59 Belair vs 2009 Malibu
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We have come a long way in crash survivability. This video shows the reason that I would not like to have an older car for either a daily driver or a hobby car. One small screwup could be the end of all the fun. Anything from the late 60's on is much superior to the older cars.
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Yes. They need to build a replica from 100% reproduction parts. And if you notice, the cars did not hit straight. One side of the Classic is destroyed and one side of the Malibu is destroyed. Bothare very very similar. lose-lose for both.
Poor '59 Chevy!!
How is it not a valid test?
As long as the belair is not previously damaged or rusted, it can be a solid example of what a 59 belair would do TODAY in a crash.
to an extent... but when its come down to it, if your were in the Impala your very likely to be dead. If the steering clolmn did't go throught your chest, and you also survived the whiplash with no head rest, you better hope you didn't have your arm out the window, and your feet somewhere else. lol
The malibu....you may not walk awasy but you should be able to again in the future.
Doesnt matter if the cars hit middle to middle or not, thats just a diffrent type of impact. On may 31 of this year I was in a very similar accident with my wifes Trailblazer SS, drivers front to drivers front, it is absolutely brutal to be in.
The point of the test is not so much the outside of the car, who cares what that looks like, you have to watch and see what happens to the passanger compartment. This is a win lose, chances are somebody would have died in the bel air, the malibu they would have lived with out doubt
Jeff
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Believe it or not, if both cars were 59's it would not have been quite that bad. But still bad!
It was sort of a mismatch as while the 59 covered half the width of the new car the new car only impacted the outer third of the width of the 59 which is why it ripped the side off! Plus the car being 50 years old and not a solid at stress points as it would have been new!
Reason for a lot of the 59's destruction? The safety design of the new vehicle! Made to absorb the inpact through crumple zones and form that saftey compartment around you!
Once all the impact that can be absorbed buy the crumple zones it becomes like a solid block! Which is what really destroys the 59! Sort of like hitting a concrete block!
It was sort of a mismatch as while the 59 covered half the width of the new car the new car only impacted the outer third of the width of the 59 which is why it ripped the side off! Plus the car being 50 years old and not a solid at stress points as it would have been new!
Reason for a lot of the 59's destruction? The safety design of the new vehicle! Made to absorb the inpact through crumple zones and form that saftey compartment around you!
Once all the impact that can be absorbed buy the crumple zones it becomes like a solid block! Which is what really destroys the 59! Sort of like hitting a concrete block!
yes... but i mind it a lot less when its for something like this which can help to educate & enlighten people vs Jesse James's crew cutting one up and wrecking it in a figure 8 race or blowing it up because the crew didn't finish the stupid design in time....
to be honest, as someone else said, they think safety evolved alot in those 10 years between 59 and 69... I'd actually like to see how a 69 would perform in the same test. Unfortunatly i think it would be similar. And i'm not about to offer up my car for the test either...
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Something else to consider, that '59 was not cram packed full of junk either. The '59 was very basic and had plenty of room to crumple in as opossed to the new Malibu.
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Wow, and yikes....
I was on the waiting list to be a crash test dummy but I'll withdraw my name after that.:noway:
I was on the waiting list to be a crash test dummy but I'll withdraw my name after that.:noway:
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Like the collapsable steering column!:yes:
I can still remember my uncle with the image of his steering wheel comlete with horn ring bruised into his chest after wrecking a 60 Olds!
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It becomes a very solid mass at that point! It assures a car will be a total but insures a lot of protection to the passengers which IS the most important thing!:yes:
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