And for those that don't believe there was an engine in the '59, Yes, The IIHS-Crashed '59 Chevy Had An Engine - Iihs - Jalopnik



I used to not believe when I read articles that suggested that people were safer in the new vehicle when crashing into an older vehicle, but I was obviously wrong.

An area that I think a lot of people look at is this:

If it's an extremely minor accident, 10mph or something to that degree, the new vehicle often sustains enough damage to consider it totaled by the insurance company while the older vehicle might suffer some scratches and a couple fixable dents. This may be the area in which people who argue for older vehicles actually do have some valid points.

Spend $30,000 on a new vehicle, get into a 10-15mph accident and it's totaled. Spend $800-3,000 on an older vehicle, get into a 10-15mph accident and replace a front bumper.

Serious accidents, the new car will sustain life most of the time.

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I currently have a three year old Renault Laguna estate and one of the primary things that attracted me to it it that it had a 5 star Euro ncap rating. This is something that might not have mattered to me so much before, but now that I have a little one, it makes all the difference in the world.

Mark

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"Every generation that holds the Earth Hostage to nuclear weapons holds a gun to the head of it's children" Jonathan Schell - The Fate of the Earth

Yea older cars have steel bodies while todays cars have composites with steel frames.

So I drive like I was taught in 1963, look into the mirrors offen, be aware of your surroundings trying to kep away form other vehicles, keep thinking so if something happens your open to escape and drive ahead of yourself.

I ask what else can one do?

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A Paratrooper is in his natural element when surrounded by the enemy, unknown paratrooper with 5 combat jumps.

Luckily there are very many 1959 Bel Airs on the road.

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Same morons, different day.

dew neh loh moh

"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you
have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"

If you put an air bag in an old car I think the old car would come out better. Course they are not going to do this since they are trying to prove their cars are safer. I'm still not convinced, although air bags are life savers.

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Sanity. Try it; doesn't sell a lot of soap, but it's a lot safer than the alternative.
-me
The Federalist Papers Online


Old School Dance

If the steering wheel flies towards the driver and the roof crushes their head, an airbag probably won't help the classic car much, but it could certainly help in less severe accidents.

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But why would the roof crush the head in an old car and not a new one? In fact why would not the old car crush the head of the new car driver?

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Sanity. Try it; doesn't sell a lot of soap, but it's a lot safer than the alternative.
-me
The Federalist Papers Online


Old School Dance

When cars were designed backed in the day they were designed to be rigid and inflexible. Today they design cars that can absorb an impact and the emphasis is on the driver compartment to remain in tact.

I think we can thank the racing community because they have designed their cars with safety in mind. When they drove race cars that were rigid more drivers died, but today the cars are designed to actually break apart more quickly. The safety of the driver is most important and the drivers cockpit is built to withstand major impacts, that is why you can have drivers walking away from accidents such as this.

http://www.politicalwrinkles.com/spo...-speedway.html

It did turn my stomach though to see a classic used in such a manner. My God don't they have more respect for the old classics? there are just so many left you know.

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In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.

John Adams

"It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."

--Samuel Adams


VIVE LIBERTE'

Mr. Liberty said it best.

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I guess I am also partial to the classics. My first car was a Buick Wildcat convertible rag top. Factory blue. You could live in it it was so big. Zero to 160 in as many seconds as it took you to press on the accelerator. I got it financed through the bank. The total price (used car)of the loan was 500 dollars plus interest.
If heaven consists of your favorite time, I will be driving down the road in that car on a summer day in Georgia. The top's down and I am admiring the way the sun plays with a big ruby on my finger. A crop duster flies low trying to scare me flirting kind of. I get busy and press the gas peddle. Whoosh I'm in another county.

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Sanity. Try it; doesn't sell a lot of soap, but it's a lot safer than the alternative.
-me
The Federalist Papers Online


Old School Dance