Progress (Auto)

[ian]

and it was still drivable -- very minor damage in my book, even if it did cost $8k to repair

[Poppa]

Like others here I'm quite amazed by that video. The '59 is my dream chevy - I'd love the El Camino. I had also assumed that the older cars would be rock solid and would fare much better than a newer car in such a collision. But clearly that is not the case. A huge eye-opener for me. If I do get an older vehicle (which is the plan in the next few years) I will be looking at what safety measures I can add to it. But with the engine becoming the "weapon" in a crash like this there may not be too much that can be done...

[BobL]

and it was still drivable -- very minor damage in my book, even if it did cost $8k to repair

Yeah I was shocked when I heard the cost of the repairs but apparently that is not unusual these days.

[artme]

I love the look of those 50s and 60s cars but would never own one now.

When someone once said, in the presence of my father "they don't build them like they used to'', His reply was was "No! Thank God.''

[ian]

Like others here I'm quite amazed by that video. The '59 is my dream chevy - I'd love the El Camino. I had also assumed that the older cars would be rock solid and would fare much better than a newer car in such a collision. But clearly that is not the case. A huge eye-opener for me. If I do get an older vehicle (which is the plan in the next few years) I will be looking at what safety measures I can add to it. But with the engine becoming the "weapon" in a crash like this there may not be too much that can be done...

Really there's nothing you can do to improve the crumple zones for improved crash protection.

You could fit a roll cage to improve the passenger compartment rigidity -- but ...


perhaps the best options would be
new seats incorporating head rests -- reduces whiplash injury risk
lap/sash seat belts -- properly anchored within the vehicle
only drive the vehicle short distances at moderate speed -- reducing your exposure

[pmcgee]

I'd be interested in seeing the small car vs my 1975 landcruiser with steel bullbar ... genuinely, not dismissively ...

Paul

[Optimark]

I'd be interested in seeing the small car vs my 1975 landcruiser with steel bullbar ... genuinely, not dismissively ...

Paul

You may be surprised at just how good some automobiles are. I used to share a house with a crash repairer many moons ago, yep there was a general impression of disaster when a small unit came in looking like a total wreck.

However, I was at a Melbourne Automobile show about 11 or so years ago and actually saw this automobile. Daimler Chrysler (as they were called then) had one of their customers walk away from this head on (half full frontal from memory) crash. The left side of the vehicle was completely untouched and it was displayed in a way that you saw only the untouched side when you approached their stand. However there was a raised mirror that was placed in an unmissable position, once you saw that mirror image of the drivers side, you couldn't believe it was the same vehicle. One then walked around to the other side, and naturally stopped at the front as well.

That was the vehicle that left the most impression on the majority of show attendees, many people whom I met at the show mostly mentioned, "have you seen the crashed little Mercedes?"

The blurb that went with the vehicle at the show mentioned the closing speed of the crash was 180 km/h and it was thrown into the air, then rolled a couple of times. The mother and her two sons walked away.

Scroll down and see the picture and read the contents.

MB Spares, Australia's leading Independent Mercedes-Benz spare parts supplier.

Mick.

[Bobpol2]

The vehicles, a Ford F-250 towing a large off road caravan.
F Truck all up around 4 tonne, the van 3,500 kg
F Truck fitted with a heavy all steel bull bar,
Bull bar mostly 50mm heavy wall steel tube, really heavy strong stuff, never lose an argument with that up front I thought.


Location, about 70 K North of Tamworth NSW
Speed about 90 K
= a lot of moving mass.


11am, a roo jumps out of the scrub right in front of the left guard.
Result, bull bar bent back into LH headlamp and guard.
Left guard a write off.
Left front door a write off
Rear LH tub panel a write off
That's because roo banged along and under left side of vehicle.
Roo still kicking on side of road so despatched with axe.


Weight and steel does not always win.


Now the funny part.
I was in the office of a van park explaining to the park owner what had caused the damage. (He asked)
A Toorak lady driving a Volvo was booking into a cabin and overheard the conversation.
Oh! says she, how absolutely terrible, the Government has to do something, I will write to my local member.
What will the Government do about the damage to my truck, I ask.


It's not about your truck, she says.
The Government has to fence all these country roads to look after our wildlife.
All true.


Regards
Bob