The destruction of a nice 59 chevy

[junkyardjeff]

I was on another website and checked out a link where a national news network (ABC I think) and some insurance study group ran a 59 belair head on into a 09 malibu,if I knew more about computers I would post the link but the destruction of a nice original or restored 59 chevy made my blood boil. If it was a 79 or 89 I could live with it but not a 59 and I thought I would let everyone know about this.

[roadrash]

Could have spared a classic Chev,if those boneheads would have just asked the question . 2009 impala vs 1959 Belair who would win ? I think we all know the answer !

[paperdog]

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/technol...ory?id=8523234

[titus]

aw, its just a 4 door.

[junkyardjeff]

Even thought it might be a 4 door those valuable front end parts are not made anymore,from the one picture its hard to tell if its a 4 door or 2 door sedan.

[Rich Venza]

....ya, but it had a perfect front clip!

[Bigchuck]

"Those old cars just are not safe." I can hear it now. This kinda crap just gives more ammo to lawmakers that want us off the road.

[pwschuh]

I'm a little surprised at the outcome. Thought the 59 would have done a little more damage to the new car and suffered a little less damage itself, just based on throw weight and amount of metal. Hate to see that old Chevy die but it does appear to prove the point about modern crash science pretty conclusively.

Wonder if the car belonged to Chevy or if the person who sold it to them knew it would be used for this? I know the car companies are selling off their heritage collections because they need the money.

[Kustom Linez]

whameeee!!! that hurt!! one more bites the dust.

[retro54]

It wasn't ABC who did the test (not that I'm defending that network)... it was the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety...


The average person today just does not have respect for the past... that video brings a tear to my eye...

[K204DR]

the good news is all 59 chevys just moved up a notch in value, including 4drs!
I could never work where they crashed cars all the time. i'd be trying to take them home!

[LOWCAB]

Watching that video definetly made me pucker up. Did you see the cloud of what looked like rust come out of that car? I too thought it would do better than it did, crash wise.
I had a 48 chev pickup that I was involved in an accident with, hardly anything happened to the truck, but it sure mangled the car.

[pwschuh]

Originally Posted by LOWCAB

Did you see the cloud of what looked like rust come out of that car?

An interesting point. You assume, based on appearances and test standards, that the 59 would have to have been pristine and rust-free to provide valid test results. Unless they weren't trying to show old tech vs. new tech at all, but rather how an average old car that might be on the road (and might have some rust and fatigue) stacks up in a wreck with a new car. Two totally different tests.

[thechopperguy]

I wouldn't put it past them to rig this test by making some modifications to the '59 to prove their point. It's been done before.

[uniquecoaches]

What a waste. They took a perfectly good 09 malibu and destroyed it. They should have used a Prius and then it would be one less suppository shaped vehicle on the road. They should have a Cash for Ugly Cars campaign. Make America Beautiful restore an old car and reduce the footprint caused by building a plastic battery operated pos.

[olcurmdgeon]

My first impression on seeing the clip on the national news was the same as other posters. A prelude to "saving us from ourselves" by getting older "unsafe" cars off the road at some point. Perhaps driven by higher insurance prices if you register your car as an everyday driver, forcing us to go to specialty insurance with mileage limits on operation. Unfortunately we are going that way in this country!
I got an idea, lets crash test the same model 1959 Chevrolet against one of those little Smart Cars they sell today and see what the hell happens!!!

[Kustomkarma]

I know they did it to make a point, but they should have run two modern cars into each other or an enormous SUV into a mid sized car. I'm all for safety, but it all starts with being a good driver. If you're distracted with cell phones, radios, the newspaper, (your math homework - not making that one up), etc. all the safety measures in the world may not be enough to save you - well right now. I seems like drivers are becoming more and more dependent on the vehicle and less on their skill. Just my .02.

[thepolecat]

A tear rolls down my cheek


and who cares if it is a four door- I would have LOVED to have the car!!!

[Ozzie]

I freaked when I saw how the 59 crumbled, could have been a rusty frame or not. the main cell of the malibu didn't look mangled. I'm sure in 50 years our kids will say the exact same thing "No one has respect for the past" If it was a 1909 against the 59, now that would have been interesting... Still SAD, but interesting.

[cosmo]

Did anyone listen to that whole article?? Talks about new safety features that will make it even easier to avoid accidents. That is a good thing, no question. However, what may happen in reality is that the dumb blondes on their cellphones driving their Suburbans in reverse (yes, just happened to me, why do you ask?) will feel even less pressure (if that's possible) to pay attention.

Build idiot-proof machines, and you make better idiots.

Cosmo

Oh, and the '59? Refer to this the next time someone states that their 40-50-60 year old car is safer than a new car because it has a lot of metal.
It's NOT the amount of metal, it's how it is placed that matters.