1959 Chevy vs 2009 Chevy

Jiro

Jiro

If You Know What I Mean
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[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d309QCuve7c]YouTube - 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air Vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu IIHS Offset (New Footage - Interior Views)[/ame]

In celebration of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's 50th Anniversary, a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air was crashed into a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu.

Visually demonstrating how far automobile safety has come in 50 years
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DAMN! That's 50 years of engineering progress! That does really show how safety in cars have really advanced in 50 years.

However I felt that the test wasnt fair cause the 2009 Malibu is a FWD unibody car with a V6 while the '59 Chevy is a Body-On-Frame with a V-8 and RWD.

The IIHS should have crashed a 1959 Ford Galaxie with either a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor or a 2009 Ford F150 as both represent the traditional body-on-frame construction like the 1959 Ford did.

Even better the IIHS should have crashed a 1959 VW Bug against the 2009 VW New Beetle too.
 
sablescort said:
DAMN! That's 50 years of engineering progress! That does really show how safety in cars have really advanced in 50 years.

However I felt that the test wasnt fair cause the 2009 Malibu is a FWD unibody car with a V6 while the '59 Chevy is a Body-On-Frame with a V-8 and RWD.

The IIHS should have crashed a 1959 Ford Galaxie with either a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor or a 2009 Ford F150 as both represent the traditional body-on-frame construction like the 1959 Ford did.

Even better the IIHS should have crashed a 1959 VW Bug against the 2009 VW New Beetle too.
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good point!!
 
:Ohno: Won't crash 1957 classic Chevrolet Belair.
 
This shows that Uniframe seems to improve alot since the invention of Uniframe during '70s. I remember back then where Pontiac built uniframe body, and it was known easily totalled because of no frame.

Now it seems prove that they found way to improve uniframe to make it stronger.

My Jeep Cherokee is uniframe, wondering how it would stand in crash test.
 
Wow, that's a huge difference in 50 years of engineering! I agree with Sablescort with comparing on 2 cars with similar chassis with old and new to see how it stands out...that would be super interesting to see!
 
sablescort said:
DAMN! That's 50 years of engineering progress! That does really show how safety in cars have really advanced in 50 years.

However I felt that the test wasnt fair cause the 2009 Malibu is a FWD unibody car with a V6 while the '59 Chevy is a Body-On-Frame with a V-8 and RWD.

The IIHS should have crashed a 1959 Ford Galaxie with either a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor or a 2009 Ford F150 as both represent the traditional body-on-frame construction like the 1959 Ford did.

Even better the IIHS should have crashed a 1959 VW Bug against the 2009 VW New Beetle too.
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How be fair? I don't remember USA cars had FWD back to 50's.
 
diehardbiker said:
This shows that Uniframe seems to improve alot since the invention of Uniframe during '70s. I remember back then where Pontiac built uniframe body, and it was known easily totalled because of no frame.

Now it seems prove that they found way to improve uniframe to make it stronger.

My Jeep Cherokee is uniframe, wondering how it would stand in crash test.
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Let me guess, you trade your Wrangle with Cherokee?
 
The Highlander said:
How be fair? I don't remember USA cars had FWD back to 50's.
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What he meant is find a 2009 Chevy with rwd chassis and compare it with that 1959 Chevy Bel Air....I don't think Chevy makes sedans with rwd anymore, only Dodge and Ford. They killed off the Chevy Caprice.
 
sequoias said:
What he meant is find a 2009 Chevy with rwd chassis and compare it with that 1959 Chevy Bel Air....I don't think Chevy makes sedans with rwd anymore, only Dodge and Ford. They killed off the Chevy Caprice.
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FWD is better for fuel efficient than RWD plus weather control.
 
sequoias said:
Yeah, pretty much but don't forget about Chevy Corvette gets 30 mpg on the highway. :)
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Corvette use fiberglass body; it is very expensive. I bet it will total crash.

How come there is no crash test rate for corvette?

Light weight = better fuel efficient.
 
The Highlander said:
Corvette use fiberglass body; it is very expensive. I bet it will total crash.

How come there is no crash test rate for corvette?

Light weight = better fuel efficient.
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Hmm...I don't recall a crash test for a Corvette... Interesting.
 
I watched the video again and I have noticed that the 59 Chevy's dashboard totally bent under the force of the Malibu. The steering column went up the roof and looked like it was going to stab the dummy inside the car.

Saw the 59 Chevy's left door was totally destroyed plus the windshield popped out while the Malibu kept the windshield in place.

If that happened in the real world, the 59 Chevy's driver would be killed instantly while the Malibu's driver would just walk away with nothing more than a bruised knee.
 
Very interesting!....I remmy the old days when some of my wild friends played "chicken"...we had a 1957 Chevy that would fly....never lost a race, and never "chickened out"....but after seeing these crashes.....guess I'm lucky to be alive!
 
sequoias said:
Hmm...I don't recall a crash test for a Corvette... Interesting.
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[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lB3BbnTT2g]YouTube - CHEVROLET CORVETTE CRASH TEST!!! (OFFICIAL)[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yoa8McfOY0]YouTube - Chevrolet Corvette C5 crash test[/ame]
 
The corvette seems to hold up pretty well not going all the way to the cabin.
 
DAMN..if you thought the 1959 Chevy crumpled that worse...take a look at the 1992 Holden Commodore crash test at 100 km/h (62 mph)....whoooa

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgjtSilW8yM]YouTube - holden commodore - worst car crash test[/ame]
 
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