Today's cars vs cars from 50 years ago

[oneflycowboy]

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.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_r5UJrxcck&feature=player_detailpage[/ame]

 

[rwsmith]

Safety, no comparison.....

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.

 

[Qball]

Ouch

 

[Bkreutz]

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

 

[Old cop]

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.

 

[Coldshooter]

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.

 

[labworm]

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.

 

[kozmic]

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.

 

[Arik]

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

 

[Buford57]

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.

 

[Yorkie Man]

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.

 

[Salty RI]

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.

No more cranking to start them either.

 

[KKECK5]

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..

 

[Vulcan Bob]

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.

 

[Iggy]

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.

 

[MasterTech1960]

Ah , man there goes another set of Fuzzy Dice.

 

[finesse_r]

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!

 

[Frank237]

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

 

[italiansport]

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

 

[MOONDAWG]

Gives a new meaning to "chasing classic cars"