Head on collision: 1959 Chevy Bel Air vs 2009 Chevy Malibu

[Xicano]

A friend emailed me this:

How many times have you heard: "I wish they would make cars the way they did in the old days." This video dispels that myth.

You know how we always think about what big, huge tanks the old cars of the 50's and 60's were for size? And how we talk about how there is so much plastic on the new cars that if one of the old tanks ever collided with a new car, the new car would be demolished?

Well, someone in the insurance industry put that theory to the test. Watch the results in this video.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mCE-pkyDsY

[Richardo]

1. Impressive footage. (I like the fuzzy dice on the mirror in the Bel Air)

That's a nice touch.

[Lugnut]

27. I had a '59 Chevy Bel Air 2 door hardtop.

I also had fuzzy dice hanging on the rear view mirror.

[whistler162]

2. Similar damage UNTIL you reach the passenger compartment

then all bets where off. Probably Bel Air driver dead or severley injured, Malibu driver moderate to severe injuries, legs and arms.

[ReverendDeuce]

6. Don't want to argue or fuss with you but... did you watch the same video I did?

The Bel Air driver would have been killed or had "injuries to the neck, chest, and both legs would be likely," per the narration -- so that is correct.

But as for the 2009 Malibu, what do you mean "moderate to severe" injuries? Where did you get that from? The narrator said: "... low risk to most body regions, but a foot injury may be possible." The Malibu cabin wasn't even penetrated!

[MedicalAdmin]

21. It doesn't have to be penetrated to cause injury.

Spinal injuries can and do often occur without cabin damage. Its the delta v.

[Scuba]

3. Just more gubmint regalations interferrin' with the free hand of the mahket. n/t

[Xicano]

23. Ha!

:spank:

[Cirque du So-What]

4. We've come a long way

in the fields of materials development, automobile engineering, and manufacturing. That's all I'll say on the matter, as I'm somewhat of a geek in these matters (read, boring).

[Greybnk48]

5. Definitely a mythbuster.

And very reassuring to see the advances in safety design. Thanks for posting this.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. OK, but my magnetic 'I love my dog' ribbon won't even stick to my Saturn!

[Brother Buzz]

28. Just rub it on the dog's back to create a static charge...

and you're good to go.

[Arkansas Granny]

8. Wow! That's pretty impressive, especially the interior shots showing

what would have happened to the driver.

[trumad]

9. Yeah

but it's far easier to get laid in the backseat of the 59 Chevy.

[Brickbat]

13. Thread over, you win.

[Gold Metal Flake]

10. Nanny state. Safety nazis.

Clear evidence of the value of a strong A pillar. The '59 has no structural support between the firewall and the rear passenger compartment bulkhead except the frame with on a '59 is X shaped. Shit folds right up. My '58 Ford might not fare quite as badly with its ladder frame, but it wouldn't be much better. A strong A pillar helps create a box. The '59 sedan passenger compartment is not stronger than a '59 convertible. The roof might as well be removable. At least the convertible '59 has some extra reinforcement in the floors to limit flex.

Anyways, we've come a long way. I mourn the loss of the '59 but it's a good demonstration.

1959 Chevy frame


Pretty but weak-ass A pillar on '59


Source:
http://justoldcars.com/?p=2254

[jayfish]

18. That's downright scary.

During my accident investigation class in college we were shown pictures of cars that folded right up as a result of a collision. Not pretty...

[JVS]

11. Yeah, but you should have seen the 1959 vs 1909 test.

[Gold Metal Flake]

17. The horse constituted a "crumple zone".

[trotsky]

20. LMAO

Oh that's so bad, but so funny.

[csziggy]

26. Funny but not necessarily true

When I was in high school one of my friends was hit by a car while she was horseback riding. The 1966 Buick was totaled - the entire front end was crunched and the windshield was knocked out. The horse was sore for a few days but he rolled off the hood of the car and walked away. My friend got a broken arm, probably from when the horse rolled up onto the windshield. The driver of the car spent three weeks in the hospital with facial injuries, a broken leg, and a broken arm.

[Javaman]

12. While this is true, the Bel-Air is still out cools the Malibu. nt

[snort]

14. Friggin steering column.

I've retrofitted a few in old Vehicles. A more 'modern' collapsible unit helps. Less sternum meet spine.

[hamsterjill]

15. Thanks for posting.

I just bought a new Malibu last June. So far, I love it.

[Fumesucker]

16. A difference they don't mention ..

A lot bigger percentage of working class Americans could afford a new 1959 Bel Air in 1959 than could afford a new 2009 Malibu in 2009.

The Malibu might as well be made of unobtainium as far as a great many Americans are concerned.

[SoDesuKa]

24. Unobtanium

If you don't believe in the will o' the wisp, you'll never see it.



Will O' the Wisp

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. Nooooo!!!!

:cry:

[xchrom]

22. recommend

[Populist_Prole]

25. Uggghhh that's horrific!!! I wouldn't back that POS down the driveway to get my mail

GM "X-frame" ( 58-63...depending on the specific makes ) cars are pretty bad in crashes I've heard. While I know before before padding crush zones, restraint systems, collapsing steering columns etc safety was pretty lax, that video really shocked me as to the degree. I know and unrestrained passenger hitting a steel dashboard or getting speared by a rigid steering column would be pretty much toast, but what really grossed my out was what a friggin' meat grinder effect all that folding, jagged metal was. You'd be maimed. Absolutely disgusting.

I've always had arguments with somebody I know ( we're both gearhead type classic auto enthusiasts ) A real ignorant meathead who lets nostalgia trump physics. He actually argues that older cars like that are so strong that anything else would just bounce off, like it was a locomotive or something. I just could not convince him that in a crash of two vehicles, the rapid deceleration and stop would make the second collision ( the occupants with the interior ) much worse than cars designed to absorb impact and restrain passengers. He just dismisses it with a wave of the hand. Can't wait to show him this video. Then again, he's turning more RW all the time, and so would unlikely be swayed by anything other than his staunch views.

[AsahinaKimi]

29. I have to admit that was pretty impressive

I would have thought the older car could take the damage.. guess not.