1959 Bel Air vs. 2009 malibu IIHS celebrates 50 years
09-17-2009, 06:44 PM
#1
1959 Bel Air vs. 2009 malibu IIHS celebrates 50 years
Saw this on Jalopnik, it's pretty cool to see how far we've really come in crash safety and engineering. Apparently, both cars are about the same weight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUk
09-17-2009, 07:16 PM
#5
TellinItLikeItIsSince1/06
damn and the 2009 chevy didnt even crack the windshield ( i think).
but how about a 1959 chevy bel air vs. 2009 smart car box...lets see if 50 years did anything for us there in safety besides the 60mpg vs. 9mpg. [yeah my point is if we are that advnced, a car half the weight of a bel air should be ok, but i doubt it.]
but how about a 1959 chevy bel air vs. 2009 smart car box...lets see if 50 years did anything for us there in safety besides the 60mpg vs. 9mpg. [yeah my point is if we are that advnced, a car half the weight of a bel air should be ok, but i doubt it.]
09-17-2009, 08:15 PM
#6
damn and the 2009 chevy didnt even crack the windshield ( i think).
but how about a 1959 chevy bel air vs. 2009 smart car box...lets see if 50 years did anything for us there in safety besides the 60mpg vs. 9mpg. [yeah my point is if we are that advnced, a car half the weight of a bel air should be ok, but i doubt it.]
but how about a 1959 chevy bel air vs. 2009 smart car box...lets see if 50 years did anything for us there in safety besides the 60mpg vs. 9mpg. [yeah my point is if we are that advnced, a car half the weight of a bel air should be ok, but i doubt it.]
09-17-2009, 08:23 PM
#7
Senior Moderator
According to safety engineers at the scene, the driver of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu would likely have suffered slight knee injury.
The driver of the 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air would hve died instantly.
The driver of the 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air would hve died instantly.
We have come far, indeed.
'01white has a point, smash the '59 into a Smart Car.
Last edited by neuronbob; 09-17-2009 at 08:25 PM.
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09-17-2009, 08:36 PM
#8
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My only surprise would be if the liftgate from the Dumb Car could be removed from the drivers seat of the Bel Air.
Perhaps this should happen to a Dumb Car driver before someone gets the idea that while the car is smart for the UK, it is dumb for the US. The driver of this car did not survive and while I doubt anything less than big rig would ensure driver safety, the Dumb Car is too small to share the roads with vehicles 2,3 and 5 times its size @70MPH. I drove the Nissan Versa and it felt unsafe when
the wind kicked up, I would not entrust my life to the Dumb car.
Perhaps this should happen to a Dumb Car driver before someone gets the idea that while the car is smart for the UK, it is dumb for the US. The driver of this car did not survive and while I doubt anything less than big rig would ensure driver safety, the Dumb Car is too small to share the roads with vehicles 2,3 and 5 times its size @70MPH. I drove the Nissan Versa and it felt unsafe when
the wind kicked up, I would not entrust my life to the Dumb car.
09-17-2009, 08:50 PM
#10
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Not hostile, just thinking of the long term result of those cars on our highways.
I don't think it is a stretch of the imagination or a perversion of possibility to
suggest the death rate for drivers of the Dumb Car being higher than that of say, the Chevy Malibu in accidents of a similar nature.
I saw the infamous sales video showing the Dumb Car impacting a wall
and while it was impressive, it doesn't address issues like the vehicles
instability at @70MPH on a windy day or how it might handle a multi-car
pile up where it is being sandwiched.
MPG in exchange for years off my life, not worth the trade.
I don't think it is a stretch of the imagination or a perversion of possibility to
suggest the death rate for drivers of the Dumb Car being higher than that of say, the Chevy Malibu in accidents of a similar nature.
I saw the infamous sales video showing the Dumb Car impacting a wall
and while it was impressive, it doesn't address issues like the vehicles
instability at @70MPH on a windy day or how it might handle a multi-car
pile up where it is being sandwiched.
MPG in exchange for years off my life, not worth the trade.
09-17-2009, 09:46 PM
#12
Evil Mazda Driver
Personally I would not buy a Smart for it's Interstate cruising qualities...that's not what it's for. The car was designed for narrow European streets and in the States it is somewhat out of place. Sure it has a niche market but not something for everybody, that's for sure. Considering its native environment, a semi rolling on top of it at 70 mph is highly unlikely. Smart or Suburban, if a semi rolls over and onto your car, chances are it's not going to be a good day for you.
Please pardon the thread hijack.
Please pardon the thread hijack.
09-17-2009, 10:22 PM
#14
My only surprise would be if the liftgate from the Dumb Car could be removed from the drivers seat of the Bel Air.
Perhaps this should happen to a Dumb Car driver before someone gets the idea that while the car is smart for the UK, it is dumb for the US. The driver of this car did not survive and while I doubt anything less than big rig would ensure driver safety, the Dumb Car is too small to share the roads with vehicles 2,3 and 5 times its size @70MPH. I drove the Nissan Versa and it felt unsafe when
the wind kicked up, I would not entrust my life to the Dumb car.
Perhaps this should happen to a Dumb Car driver before someone gets the idea that while the car is smart for the UK, it is dumb for the US. The driver of this car did not survive and while I doubt anything less than big rig would ensure driver safety, the Dumb Car is too small to share the roads with vehicles 2,3 and 5 times its size @70MPH. I drove the Nissan Versa and it felt unsafe when
the wind kicked up, I would not entrust my life to the Dumb car.
google lorry, it might rock your world.
09-17-2009, 10:37 PM
#15
the Bel-Air dummy = OWNED!
09-17-2009, 11:16 PM
#17
I thought the Smart car was pretty safe due to the Tridion frame (basically shaped like a roll cage), and because of its size and shape. 
Sure it's small and light so inertia is going to send the car bouncing and flying but at least you wont' get crushed, and I don't think it's as bad as people think it is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz-s1sIoLhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJHpUO-S0i8
Sure it's small and light so inertia is going to send the car bouncing and flying but at least you wont' get crushed, and I don't think it's as bad as people think it is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz-s1sIoLhU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJHpUO-S0i8
09-18-2009, 08:07 AM
#19
Punk Rocker
damn and the 2009 chevy didnt even crack the windshield ( i think).
but how about a 1959 chevy bel air vs. 2009 smart car box...lets see if 50 years did anything for us there in safety besides the 60mpg vs. 9mpg. [yeah my point is if we are that advnced, a car half the weight of a bel air should be ok, but i doubt it.]
but how about a 1959 chevy bel air vs. 2009 smart car box...lets see if 50 years did anything for us there in safety besides the 60mpg vs. 9mpg. [yeah my point is if we are that advnced, a car half the weight of a bel air should be ok, but i doubt it.]
09-18-2009, 05:13 PM
#22
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I drove a smart in Manhattan, twice over the summer it was the greatest thing ever. I did not have problems taking it on the Henry hudson prkwy. However I would not take one on the 95. In most places in the US the smart is useless.
That is a cool test tho.
That is a cool test tho.
09-18-2009, 05:31 PM
#23
The smart car is a "city car".... mainly meant for city driving. Easy to maneuver because of the ridiculously short wheelbase and size. At least from what I've heard in Japan there's tons of "kei cars" made by pretty much every Japanese manufacturer, and they're the same size as the smart.
Needless to say I think the smart car would go flying.
Needless to say I think the smart car would go flying.
09-18-2009, 05:31 PM
#24
Someday, an RS6 Avant+
Personally I would not buy a Smart for it's Interstate cruising qualities...that's not what it's for. The car was designed for narrow European streets and in the States it is somewhat out of place. Sure it has a niche market but not something for everybody, that's for sure. Considering its native environment, a semi rolling on top of it at 70 mph is highly unlikely. Smart or Suburban, if a semi rolls over and onto your car, chances are it's not going to be a good day for you.
Please pardon the thread hijack.
Please pardon the thread hijack.
a) On their Cell Phone
b) Yelling at the kids
c) Drinking a Vanilla-mocha-lotte-frappa-fucka-chino (I hate fu-fu drinks)
d) maneuvering her Ford Excursion / Chevy Suburban
The poor SMART car dude would be dead. And I'll take a 1959 Bel Aire. Anyone have one for me?
09-18-2009, 06:11 PM
#25
The sizzle in the Steak
...but the 1959 Bel Air wins in cool points
09-18-2009, 06:40 PM
#26
and the smart car wins in :ghey: points. At least the Miata has hardcore grassroots motorsports popularity.
09-18-2009, 07:40 PM
#28
Punk Rocker
09-18-2009, 08:57 PM
#29
Senior Moderator
Exactly, it's not meant for a place with soccer mom's that are busy:
a) On their Cell Phone
b) Yelling at the kids
c) Drinking a Vanilla-mocha-lotte-frappa-fucka-chino (I hate fu-fu drinks)
d) maneuvering her Ford Excursion / Chevy Suburban
The poor SMART car dude would be dead. And I'll take a 1959 Bel Aire. Anyone have one for me?
a) On their Cell Phone
b) Yelling at the kids
c) Drinking a Vanilla-mocha-lotte-frappa-fucka-chino (I hate fu-fu drinks)
d) maneuvering her Ford Excursion / Chevy Suburban
The poor SMART car dude would be dead. And I'll take a 1959 Bel Aire. Anyone have one for me?
that made me lol
09-18-2009, 11:03 PM
#32
TellinItLikeItIsSince1/06
the only thing i'd buy from this thread is that Vanilla-mocha-lotte-frappa-fucka-chino... that mrmako mentioned
i gotta order one at starbucks and see what they give me. lol nice mrmako.
i gotta order one at starbucks and see what they give me. lol nice mrmako.
09-18-2009, 11:54 PM
#33
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I would take a Smart Car over a '59 Bel Air every day of the goddamn week in a 40mph offset like the one above.
You'd be lucky to even have lap belts in a '59 Bel Air. They do not have collapsible steering columns. Have any of you seen the old Ford video where they put a pig cadaver into an early 60's sedan? The steering column nearly splits that porker in half. In another Ford video of similar vintage, a crash into a barrier dislodges the steering column and shoots it through the rear window.
Yes that old cruiser has a big edge in weight, but I'll take the deceleration and my chances with the Smart car + airbags + modern crash technology every time over smashing my face against the metal dash of an old Chevy.
You'd be lucky to even have lap belts in a '59 Bel Air. They do not have collapsible steering columns. Have any of you seen the old Ford video where they put a pig cadaver into an early 60's sedan? The steering column nearly splits that porker in half. In another Ford video of similar vintage, a crash into a barrier dislodges the steering column and shoots it through the rear window.
Yes that old cruiser has a big edge in weight, but I'll take the deceleration and my chances with the Smart car + airbags + modern crash technology every time over smashing my face against the metal dash of an old Chevy.
Last edited by TheMirror; 09-18-2009 at 11:58 PM.
09-18-2009, 11:58 PM
#34
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The SMART would be likely driven more miles per year and thus have a greater likelihood of being in a crash. Plus I've seen tons of SMART car drivers dart in and out of traffic... try that in a Bel Air.
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