Not built like they used to.....i think not

[Padrino90]

Hi all,

for those that still want to believe that a car made back in the day are stronger than today's so called "plastics"...think again..

From autoblog

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/17/v...-modern-malib/

[Bucknaked]

Nice find. I saw a doco once where they crash tested several old cars. Scary stuff. Vehicle safety research and development have come along way.

[Falcon Coupe]

Easy to see why the Malibu scored a 5 star crash rating.

[Padrino90]

Yeah its really interesting, although old school cars were built from all steel, it was was only steel, not like today where there isn't a piece of pure metal in the car its all high strength alloys..... gotta agree with the look of old cars though.....gorgeous

[XR Martin]

Id like to see a FG vs XY crash test.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Id like to see a FG vs XY crash test.

But which one would you want to be driving at the time of the crash?

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Id like to see a FG vs XY crash test.

I wouldn't, it would be a waste of an XY.

[GT69]

Originally Posted by flappist

But which one would you want to be driving at the time of the crash?

If i was definately going to be in a crash, and I had the choice, FG please.

[PALE ALE]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Id like to see a FG vs XY crash test.

The FG is going to crunch the XY, it is a way heavier car than the XY. It would be interesting to know the weight difference between the Malibu and the '59

[MO]

Interesting,while I'm not doubting the findings.
I am wondering how much rust/metal fatigue was in the '59 also no airbags.

[torbirdie]

Originally Posted by PALE ALE

The FG is going to crunch the XY, it is a way heavier car than the XY. It would be interesting to know the weight difference between the Malibu and the '59

According to the manufactures specs about 80kgs out of ~1600kgs, which is basically supported by the vid with neither car getting displaced further than the other about the point of collision.
It is skewed a little bit towards the malibu moving through the belair due to the collision being off centre and the malibu moving intially through empty space in the 6cyl engine bay of the belair, whereas the malibu would be stuffed full of mechanicals right across.

[Bud Bud]

Wow very graphic! 2 things that really stick out for me that defines what era these cars come from-

1) For the Bel Air and from an era of excess, it just shows that style came well before function. Check out the reverse A pillar design. While it defines the style at the time, it also appears to be the weakest link in the crumple zone as well. Because of its shape, it was allowed to collapse which allowed the front door to pop from its frame which reduced the over all strength of the cell, leaving the occupants space to next to nothing. All this happens around the poor soul’s head. No wonder the driver would have been killed instantly.

2) For the Malibu check out how quickly the air bag deploys. I know we have seen this in slow mo before but when you match it to an old school car crumbling at the same time, you really begin to appreciate the real advancement made in the area.

[Buzz Box]

This clip even made the news.

Scary stuff when you look at the windscreen isnt even broken or removed in the Malibu.

[Fairlane]

Scarey stuff.

I know for sure that i was in an accident id much rather be in my BA than my HX for sure.

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by Buzz Box

Scary stuff when you look at the windscreen isnt even broken or removed in the Malibu.

You right, check it from the top view, there is so much laminate on the glass that it appears to warp and bend like perspex!

[cant]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Id like to see a FG vs XY crash test.

As above, waste of an XY !!


On the other hand though, an FG up against a VY (dunnydore)
:

I know id be in the FG :

[Antwon]

Am I the only one that thinks the old American cars like that are hideous?

One of the comments said that the new car is a FWD, so the engine would be east-west, so in that case the engine would have taken alot of the impact. So does that mean the FG would act more like the Impala or Bel Air or whatever?

[Ryan]

Now run a 59 Bel Air into a Smart Car.

[rag top]

I like this one:
Corolla Vs Hummer

[Bad Bird]

Is it just me, or does rust spray out of the Bel Air's rockers?

[irish2]

The poor guy in the '59 had no seat belt either. This test was predictable before it started. Would be interesting to see the malibu versus a model T

[Bad Bird]

Those weak X-framed Bel Airs were a deathtrap back in their day anyway. Not the best example of a car to use for such a test. I'd like to see it re-done against a Chrysler Imperial.

The result on the passengers would probably be the same, but it wouldn't be nearly as dramatic.

[SSD-85]

Interesting, lets see the malibu against a uniframe Ford. Seriously, id like to know what happens

[Elks]

There is a VK commodore crash test on U-tube.

You wouldn't want to crash one of them.

[Bad Bird]

That video was about the dangers of poorly-done cut and shuts. The speed was also much higher than a regular crash test.

I've been in a fairly high speed (80-90 kph) accident in a VK Commodore, and whilst not pretty the car was still driveable and I'm still alive.

[Mr Hardware]

I love the 'they don't make em like they used to'. I laugh at this fallacy so hard, as with the '4wds are safer'. ahahha.

This is the VB/VC you're referring to: NOTE IT IS AT 100kmh rather than the usual speed which i don't know what is but is much much much slower.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgjtSilW8yM
And my other car: AU Falcon. I <3 structural integrity and airbags.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjJHZaBDlYU

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Now run a 59 Bel Air into a Smart Car.

What about the Smart vs an Original Mini?

[XplosiveR6]

Originally Posted by Bad Bird

That video was about the dangers of poorly-done cut and shuts. The speed was also much higher than a regular crash test.

I've been in a fairly high speed (80-90 kph) accident in a VK Commodore, and whilst not pretty the car was still driveable and I'm still alive.

You hit something at 80-90km/h and the car still drove?? Haha I don’t think so. People have died in crashes doing much less then that.

Regardless of the speed of the test, the occupant in the new car would have survived, the old car certainly wouldn’t have.

[MITCHAY]

There was a test a while back with a F series truck VS a Mini. Mini won. It reminds me when my brother was saying how tough his Commodore was VC-VH era I think and how I would die in my WRX.

Then I showed him a vid of his beloved crashing into a wall like a Coke can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgjtSilW8yM

My WRX might be plastic but at least I will most likely survive. Got to love crumple zones :

[LeadFoot81]

That WHOLE VB/C Commodore is a crumple zone! Ouch!