing though!

[mikinoz]

Still will drive a classic. I would prefer to get killed in a classic than half messed up and into a vegetable in a modern. Jokes.

[greasykitchen]

That's pretty messed up. Look at how the dash and steering wheel move right back (compared with the new car where is barely budges). Wouldn't have thought the old Chev would have distorted as much as it did, but I know that older cars with no crumple zones and metal dashes are much less safe for occupants (even if they suffer less damage than a new car).

Check these out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb_e3tllSfE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQRPOCQI2Pc

[Greg Roles]

Sweet dreams all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQRPOCQI2Pc

[static1800]

Classic or New Chinese car?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHZqcKj7jNM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZWy_fASSiQ

I would rather have a serious accident in a mk1 than one of these death traps!

[Preen59]

Speak to any old school panel beater or car restorer worth their salt and tell them "They sure don't make cars like they used to..." I bet you my next 3 pay cheques their reply will be "Thank christ for that!"

[mikepologti]

wholly sh#t that's really surprising, i thaught the older cars with harder materials would have leveled the playing field a lil. don't think i'm gonna get in my bro's eh ever again.

[Mr Messy]

My bro had an EH too. I loved that thing.
I love the token foam strip across dash for crash protection. Not cool.

(He's since sold it on)

[gareth_oau]

was reading an article over the weekend stating that 20% of yanks still refuse to wear seatbelts - good news I suppose, it only helps to strengthen the gene pool!!

when belts were first introduced, the marketing gurus didnt like them because it helped to remind consumers about the risks of driving???

[Manaz]

wholly sh#t that's really surprising, i thaught the older cars with harder materials would have leveled the playing field a lil. don't think i'm gonna get in my bro's eh ever again.

The problem is that older vehicles weren't designed with a passenger safety sell in mind, or crumple zones. New cars are designed to crumple heavily in the bonnet and boot (if they have one), as this helps to absorb impact energy, keeping it out of the passenger cell where the soft squishy bit that don't respond so well to panel beating tend to be in an accident.

In some accidents in modern cars, you'll actually find panel warping/bending in areas not directly affected by the impact, because the cars are designed to transfer energy around their chassis - classic example is a car T-boned on the left side can often have panels bent out of shape on the right side as the crash energy is transferred across the roof and under the floor to the right side...

[greasykitchen]

Some somewhat informative if slighlty annoying/patronising clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIKu1UDoa6s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_86RuYXoJA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s

It comes down to the rate of deceleration of the the car's occupants, and the car itself crumpling and remaining rigid in the right places.

[gareth_oau]

of course, buying a better car with a good chassis, electronic aids, good brakes and tyres might help to avoid an accident altogether.

Now throw in some appropriate driver training....

but of course, our authorities will always argue that extra training wont really help!