I love real metal pumpers.

Even if they are alum.

Was in a wreck on the way home. Got rear ended on 495. Sandwiched between plastic bumper cars and they were destroyed. I have a slightly stoved in grill that pulled back out and a plastic rear panel shattered. No fluids leaking.. Thats the good news. The bad is something in the drive train is broken and the car wont start. Cant get the hood open but haven't really tried. Headed to the hospital after I get off the phone with my insurance. I feel like poop now that the adrenalin is worn off. I just set the timing and carb today too. That thing was running so good.

Sorry to hear it dude. I totally understand.

that sucks hope you feel better.

i love real bumpers too. i pulled out blind(tree blocking view and guy waving me out, laughed after i got hit) and impaled an 02 impala with my 78 caddy. i had a scratched bumper guard and grill. the impala was rendered useless with bend frame, wheel pushed back into fender, quit running, and puking fluid.

Glad you are ok, hope you feel better.

I prefer the newer stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwupWFy_NP4

ThePhranc wrote: the car wont start.

Does it have an impact safety switch?

ProDarwin wrote: Glad you are ok, hope you feel better. I prefer the newer stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwupWFy_NP4

Tell me that you don't think that was rigged?

I don't believe it was rigged.

I've owned several X-frame GM cars, they're not the safest thing ever.

A head-on hit would be a different story but offset and side impact are bad.

Shawn

Appleseed wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: Glad you are ok, hope you feel better. I prefer the newer stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwupWFy_NP4

Tell me that you don't think that was rigged?

of course it was rigged- unless you think a rusty 50 year old car versus a shiny brand new car in a head on collision isn't done as some sort of a stunt to show how totally worthwhile the 1500 pounds of airbags and other mandated safety gear is.. you gotta justify the extra weight that drags down fuel economy and drives up costs on new cars somehow, so it might as well be with a dramatic video..

Remember that every inch of twisted metal on those plastic bumper cars is impact energy that has been absorbed.

Unfortunately, in your barely-dented metal bumper car, you were the component that absorbed all that energy...

Hope you got checked out really well and that everything's OK... :(

Appleseed wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: Glad you are ok, hope you feel better. I prefer the newer stuff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwupWFy_NP4

Tell me that you don't think that was rigged?

Not at all.

novaderrik wrote: show how totally worthwhile the 1500 pounds of airbags and other mandated safety gear is.. you gotta justify the extra weight that drags down fuel economy and drives up costs on new cars somehow, so it might as well be with a dramatic video..

FYI, the Malibu weighs nowhere near 1500lbs more. In fact, its 200lbs lighter.

2009 Malibu 3415lbs
1959 Bel Air 3622lbs

ProDarwin wrote:

novaderrik wrote: show how totally worthwhile the 1500 pounds of airbags and other mandated safety gear is.. you gotta justify the extra weight that drags down fuel economy and drives up costs on new cars somehow, so it might as well be with a dramatic video..

FYI, the Malibu weighs nowhere near 1500lbs more. In fact, its 200lbs lighter. 2009 Malibu 3415lbs 1959 Bel Air 3622lbs

my point was that it would weigh 1500 pounds less (maybe a slight exaggeration..) than it does if it didn't have all that stuff.

peter wrote: Remember that every inch of twisted metal on those plastic bumper cars is impact energy that has been absorbed. Unfortunately, in your barely-dented metal bumper car, you were the component that absorbed all that energy... Hope you got checked out really well and that everything's OK... :(

that is very true. I would rather total a car than total my body.

Hope you check out good, we need to keep you around a bit longer!

ThePhranc, Sorry to hear about the accident. Hope you're feeling better soon. If you need any help, there are several of us insurance claims folks on the board, we're happy to help.

To my knowledge the Impala vs. Malibu test wasn't rigged. I didn't see the '59 in person, so I can't vouch for it, but I don't think it was a rusted away car. Regardless, an older car can't hold a candle to a newer vehicle in terms of occupant safety. Bumpers don't do much in that department, it's more about overall structure, design, crush zones, airbags, etc... I've seen thousands of real life examples of old car vs. new. Trust me. New car = win, old car = lose.

In reply to Klayfish:

Agreed. One reason I could see using a Volvo 1800 as a daily driver is it is one of the few 'classic' cars that was designed with crush zones that are even close to a modern car.

Phranc - hope you feel better. I'm guessing this was in the AMC listed in your profile?

Modern vehicles are much safer. Simply put, the plastic/polystyrene/whatnot bumpers are MUCH better at absorbing energy than steel. Steel is really good at transferring it to everything else in the vehicle.

That stinks. Get back to us with a health report?

peter wrote: Remember that every inch of twisted metal on those plastic bumper cars is impact energy that has been absorbed. Unfortunately, in your barely-dented metal bumper car, you were the component that absorbed all that energy... Hope you got checked out really well and that everything's OK... :(

At higher speeds I'd much rather get hit in my 2010 Sentra but for these lower speed hits I'll take the metal.

Bad case of whiplash but nothings broken. Lots of ice and anti-inflammatories. Go back in a few days for a follow up to see if every is still straight.

Why'd they have to go and wreck a cateye car?

mndsm wrote: Why'd they have to go and wreck a cateye car?

Don't worry it will be rebuilt.

Managed a peek under the car today and my once perfectly symmetrical exhaust looks like a retarded twisted pretzel. The lady who hit me is claiming that she was pushed into me by some other car. Luckily the claims adjuster made it sound like he wasn't buying her story.

One of the design features in my '82 Corolla wagon is that over the course of 25 years (nominal) the bumper became composed primarily of rust.

So...I ground the mounting brakets off, got some 2"x3" rectangular tubing, a hitch receiver, conned a friend into doing some welding and painting for me and came up with this:

A better view of how it looked on the car:

Underneat shot:

Granted, I'm not arguing it's any safer than the original. But if I needed to be push started or plug in a hitch, bike rack, etc...this thing was ready!

Now the car is being prepped for back 40 racing...the bumper will surely get some use during that activity.

Clem

I believe it. Ill take a seat in the 09 over the 59 every time. I have seen a dramatic change in crash related injuries even since the 80's. It used to be that even in town crashes usually resulted in some sort of broken bones or cuts, nowadays people walk away from just about anything other than the really bad highway speed stuff. Maybe someone who has been an EMT for 30 years or so can lend their expertise on the topic.

Plus all this stuff has trickled down from F1 meanwhile your steel bumpers have trickled down from NASCAR. I know which one I want my car to be based on!

In reply to SupraWes:

I would rather wreck a Nascar than an F1car.

I know that's not what you meant by that but I believe Nascar would be the safer car. (Senna)

I don't totally buy that crash test, but only because we have no idea of the real, total history of the 59. We have no idea what kind of hidden rust it had or what kind of previous accidents it's been in. I don't think they did anything intentional.

That said, a GM X-frame car is probably the worst car they could have picked for this (or best, really), as they are actually pretty well known as being kind of floppy. I would have given the test far more credibility if they had used a full-frame car with better crash reputation.