Re: [DML] The COMPLETE DeLorean crash test videos, report and more.

["content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Interesting how badly bent (front to rear) the frame is: http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/309982_355641691147754_100001057778755_1058796_1365525402_n.jpg

Since the gas tank sits behind the front axle, and since the passenger compartment was reported largely intact, the gas tank must have been compromised similarly to a rear end collision of a rear tank vehicle of the same era.

Note also the difference in driver head injury between Tests 1 and 2. Test 2 was 5 MPH faster, yet driver head injury was 10% *LOWER* (passenger head injury nearly doubled). Remember that the driver door popped open during Test 2. Doors may reinforce car body integrity, but they appear to do so at head injury risk. Driver chest and leg injuries increased between Test 1 and Test 2, so reduced head injury does not appear to be an instrumentation anomaly. Interesting that even though the door popped open, the dummy was not ejected from the vehicle.

Bill Robertson
#5939

--- In dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "James Espey" <james@...> wrote:
>
> Here is the complete PDF on the crash testing shown in the video.
> http://www.delorean.net/crashtest.pdf
> 
>  
> 
> It was *not* a test of the DeLorean, but a test of how car already in
> production *could* have airbags fitted using computer modeling techniques
> rather than design the car with airbags in mind. The DeLorean car was used
> (two, actually - a 35mph test and a 40mph test) because DMC donated four
> early production cars (VIN 515, 517, 531 and 537) to the National Highway
> Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA).
> 
>  
> 
> In the 40mph test, the testers were unable to get one of the driver's side
> door latches to close completely, and this violated the integrity of the
> side impact beam (which goes from latch to latch inside the door) causing it
> to open from the impact. This is noted in the report (page 60 in the PDF),
> and in spite of that, the report further goes on to state:
> 
>  
> 
> After the 40mph test ".the compartment interior dimensions following the
> crash were still quite generous so that most of the original compartment
> volume was maintained."
> 
>  
> 
> ".the DeLorean proved to be a very well designed vehicle in terms of
> allowing a relatively great amount of front end crush without adversely
> compromising the "survival space" in the compartment."
> 
>  
> 
> This doesn't bear out Claude's flippant and inaccurate comment about the
> occupants being "DOA", as he posted earlier.
> 
>  
> 
> This is also NOT a complete video - the original videos, which will be
> posted on the DeLorean Museum Facebook page later today, are each (the 35mph
> and 40mph tests) about 4 minutes long.
> 
>  
> 
> Finally, there were ZERO cars EVER produced with ERM underbodies. Even the
> prototypes were made with fiberglass underbodies as the expense associated
> with the tooling required for ERM would not be justified for prototypes. A
> few NON-STRUCTURAL parts of the production car are made with ERM, but that's
> it.
> 
>  
> 
> Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
> 
>  
> 
> Regards,
> 
>  
> 
> James Espey
> 
>  
> 
> ------------------------------------
> 
> DeLorean Motor Company
> 
> james@...
> 
> 15023 Eddie Drive
> 
> Humble, Texas 77396 USA
> 
> Tel: 800/872-3621 (USA only)
> 
> Tel2: +1-281/441-2537
> 
> Fax: +1-281/441-2813
> 
> http://www.delorean.com
> 
> http://www.facebook.com/deloreanmotorcompany
> 
> ------------------------------------ 
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>




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