How you'd fair crashing your classic car.

[Old Henry]

A great video by Consumer Reports of a head-on collision between a 2009 Chevy Malibu and a 1959 Bel Air: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPF4fBGNK0U

That steering column coming up to hit me in the face or chest is what I've always feared most.

[19Fordy]

Gee, what a shame to destroy that nice collectible car.
However, new cars are built safer -designed to save lives.

[rowens55]

Shocking!!! I had no idea!! But I guess that's why (without even knowing) I drive in the slow lane!!

[Tim Ayers]

Search Youtube for films of even older cars crashing. I was amazing to see how the body would become detached from the frame with so many '30's-era cars. Crashes must have been a life or death situation; especially before safety glass.

[wbedwards]

That video is mainly why I put seatbelts in my 59

[Tinker]

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Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Gee, what a shame to destroy that nice collectible car.
However, new cars are built safer -designed to save lives.

At least they used a 4 door

[rheltzel]

As I drive my '35 (stock except for '39 hydraulic brakes) every day in all sorts of conditions, I notice that I'm driving much more defensively and carefully than in a modern car, which makes up for some of the additional risk inherent in driving a car that was never designed with the sort of crash survivability that we take for granted nowadays. I admit that won't help me if some idiot in a modern 7,000 lbs. F350 crosses the center line and hits me head on, but by driving defensively, the way we should always drive regardless of the car we're in, I figure I've improved the odds enough that I feel almost as safe as I do when driving a modern car. Whether or not that's a false sense of security, I've put 10,000+ safe driving miles on my '35 in the last two years. Not as much as Ol' Henry, but quite a few.

[Admiral]

I often joke -- a bit of gallows humor -- that getting into a fender-bender while driving my '36 would be lethal. Crashing is always in the back of my mind when I'm in it, though I don't let it scare me. I say a little prayer before heading out and try not to do anything reckless.

[PeterC]

Originally Posted by Admiral

I often joke -- a bit of gallows humor -- that getting into a fender-bender while driving my '36 would be lethal. Crashing is always in the back of my mind when I'm in it, though I don't let it scare me. I say a little prayer before heading out and try not to do anything reckless.

I'm with you re "Crashing is always in the back of my mind " -
when I was flying P51 Mustangs ... crashing was always on my mind - in a good way ... I was very careful to have a plan B at all times as best I could ... carried that thought driving old cars as well - always do a "preflight" before getting out on the road, air pressure, coolant level, fuel level, brake check, oil check, steering, etc. ... ALWAYS driving with safety in my mind - how fast, what lane, who’s around me, what’s happening far ahead and behind me, exit strategy for emergency move etc. And yes - I very much enjoy being out in the 35 Coupe - but tempered by my pilot training.

[robert dick]

Peter C
ever run across a P51 named "ain't missbehavin--

[Bob C]

When that video first came out it was said that they probably didn't just pick that
car at random. It is one of the most unsafe cars produced. The X design of the
frame leaves the passengers with no side protection from the frame and the steering
column is mounted right behind the bumper so it is driven into the driver like a spear.

Bob

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by robert dick

Peter C
ever run across a P51 named "ain't missbehavin--

This 'n? DD

[Hoop]

PeterC,

Having a Mustang pilot give a Flight Safety briefing is like Evel Knievel teaching a motorcycle safety class.

Check six

[rheltzel]

Originally Posted by Hoop

PeterC,

Having a Mustang pilot give a Flight Safety briefing in like Evel Knievel teaching a motorcycle safety class.

Check six

You're kidding, right? You're not seriously suggesting that the brave Army Air Corps pilots who risked their lives to protect B-17 crews from German Me 109's were in the same class of character as Evel Knievel, are you?

[rowens55]

I actually took that to
Mean that those guys were brave and had to sometimes do some crazy things to protect their charges and themselves. I don't believe he was bad mouthing anyone.. And I Agree with him. Those men were hero's.

[46ford]

Originally Posted by wbedwards

That video is mainly why I put seatbelts in my 59

That video is a great illustration of why seat belts won't help in my '59. Seat belts are part of the total design of new cars, not an add-on.

Drive safely. Most accidents (even where someone runs the red light) are preventable if you drive defensively.

[robert dick]

v8coopman
might be the same one , it used to be hangered in the same hanger as me in Bedford ma

[Hoop]

"You're kidding, right? You're not seriously suggesting that the brave Army Air Corps pilots who risked their lives to protect B-17 crews from German Me 109's were in the same class of character as Evel Knievel, are you?"

rheltzel,

Sorry that you did not understand my comment about P-51 pilots. It was a compliment to a group of men who easily humble even today's military aviators.

I can understand that you have no idea of the danger they faced from not just the missions they flew but from flying an aircraft that demanded an immense amount of skill and guts to fly.

PeterC is being modest. Like any red-blooded pilot, he would have flown the P-51 even if it was guaranteed to rip his ears off, set his hair on fire, and leave him with a permanent limp. Actually it could do much worse.

Safety is a relative term. Safe for Peter would scare the crap out of most men.

[rheltzel]

I concede I misunderstood your post. I apologize. I am a student of WW II and have as good an understanding of the bravery and skill of P 51 pilots as anyone can have who wasn't even born until after the Greatest Generation saved western civilization. That's why, not understanding where you were coming from, said what I said.

Again, I apologize for suggesting you were being disrespectful of their memory.

[CC33]

Since we are talking about P-51's, maybe 20 years ago or so one crashed here on Cape Cod. Someone won a raffle to go for a ride in it. Unfortunately it crashed and both occupants were killed. A week or so later I was coming out of a store that is directly across the street from the main airport here on the Cape. When I heard the roar go right over my head a stopped dead in my tracks. I knew the sound right away. There were maybe 8 P-51's taking of two at a time side by side, then rolling out into an orbit waiting for the others to take off.
They flew in formation out to the scene of the crash as a memorial flight. It really was a moment that brought a tear. Wish I could fly...