1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu

[Morris Minor]

Back when I was a toddler, if you had a head-on collision, you died.

http://youtu.be/xtxd27jlZ_g

[Cookie Monster]

I still can't believe they crashed a '59 Bel Air.

[omicron]

Dying in a Bel Air is far more desirable than surviving in a Malibu.

[Payman]

Dying in a Bel Air is far more desirable than surviving in a Malibu.

[Laconian]

Great video. I can see why they did it, to counter the luddites that still believe that there's no replacement for acres of steel on the hood.

[cawimmer430]

WHAT THE FUCK!? Why did they do this to a '59 Bel Air!? WHAT THE FUCK!?!?! 

It's bad enough that during the '70s and '80s they destroyed Dodge St. Regis and Diplomats in movies! 

This is a crime!!! Boycott the IIHS!!! 

[Onslaught]

Great video. I can see why they did it, to counter the luddites that still believe that there's no replacement for acres of steel on the hood.

I'm going to send this to one of my friends who thinks old cars are safer no matter what I tell him. He thinks airbags are bad for you and uni-bodied cars are weak.

[2o6]

I still can't believe they crashed a '59 Bel Air.

It's not all that rare. Just because it's old doesn't make it super special.

[Morris Minor]

Did you notice the clouds of rust dust billowing out from the Bel Air? I'm guessing it was seriously weakened by 50 years of corrosion.

I also noticed how the dummy's head and the roof came together. Broken neck = dead right there.

[ifcar]

Did you notice the clouds of rust dust billowing out from the Bel Air? I'm guessing it was seriously weakened by 50 years of corrosion.

I spoke to the IIHS spokesman when this test was run, and he said they made sure the car was structurally sound and the cloud wasn't from any sort of rusted structural elements.

[3.0L V6]

Did you notice the clouds of rust dust billowing out from the Bel Air? I'm guessing it was seriously weakened by 50 years of corrosion.

I also noticed how the dummy's head and the roof came together. Broken neck = dead right there.

To be fair, any 1950s northern US or Canadian vehicle would be just as rusted (if not more) after a year or two of service.

[Madman]

Old news.  This video came out two years ago.

[L. ed foote]

Ho-lee SHIT 

[hotrodalex]

And that's why I don't plan on crashing my El Camino any time soon.

[ChrisV]

More to the point, new Lexus vs GTO:

[ifcar]

I don't know if that says as much about modern advances in frontal-impact safety as about the lack of side-impact protection in older cars; another LeMans probably would have fared as well as that Lexus as a striking vehicle. But it certainly is a clear illustration of why side-impact standards were introduced.

[hotrodalex]

Little Asian lady driving a Lexus hopped a curb and hit a parked car? Wow, that's the perfect stereotype.

[Madman]

Little Asian lady driving a Lexus hopped a curb and hit a parked car? Wow, that's the perfect stereotype.

Stereotype?  What stereotype?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik_wh6D2BRU

[Byteme]

I don't know if that says as much about modern advances in frontal-impact safety as about the lack of side-impact protection in older cars; another LeMans probably would have fared as well as that Lexus as a striking vehicle. But it certainly is a clear illustration of why side-impact standards were introduced.

A 2 door hardtop from the 60's has virtually no side impact strength.  

I wonder if the Lexus driver was texting or yakking on the cell phone?  

[RomanChariot]

A 2 door hardtop from the 60's has virtually no side impact strength. 

I wonder if the Lexus driver was texting or yakking on the cell phone?   

Looks like a case of unintended acceleration. 

The best picture is the one of the lady driving the Lexus nursing her hurt wrist.  After looking at it a couple of times I finally noticed the reflection in the side window.  Something about it made me laugh.

[cawimmer430]

Little Asian lady driving a Lexus hopped a curb and hit a parked car? Wow, that's the perfect stereotype.

I'm not racist.

But...

Man, I wanted to slap that bitch silly. One, for buying a Lexus. Two, for crashing her Lexus into a classic Pontiac GTO, which in turn damaged the car on its left! What a way to ruin History & Heritage! 

The insurance of that woman should go into fixing up the Pontiac and other classic car next to it. The Lexus? Get rid of it and forget about it. 

[Byteme]

I'm not racist.

But...

Man, I wanted to slap that bitch silly. One, for buying a Lexus.

Substitute the word "Mercedes" for "Lexus" and you have my exact feelings on the matter.

[Raza]

Little Asian lady driving a Lexus hopped a curb and hit a parked car? Wow, that's the perfect stereotype.

Headline reads:  "Asian Woman Crashes Japanese Car in Parking Lot, World Unsurprised"

[Mustangfan2003]

Headline reads:  "Asian Woman Crashes Japanese Car in Parking Lot, World Unsurprised"

Sounds like it can come from The Onion

[cawimmer430]

Substitute the word "Mercedes" for "Lexus" and you have my exact feelings on the matter.

Substitute Jaguar E-Type for Pontiac GTO and I'm sure you'd agree with me.  

[Byteme]

Substitute Jaguar E-Type for Pontiac GTO and I'm sure you'd agree with me.  

Not really, it's insured for agreed upon value.   

[shp4man]

I've owned two '59 Chevys in my lifetime. I always liked that year. It's an either love it or hate it style. It's no surprise to me that modern cars are safer than those old sleds.
I hope that stupid bitch in the Lexus doesn't plow into me in the VW....

[RomanChariot]

Hey shp4man, since you like VW bugs and bikes maybe you should try something like this:


I actually saw one like that going down the street the other day.

[the Teuton]

Looks like a case of unintended acceleration. 

The best picture is the one of the lady driving the Lexus nursing her hurt wrist.  After looking at it a couple of times I finally noticed the reflection in the side window.  Something about it made me laugh.

Is that Meatloaf?

[shp4man]

Hey shp4man, since you like VW bugs and bikes maybe you should try something like this:


I actually saw one like that going down the street the other day.

"Big Daddy" Roth built few of them that were cool: