Crash Test 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air VS. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

[rtg143]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g&feature=related]YouTube

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

That's pretty cool but on the same page I found this;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKO-tZGuFDg&NR=1
I like it more

Richard

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah.....false security.


seems the Chinese cars are made for population reduction....those tests were horrid.

 

[wookie13]

CHEVYS ARE GOOD FOR SOMTHING AFTER ALL

 

[Mark_88]

I thought the older cars had more metal and stood up better than that...but, then again...depends on how fast and where they get hit...

 

[Southern_Trendkill]

Did you see all the rust dust come off of the frame when they hit? Also, if you look at how the seat moves inside, it either wasn't bolted down, or the bolts were rusted through. It looks to me like it was rigged to make old cars look worse. If the Bel-Air had been in cherry condition, I think it would have stood up a lot better.

 

[rtg143]

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/more-details-about-1959-bel-air-crash-test/

 

[Mark_88]

Did you see all the rust dust come off of the frame when they hit? Also, if you look at how the seat moves inside, it either wasn't bolted down, or the bolts were rusted through. It looks to me like it was rigged to make old cars look worse. If the Bel-Air had been in cherry condition, I think it would have stood up a lot better.

Didn't notice the rust (or dust, as they claim) cloud...just saw Willy bouncing around looking for his coffee...

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/more-details-about-1959-bel-air-crash-test/

Hmmmm...interesting that they responded...still think there wasn't something quite right about the video...I'd seen quite a few older cars after accidents...and most of them had amazing crumple zones...well, whatever they were called back then...

I had a 62 ford that was in a head-on and the driver put his knees through the dash (it was metal, and there were serious dents where his knee hit the dash) that crippled him for life (or so I was told)...and the crank of the engine was punched through the transmission...

Other than that, the frame was solid, the rest of the body was intact, and the interior wasn't damaged other than the two knee prints in the dash...

But I didn't see (don't have sound here) any indication of the actual speed of the video collision...

 

[rtg143]

Have you ever looked at the older GM frames? They wer shaped like an x. No side railes. The Fords were sort of a ladder frame and there was support on the sides below the doors. The speed was supposed to be the normal 35 MPH each.

Here's what the frames were like.
http://image.superchevy.com/f/10374397+w750+st0/sucp_0810_09_z+custom_stainless_steel_lines+61_impala_x_frame.jpg
http://www.xframechevy.com/arc/1958/x-frame.jpg

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I thought the older cars had more metal and stood up better than that...but, then again...depends on how fast and where they get hit...

Minor crash yes, major crash... no.

 

[exbass94]

Not surprised at all the 2009 did way better. The automakers spend millions of dollars every year making cars safer. The secret to safer cars is not adding more metal, it's about absorbing the impact while keeping the passenger compartment intact.

 

[03ranger4x4]

something ive always wondered was why dont they have the engines running on cars they crash test? How are they certain the car wont ignite in a huge ball of fire when it gets hit this bad? I suppose they do other crash tests i guess, but seems like every one i have ever seen the engines are off, and there are no fluids in the vehicle.

 

[xkotyx]

Did you see all the rust dust come off of the frame when they hit? Also, if you look at how the seat moves inside, it either wasn't bolted down, or the bolts were rusted through. It looks to me like it was rigged to make old cars look worse. If the Bel-Air had been in cherry condition, I think it would have stood up a lot better.

same here

 

[ragajungle]

3.9L v6 in a 59 Bel Aire? THATS crazy!