Bored at work so here is a strange question.

As we know, newer cars are designed with crumple zones to protect the driver. I'm a little curious as to how protective these crumple zones when a solid heavy classic car like our mustangs take a head on collision with one. Not that I wish this upon anyone, just curious.

 

the crupmle zones are usually in the engine bay and whatnot, but the cabin in usually very sturdy. i dont know how they would fare against a classic though, probably not as well as they might with a modern car. dunno if that helped at all

 

you think a classic stang is heavy :P they are pretty light.

 

Ha, yeah they are light. But verses some of the newer/smaller cars on the road they seem heavy.

 

A) Freaking awesome car That's one sexy beast.

B) Crumple zones are crumple zones. They're going to help reduce injury in most cases no matter what vehicle hits the car. Yes, old cars are more solid, but how many trucks are on the road? I've seen neons absolutely totaled by a minor impact with a half ton pickup, and the pickup will drive away with only minor damage.

 

Ahh the joy of owning a half ton truck but I must concur awesome car. But one advantage those new cars have over some of us, the ones owning 67 and older mustangs is a collapsible steering column. Instead of collapsing in an accident ours turn into a steel spear posed to impale us in a head on collision.

 

Yeah, I've pretty much come to terms with the fact that I'm done for in a head-on collision.

 

Do not confuse "crumple" zone for flimsy. Old classics are flimsy new cars are designed to fold in a controlled fashion. In order to control the decelleration of an impact much structure must be added (differance in weight of a '65 vs '05 Mustang). Take a good look at the front aprons of your classic. Now don't get me wrong I love mine, but I also know that there is no way that my car will take a offset barrer impact at 35 mph, the front wheel would be in the front seat. Many people think that old cars that have frames are big and strong and that may be true but in a serious wreck you'll be dead because older cars just don't absorb the impact that well. Occupants usually get slammed inside the car (secondary impact) and that's where the serious trauma happens. I love driving my classic but would not want to get into a wreck with it. I'm no expert on the subject but that's my $.02

 

i would personally say they would fair rather well ... i mean they do test them by crashing them into solid objects

 

A guy was selling his '68 Camaro and the price just looked too good to be true. I clicked on the ad and read about how the car just spent a two-year restoration that was completed less than a month ago...AND was in a head-on collision with another car. The front end of the car (fenders forward) was pretty trashed, but the only deformation of the interior was the steering wheel which was tweaked pretty bad. The A-pillars were fine, the windshield was fine. From the doors back, the car looked perfect. I was surprised the interior was not more deformed. Granted, it made me wonder if the metal doesn't crumple to absorb the force, then that force likely gets transferred to the driver/passengers.