1971 head-on crashes...

1972 head-on crashes...

These are not wagons, but thought I would post this neat video. We all love the wagon versions of the big cars in this video. Its a 1972 video of the BRAND new 1972 Ford Galaxie hitting a brand new 1972 Ford Pinto head-on, then a brand new 1972 Chevy Impala hitting a new Vega head-on, then a new AMC Ambassador hitting a new Gremlin head-on.... then it skips to 1991, showing a new 1991 Buick Park Avenue crashing into a new 1991 Geo Storm...

The damage to the Pinto and Vega is incredible!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bESXIHhTC90

 

I'm thinking for a collector car stay big!

 

It's size and weight In the summer of '72, I was working in a Chevy parts department. Went and picked up a Monte Carlo fender -thing weighed about 50 pounds - took both arms. Then I picked up a Vega fender - about 10 poiunds- only needed your little pinkie.

 

It's really just simply physics. The large mass will win everytime.

 

Won't open for me. I get another window for it but it just stays blank white.

 

Just get rid of everthing in the address line before http than hit enter

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bESXIHhTC90&feature=channel

 

Thanks, TB...that worked!
I have to say one thing about those little cars....the actual driver's area stayed pretty much intact.

 

Thanks, Saf....got it!

 

They ruined a perfectly good gremlin,

"oh the humanity"

 

Intact but a crunched pop can. Pinto, your dead, you could see the dummy kissing the full size on the lips, pritty same close with the Vega...you know and can see if you survived there would'nt be much left of your legs, face....maybe enouph face to slurp soup though a straw

For the small cars you have to admit after looking the Gremlin held up the best. What really blew my mind was the LTD vs Pinto...That Full size Ford body buckled pritty bad, and it only hit a Pinto! Just comenting on the 1971 crashes, I'll take a AMC. Both AMC's looked better intact cab wize than Ford and Chev, full size and small.

 

I noticed that, too. The big LTD's top buckled over the center post. Amazed how well the little Gremlin held up. The passenger compartment stayed pretty intact.

 

OK guys I'm going to swerve!

 

There's a reason the derby dudes prefer impalas I always ask this one I know, and he explained that the mid 70s impalas have thicker boxed frames than the competitors. 1974 has the "warhead" bumber as well,making it the derby holy grail. For the record I would rather save them than wreck them, at least he gives me parts.

 

Yeah, the Pinto and Vega were pretty well done for and the passengers inside would have definitely suffered major injuries in a real crash I am sure.

Yeah, the damage to the LTD was suprising to me... especially since this Ford had the "safety-design" frame which was one of the first ones designed to absorb energy, but there was definitely some collapse of the A-pillar on the passenger side. The driver side A-pillar seemed fine... I had wondered if this was an "off-set" test, but I think it was a head-on test.

I cant tell about the Impala... they didnt show it up as close as they did the LTD, but I dont think there was as much collapse of the A-pillar on the Impala. Was anyone else able to tell?

The AMCs amazed me... a car company that really didnt talk up safety back then like GM and Ford did... yet their cars held up really well. The Ambassador was closer in weight with the Gremlin than the LTD/ Impala was with the Pinto / Vega, so that may have part of the reason why Gremlin held up better, but it may have been a stronger car then Vega/Pinto. The Ambassadors front end seemed to be smashed up more, but again, I didnt see any collapse of the A-pillars like the LTD did. I would have liked to have seen how a 73 Ford would have done... it was a new design, new frame, etc... I imagine it would have performed much better.

Oh and where was the Mopars in this test? :confused:

Then skipping to 1991... that Park Avenue sure did a number on that Storm.