Really shows how we are safer now - 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

[Buckshot Bear]

1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu IIHS crash test

 

Really shows how we are safer now with modern crumpling on impact cars -

 

 

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

Several years ago I took the deposition of a orthopedist at the University of Washington medical school who was a nationally-recognized specialist in the reconstruction of lower extremity traumatic injuries.  The case involved huge injuries to the feet and legs in a high-impact accident.

 

He said that they never used to see such extensive injuries from auto accidents, because the forces required to produce them had invariably been fatal to the occupants before the introduction of air bags and other crashworthiness improvements.

[Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474]

I'm just sad about that nice '58 Chevy!

[Rye Miles #13621]

Doesn't look like either one survived but I'll take my chances with an air bag or air bags as most cars now have at least 3 or 4!

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

The next time they do a test like this, ruining a beautiful classic car, whoever thought it up and authorized the test should be strapped to the front of one of the cars.  

[Texas Joker]

There is no motor in the bel aire

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

I suspect the ‘59 needed a lot of TLC.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

They destroyed a beautiful car and a Malibu.   Shame on them.    And I don't think either car had an engine in it.   

Very fake news.

From the very clean pics, that Bel Aire was worth 2x the Malibu.  At least.

[Cypress Sun]

At the :54 mark, a bunch of "dust" comes out of the frame of the Bel-Air. I am curious as to what the "dust" is. Rust, maybe?

[Rip Snorter]

I saw a few cars of that era, close to that era,  either blow the engine or crash in the course of a high speed chase.  In the first situation there was an audible bang and a big puff of smoke and dust. When they crashed, dust and debris.  The all time winner was a guy who blasted through the full sized, glass telephone booth of the day (fortunately unoccupied) a literal wave of glass. All cars accumulate dirt and dust, a collision frees it - one way to determine the apparent point of impact when investigating a multi vehicle accident.  Could be faked, of course, so many things are these days..

[Red Gauntlet , SASS 60619]

6 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Very fake news.

 

Was it 'news'? Doubt it.

 

If the issue is 'crashworthiness' then I think it's pretty realistic.

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

On 9/11/2024 at 5:18 AM, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

The next time they do a test like this, ruining a beautiful classic car, whoever thought it up and authorized the test should be strapped to the front of one of the cars.  

Firstly, it was a FOUR door, so no loss there.  And it was a 59 Chevrolet.  One of the ugliest cars of the classic era.

[Creeker, SASS #43022]

7 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

They destroyed a beautiful car and a Malibu.   Shame on them.    And I don't think either car had an engine in it.   

Very fake news.

From the very clean pics, that Bel Aire was worth 2x the Malibu.  At least.

I really doubt the IIHS "faked" this test - and the 59 at minimum had exhaust as you can see the down pipe and muffler dislodge in the crash.

 

 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

You can bet BOTH cars were complete.  IIHS is independent of NTSB testing.  IIHS doesn't "fake" anything.

[Jackaroo, # 29989]

On 9/13/2024 at 8:48 AM, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

They destroyed a beautiful car and a Malibu.   Shame on them.    And I don't think either car had an engine in it.   

Very fake news.

From the very clean pics, that Bel Aire was worth 2x the Malibu.  At least.

How can you say Fake News??? The whole object of the video was to show you the difference between the old technology and the new tech. It has jack shit to do with the niceity of the cars, and wether they had engines or not, what rubbish.

These people don't conduct tests half heartidly, they NEED to know the results.

As for the drivers the one in the 59 Chevy would be dead, but the other one looks like he would have survived, look at the steering wheel it virtually remained in place.

[Sedalia Dave]

9 hours ago, Colorado Coffinmaker said:

 

You can bet BOTH cars were complete.  IIHS is independent of NTSB testing.  IIHS doesn't "fake" anything.

YEP

 

Pic of the engine.

 

 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=537858801307932

 

[Texas Joker]

I for one did a bit more research and stand corrected. Bel air was an x frame with a straight 6 and a lot of sheet metal in its engine bay construction.

 

The malibu was unibody with crumple zones. The A pillar and passenger compartments tell the story of survivability.