1971 head-on crashes...

and here is a 71 Impala hitting the back of a Pinto! Eeeks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFFTa3JzIOA&NR=1

check out this 79 Impala sedan vs. 79 Dodge van... WOW!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLcULzNgT0c&feature=related


I have a Lincoln like this... seems to be a very well made car... absolutely no deformation of the passenger cage. ( However, I think the main objective of this test was to show how well airbags and seatbelts protect you versus no belt/airbag ).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7iYZPp2zYY&feature=related

 

I wonder how today's cars would measure up, considerably better I would think.

 

I agree with the assessment of the Gremlin / Ambassador match-up. A lot closer weight difference that the other two examples.

 

Oh yeah, definitely. The Ambassador is lighter than the Impala and Galaxie, but the Gremlin was heavier than the Pinto and Vega, which actually credits the Ambassador, considering it was probably only a few hundred pounds heavier car than the Gremlin and held up really well in the A-pillars.

 

Ouch, ouch, ouch.
Cool though, thanks
Too bad ther was no Imperial vs. Plymouth Cricket

 

Here is your answer;

http://www.streetfire.net/video/crash-test-59-bel-air-vs-09-malibu-awsome_708741.htm

 

Wow, pretty impressive. I remember seeing this before and bumming out how they ruined what looked like a cherry '59. Needless to say, I think I'd rather be in the Malibu!
Has anybody else ever wondered why they usually put clothes on those crash dummies? I'm sure they're not anatomically correct and they certainly wouldn't be embarrassed to be found naked in an accident scene. They're dummies, for crying out loud!!

 

Speaking of crash tests, you got to see this one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Fc8hrgTA4&feature=related

 

wow....I'd say that was really bad planning.

 

That was actually a test on the barrier itself. BIG fail there......

 

I'd like to see the inside of the cars, especially the galaxie. I have a 71 Country Sedan, and to see how far the R/F wheel moved back was alarming. There is ALOT of other stuff that had to go somewhere to put the wheel there. with all the holes in the firewall there for the heat and A/C I would think some of it had to come inside. OUCH!

Someone mentioned that these Fords had energy absorbing frames. I don't know what that is, as I've had mine torn down to the frame (still mostly is) and there is nothing special about it at all, solid metal bumper to bumper.

 

Looks as if the Gremline faired the best of all..............

 

Check this one out!!! MAJOR COLLAPSE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJl2aZMN4MU&feature=related

 

First off, sorry the pic is huge... thats the only way I have been able to view it?

I would too... sure didnt show much detail. I could not even tell if there was any collapse of the Impalas "A-pillar" because it has a much thinner a-pillar than the Galaxie. I think a 73 Ford would have been much better... they had a heavier gauge frame and I am sure a stronger passenger cage with the redesign.

It was probably me that was referring to the Ford frames... I got that information from this sales brochure... Ford called it the "safety S-Frame" (see brochure below). It also shows a pic.

I was noticing the frame on my 72 Caprice wagon yesterday and its frame appears to have that slight "S-shape" to it as well.

Would have been interesting to see a 72 Chevy wagon head-on into a 72 Ford wagon? I wonder which would fair better?

Click on the link.... you can see the pic there.
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Ford/1971_Ford/1971_FORD_FULL_SIZE/1971%20FORD%20P18.html

 

Don't worry about a thing, beer. Just don't hit any Pintos! You'll be fine.

David