Here is a video of a crash test done with a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu IIHS.

If you have ever rode in or examined a 59 Bel Air you would think they would be fairly safe because they are built like a tank.

I think the video leaves little doubt that today's modern automobiles are much safer today than they have ever been in the past.

Keep in mind as you watch the video the the 59 Bel Air had no seat belts.

Cars had things like metal dashboards, protruding knobs that would pierce your skull, roof supports that would cut the top of your head off, steering wheels that would impale you like a frog. I used to cringe because if something hit me from the side my head was going to be splashed against a metal panel right by my head. Improved side crash strengthening, Anti lock brakes, disc brakes. These are just a few.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Ouch

At least they used a 4 door instead of a 2 door.

I recall pulling people out of some of those older cars and many were dead b/c of how they were made. The newer vehicles are much safer and lots of folks are walking around today b/c of seatbelts, airbags and the like.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

Just saw a major wreck last evening. Car turned in front of another. Everyone was walking around the cars were mostly reduced to broken plastic and styrofoam in front ends. Modern cars have one other advantage most don't notice, when its 50 below it starts just as well as at 70 above.

The oldies had the looks, the room and style but that is about it.

Safety, gas mileage, maneuvering, new wins every time and I am spoiled now, no more cranking up the windows and locking those doors with a key.

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

The advent of occupant super structures, crumple zones, airbags, etc have made the newer cars amazing safe in head on collisions. But given the choice, I'd still take the '59 (my birth year) Bel Air. It's got soul.

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paws for friendship

The whole idea of "safe because built of metal/steel" is a false sense of safety.

While I would never give up the airbags, belts, etc. I did notice an awful lot of red dust (aka RUST) emitting from under that 55 year old car. The exterior looked well preserved but I have to wonder how much structural integrity was lost to 5 decades of oxidation.

Now let's do one with a '59 Bel Air and a Corvair.

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I restored a 1970 Chevy 4x4 truck about ten years ago and it was neat to drive but you were sitting next to 20 gallons of gasoline and the cab was not made to withstand an impact. I sold it a few years back and as much fun as it was to drive I don't miss it at all. Safety was not a main concern 40-50 years ago for the automobile manufacturers.

No more cranking to start them either.

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Don

I learned to drive on a 1959 chevy bel air. It was like driving a ship. plastic steering wheel, metal dashboard, no seat belts, no radio, no a/c, no power steering, turning radius of the Queen Mary. And yes i flunked my first test, to hard to turn a "Y" on a small side street....Next test i took a Nash Rambler... Did better that time..

As a retired fleet mechanic I've been working on cars since 1973 and the new cars are vastly superior to the old cars in every way except perhaps style. Maintenance, drive train longevity, suspension, brakes, performance and crash safety make the old cars look sick in comparison. Although these days you better be well versed in computers and electronics with the proper equipment to work on em.

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Stay safe people!

I've pulled lots of people and pieces of people out of those old timers.

There some cool old cars back then but they can't compare with the safety feature of todays cars.

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Eccentric old coot

Ah , man there goes another set of Fuzzy Dice.

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Not so Free in the Free State

No doubt today's cars are safer and much more fuel efficient. However, they cost ten times as much as those old cars cost and that is not really necessary.

Is there really no market for a plane Jane car that is safe, and fuel efficient, but does not have a TV screen in it, or electric doors and windows, and automatic tire pressure sensors, or nitrogen in the tires, or Blue tooth. Most of that extras are just future problems to cost repair bills. When did a car stop being primarily transportation and become an entertainment center on wheels.

Some even bounce and hop up and down. Some have enough bass volume to deafen the dead. I will not be surprised if they start selling just the extras, without actual wheels, as driving someplace will be secondary to all the peripheral toys and extras.

What’s with all the packages of extras. Someone wants 17” wheels, they have to upgrade to a car with a moon roof, two rocket launchers, Blue tooth or green gums, and a TV camera showing something behind you or beside you, like you are too important to be bothered to use a rear view mirror.

Or the worst of all a GPS tracking and map system. I think those cause more accidents than even drunk drivers. The last sounds many hear are "Turn left NOW!" Crash!

A 1959 Bel Air in Gothic gold...my Mom's first new car. We never did anything like that with her car.

I had a friend who bought a brand new 59 Chevy Belair with the 348 c.i. motor and 4 speed transmission. He used to put a ten spot on the dash board and tell the person riding shotgun that they could keep it if they could grab it while he was accelerating thru the gears. I don't remember any winners!
Jim

Gives a new meaning to "chasing classic cars"

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NULLI SECUNDUS

Back then drivers were aware of the risks and the smart ones took care while driving. Today the cars have such a high level of perceived "safety" that drivers don't think twice about texting while driving or even reading a BOOK. Yeah, I have seen drivers doing that recently, in addition to taking Selfies, Texting, and YACK YACK YACKING on their cell phones while weaving all over their lane.

My opinion is that every new car made today should have a 14 inch steel spike powered by a shotgun charge in the center of the steering column to insure that stupid drivers can't reproduce. Yeah, I ride a motorcycle and really have an intense dislike those who drive as if the rules of safe driving are something they can ignore.

I'll also point out that 1959 Chevy had headlights that could be changed out in under 5 minutes and most maintenance task were something that the average Joe could do in his garage with a basic set of tools and a manual. Take a look at what a dealer charges just to change out the headlight bulb on that Malibu and you'll understand why I actually prefer to drive older "unsafe" cars like my 1986 Olds Cutlass. Because if some dealer were to tell me that it was going to cost 800 bucks to swap a headlight bulb I would probably end up talking to the local PD for pitching a screaming fit in the showroom.

PS: wasn't kidding about 800 bucks to replace a headlight bulb. It's actually something rather common and to me rather alarming. Lexus actually has a book charge of 2200 bucks to replace a headlight bulb on one of their models and IIRC the 2 door Chevy Sonic is simple plug and play but the 4 door Sonic requires the removal of the entire front bumper cover. Tip here is that anyone looking at a new car today needs to ask the salesman to demonstrate changing out the headlight and tail light bulbs on any model you are thinking about buying because these bulbs do not last forever.

How could they do that to a '59 Chevy???
Those *******s!!

If there were cellphones and texting back then, the annual death toll in the US from auto accidents would have exceeded 100,000 a year.

If modern cars are so safe, why are 40,000 Americans killed in them annually?

We didn't need cell phones and texting back then, we had girls to play with.
I don't know how I'm still alive.

Where in the world did they get that many '59 Bel Airs? And all of 'em gold to boot

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In dog years I'm dead.

I agree. That is a travesty to waste such a beautiful automobile.

My first car ever was a nearly new 1959 blue and white Impala with a 348 and a 4 barrel. I got almost 10 MPG, but that little beauty would do over 130 MPH and I certainly had it going that fast on more than one occasion.

I hate to think what a collision at that speed would have done to it.

I genuinely don't think that enhanced safety in cars is the reason for people acting like idiots while driving today.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I read an article this week that said even over just the last 3 years car safety has shown marked improvement.

Oh, something that they did start to address not too long ago was that a 'quartering' head on crash wouldn't be stopped by the engine, but the car would plow right by it smashing into the cab right where the driver sits.

PS More steel being safer but back in the 60s I'd rather be driving a Cadillac in a crash with a VW Beetle.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Such a sad end to fine old iron.

I would be curious to see that same crash test with a '49 Packard instead of the '59 Chevy.

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

If that was a real crash, the driver of the Bel Air would have been screwed... The driver of the '09 Malibu might have walked or at least crawled away from that one...

The problem in old car was the engine and engine block mounts wouldn't drop in front collisions like new ones. The engine would just plow into the firewall and push the dash forward and just pound the passengers.

Yes the old ones were rigid boxes. Solid rear to front bumper box without any give. Did you notice the 59 steering wheel hit the dummy in the snot locker? Crushed skull right there .

My Dad bought a new 59 Impala just like this one, 4 door sedan. Same color, brought back some memories.

My Mom's had an older 1st cousin, his 1st new car was a white 59 Impala 2 door hardtop that came with a 348. He quickly put in a built 409. It was quite the local beast for a few years.

Always wanted a 59 Convertible. Never found one back when they were cheap.

Nimble handling and bolstered bucket seats give a sense of security but one thing that will never change is the amount of rubber on the road.
The sight of Grandma shooting across the back seat of the '65 Polara I learned to drive in delivered an unforgettable lesson in physics.
Good thing the door was locked because my arms were not long enough to reach back and pull it closed.

That 59 didn't have a chance and a surprise to me too. Dad had a 1959 Chevy same color but a station wagon. Don't think we ever had an accident in it and good thing I guess. Seems drivers were a little more careful then too.

New cars are better in most respects, but not all.

V8s are rapidly becoming extinct and being downsized to 6s and even 4s. Some companies try to cover up by playing engine sounds through the speakers or put special valves in the exhaust system.

The mythical "no lag" turbo replacing cubic inches.

Electric power steering.

I was reading about problems with the new active noise cancellation system in the new Tahoes. There are a large number of people reporting headaches, noise, and pressure in their ears.

How about putting some effort into making cars drive and perform well instead of driving up the price with useless gimmicks.

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Common sense isn't so common.

I drove a 2015 Honda Accord the other day with a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder in it and it preformed more like a sports car than a mid-sized sedan. Excellent steering and suspension and surprising acceleration, plus pretty good gas mileage. The thing has more air bags than my dog has fleas. If you ever wreck the car, it could take a week to cut you free from all those air bags.

The Mazda 6 is rated higher in most categories except acceleration, and comes in a more basic and less expensive trim. It gets even more amazing gas mileage. It also drives well and has even higher reliability ratings.

I also drove a new Camaro (6 cylinder, not the race car version) and loved it except almost no room in the back and I had to fold like a pretzel to get in and out of it. I do love a rear wheel drive vehicle!!!!!! Also a few of the parts are still made in the USA. Great design and appearance, but alas it is a young single man’s car, not one for an arthritic old goat like me.

Now lets get these computer chips out of the cars and find a mechanical way to get this same performance and mileage and far superior reliability. And please do away with lights that come on and remind me to change the oil or see my dealer for the every 6 month $2,500 dollar dealer service call, which is the only way to turn the light off. Only a Harvard MBA could think that one up.

Technology sure has come a long way...

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Jorge

Without a doubt the new cars are much safer, fuel efficient.
With that said my first car was a 59 Chevy 2 door that I purchased in 63 when in high school. (283 4BBL 4Spd)

That tank had a trunk that would hold some of the cars of today. The dash and inside was dangerous no padding anywhere. As a young kid I found the hudge interior a good place to learn sex education and be very comfortable.

I had the car for about 7 months and while driving too fast in the winter I went off the highway and totaled it by hitting a big tree with the passenger’s side. Good thing I was alone as the damage done would have probably killed anyone in the passenger side.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

Quite true, because morons will be morons and idiots will be idiots. However back when I learned how to drive (in a 1966 VW Beetle) those who got really foolish in a car usually paid the price for that choice and didn't live long enough to reproduce. Smarter folks also learned from seeing what happened to the morons and as a result became more careful drivers.

For all who think the new cars are superior, a question for you.

Why is it that the older cars are worth as much today as a new cars list price, but the slightly used newer car is only worth 15 to 25% of what it cost when it was new?

I personally think it's because of "Style". The new cars don't have any! You can keep the new stuff with their gizmos and the do-dads - give me something with "Style" baby!

Pete

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Don't tread on me

Although I like the safety and reliability of modern vehicles, I have to side with Pete on this one.

Most of the newer transportation appliances on the road have no style, soul, or panache. They all have the same melted-bar-of-soap styling and all the same gizmos and gadgets. From any angle, including behind the wheel, you can't tell a Ford from a Chevy from a Honda from a Mazda, from a VW. They are all equally bland. Safe, efficient, durable, but BLAND..

Perhaps not. But it allows them to get away with it in most cases which then results in a perception of a level of safety that does not exist and in people being shocked when a deadly accident does occur.

One exception is the new Camaro. That baby has style enough for any two cars, and if you are nearly rich, it comes in a racing version that would leave most police cars in the dust. LOL If I could find a way to climb in and out of it without breaking something that is what I would be driving. LOL

It's a shame they wasted a 1959 Chevrolet! Not so much a new Malibu.

Yes, the new cars are safer but why are they all so fulgy? And they all look the same & the same awful colors! At least the old cars had style & looked fantastic! And with great colors, inside & out! Now the interior colors are mostly black & grey.

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I'm 67. I don't do timeouts.

Good thing they weren't texting back in the 50's, not many of us would be here today.

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Don

I don't buy cars to crash them.
I opt for vehicles well suited to avoiding collisions entirely.

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it just needs more voltage

Yeah, there are a few exceptions. The Camaro, Mustang, Challenger, Charger, 300, and Mini, are all nice looking modern cars. Heck I even like the current generation Beatle.

Of course these are all "nuevo-retro" designs that take most of their styling cues from the 60's and 70's era cars - the ones that DID have some style and soul.

it's these cars that did more to save the American auto industry than the bail out.

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it just needs more voltage

And I keep risking it. :-)