Re: [DML] Re: JZD Was Brilliant!

[chris.almy@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Bill, 
If I recall correctly, you said those Grand Am passengers were just fine after the accident. So the car did it's job and protected them over itself. That's what modern cars do. Most people would agree they would rather have a higher repair bill then weeks of physical therapy and/or possible chronic pain. It's been said time and time again (not that you are interested in learning this) but you CAN'T JUDGE A VEHICLE'S SAFETY BY THE POST CRASH REPAIR BILL!!! 

As for another car crash, here's one against a post-Nader Volvo Wagon (the ultimate in 80's safety) versus a smaller Renault: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBDyeWofcLY 

Finally, something to consider. In 1975-80, there were about 33 deaths per billion miles traveled. Today there are 11-12 deaths per billion miles traveled. It's almost as if what everyone else is saying is true in that auto companies continue to improve the safety of the cars and that older cars simply aren't as safe by today's standards. And before you try to claim the reduction was from seat belt use, by 1990 the deaths were still at 20 per billion miles. So we've had a continual reduction even after the seat belt laws. 

Chri s 
VIN 4099 

----- Original Message -----
From: "content22207" <brobertson@xxxxxxxxxxxx> 
To: dmcnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2012 2:35:13 PM 
Subject: [DML] Re: JZD Was Brilliant! 






See Message #83812. 

1959 Bel Air is pre-Nader. A fairer comparison would have been an offset frontal impact with a 1979 Impala or Caprice. 

I have personally totaled a late model Grand Am with a 1978 Lincoln. It was an offset collision from my end -- my car skewed diagonally into the Grand Am, which was stopping true. I did not really hear the impact, and I certainly did not feel it -- I saw it more than anything. Got out of the car (my doors still worked), looked at my car, and thought "Oh, this isn't so bad." Then I looked at the Grand Am.... 

The Grand Am's front doors still worked, but the back doors were jambed shut because the whole back end of the car buckled -- what would have happened if someone had been in the back seat? 

For the morbidly curious, this is what a 1978 Lincoln looks like: http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/428089_353403838038206_100001057778755_1052103_510879872_n.jpg 
The fenders are perfectly shaped for knifing into Grand Am trunks.... 

As stated, I did $150 damage to my Lincoln, including a couple cans of black spray paint for the replacement fender (the knife edge around the parking light was too badly damaged to save). That car is still tooling around Laurinburg to this day under new ownership. 

FWIW: Curb weight of a 1959 Bel Air is 3,622 lbs (about 200 lbs lighter than the 3,415 lbs curb weight of the 2009 Malibu used in the video). Curb weight of a 1978 Lincoln Mark V is 4,775 lbs. Like all post-Nader vehicles, Lincoln Mark V fenders are designed for crumple protection, not just decoration. 

Bill Robertson 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address:
moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx

For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com

To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnewsYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    dmcnews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    dmcnews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/