Have you seen this one? I would have thought the bigger, heavier, '59 Chevy would have held up better than this. Surprising...



IIHS: 2009 Chevy Malibu vs. 1959 Chevy Bel Air (Just Because They Can) | The Truth About Cars

I'm surprised too, but can't believe they trashed a perfectly good '59 Bel Air to film that. Sheeeesh! No respect for old iron.


Bullseye

Those old Chevys are tanks, I'm surprised it didn't hold up better than that...

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"Shall not be infringed"

Glad I just bought an 09 Malibu.

Damn!!!!!!





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After watching it, it's still hard to believe. I've been around plenty of stock '53 - '67 Chev's, and find it hard to believe they would crumple like that. But, I saw it on the internet, so it must be true.

....demonstrates just why so much engineering has gone into the new designs....them 'old tanks' may have been heavy, but not particularly strong in such a crash as this.

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

Those old cars were made back in the day that after a crash they just hosed off the dash and sold it to the next guy.

Not surprising; don't folks recall the old drivers' ed movies like "Mechanized Death?"

The new cars are soooo very much better than the vintage ones in just about every way. Even so, I would dearly like to own one of the original Cobras, a Hemi Charger, and a '59 Caddy convertible....among others.

Be safe.

You will note the cars didn't hit head on. I had several general motors cars of this vintage. If you'd have opened the hood on the 59 chevy you'd have found about a foot of space between the engine and wheel wells on both sides (no smog junk) The engine compartment in the transverse mounted engine Malibu would be packed with shock absorbing plastic emission control junk from fender to fender.
The only thing stopping the forward progression of the Malibu in the 59 would be the sheet metal wheel well and tire. In accidents like this it was common for the steering column to impale the driver and the passengers go head first through the windshield. Gen motors didn't put seat belts in their cars till 71. The repair cost of the 59 would be about $800 while the Malibu would be totaled. The only difference is the 59's owners estate would have to pay for repairs as he would be dead. I'd like to see the same test using a 47 Chevy. Todays cars are much safer thank GOD because far more people than ever drive like AH's.

I love the looks of the old timers and have lots of fond memories of them. I had a 59 Chevy just like that one, even the same colors. I had some "really good times" in that one, but I wouldn't trade today's cars for one for everyday use.

I have had to pry too many bodies out of the old "tanks" that collapsed and impaled the occupants in collisions and roll overs. Old cars sat on their frames, rather than within them.

Car technology has progressed by leaps and bounds in everything but style and charisma..

As remarked by many, crash design has improved a lot since those days. I started to think if the offset impact would have been a particularly venerable spot for the old Chevy, but I think not. Simply no angle would you want this to happen if you were in the old car.
If you have a beautiful old restored ’55 be very careful!

If you go back even further say to the late 20s early 30s the car probably would survive better, the driver would be just as dead.
I was in a slow speed crash in a 28 Plymouth at about the same angle. All four doors flew open, headlight was stuffed in the radiator, the very substantial two piece bumper damaged, the frame was undamaged, car took a weekend to repair. We found all of the parts in the fourth row at the junk yard. If I had that “fourth row” now it would be worth millions.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

I always wanted a 55 Chevy Nomad. The closest I ever came was a 56 Safari. Next up would be a 57 FI Bel Aire, Lastly a 58 Bel Aire 2 door 348. (or Bel Aire 62 409)

Might not be safe but I'd still rather have a 55 chevy anyday. Since all the car dealers are bringing the older body styles back I'm hoping they bring back the 55 chevy with the 502 big block. Now that would be the car!

55 Chevy was first Chevy ever with a V8.. 265 CI. You'd be surprised how quick. My budy Dirty Dave had a 55 2 dr bored to 301 with 12:1 compression and 4 deuces. It took 2 batteries in series to get it started. It was street legal with an outrageous cam. Nearly killed us in a bad incident.

Let's not forget that the 50 year old steel in the 1959 car has probably weakened over time due to metal fatigue, corrosion, etc....therefore, to me at least...it's not a valid test. Interesting though...

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'Merica!

Your right about the corrosion of course, sort of a standard check is to try an ice pick on the frame rails about an inch each side of the longitudinal weld starting behind the front wheel and moving along to the back of the door.
Many, many fail the test. The drain holes plug and condensate collects, a few years later someone paints the outside, but inside!
Many an old Corvette needs a new frame.

Still I think at least those made before the 80’s have inferior design from a survivability standpoint.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

Seeing that video confirms my reply to people who say "They just don't build them like they used to". I answer "Thank God!".

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Lost in Penn's Woods

Hi Rog,

Since I'm a welder, I often get people asking me to repair their broken car or truck frames. Had a guy ask me to do a 1989 F-150 just yesterday. The break is always due to rust out.

I usually get under there and start pecking away with the pointy end of a welder's chipping hammer...you're absolutely right...it will often go right through what looks like pretty solid material.

Sometimes, you have to go pretty far away from the actual break to find metal solid enough to weld through.

I rarely take on one of these jobs...I usually refer them to another welder I know. Just too much dirty, nasty work for what most people want to pay...and then there's the liability issue...no thanks.

Sorry for the hijack, but I guess it's related...

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'Merica!

I would undoubtedly rather be in a new car if I was going to be in a crash. The technology to protect the occupants will save your life these days.

That said, cruising in my old Charger is a feeling you just cannot duplicate with any new iron. Today's musclecars may be as fast or faster than the old original musclecars but...........I'll take the HemiCharger every time!

from the video:
"the driver of the 09 would have a knee injury; the driver of the 59 would have been killed instantly. "

but the guy driving the 59 would have looked much better doing it.

I'm certainly glad that the cars have gotten safer. In the early 40's one of my Dad's friends was involved in a head-on collision. He was impaled on the steering column and had the engine in his lap. Dad was one of the first at the scene and was very upset when he got home.

Makes me miss my 65 Chevy Biscayne. I also remember rolling my 71 Dart Swinger over on its driver side. We rolled the car back on its wheels and drove it home. Try that with a new car.

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Vaya con Dios