The Bel-Aire was a rust bucket as shown by the cloud of rusty dust thrown up at the collision. I'd guess if it was a restored vehicle, it wouldn't be a fair "fight", nor would it be allowed in the test. Who in their right mind would allow such a classic be used in such a test if it were not a total/beyond restore/repair...
The Bel-Aire was a rust bucket as shown by the cloud of rusty dust thrown up at the collision. I'd guess if it was a restored vehicle, it wouldn't be a fair "fight", nor would it be allowed in the test. Who in their right mind would allow such a classic be used in such a test if it were not a total/beyond restore/repair...
The Bel-Aire was a rust bucket as shown by the cloud of rusty dust thrown up at the collision. I'd guess if it was a restored vehicle, it wouldn't be a fair "fight", nor would it be allowed in the test. Who in their right mind would allow such a classic be used in such a test if it were not a total/beyond restore/repair...
One old car is a small sacrifice to remind everyone of the progress made over the years. Keep in mind how many cars, classics and non-classics, that Hollywood destroys every day.
Old cars were just a body dropped on a frame without much real thought in regards to safety other than "More steel is better than less." It probably didn't help much in the 60s and 70s when more and more cars went the way of unibodies.
PS-I've got a '66 Chrysler convertible I'd sell them for a few grand if they want to test another make.
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One old car is a small sacrifice to remind everyone of the progress made over the years. Keep in mind how many cars, classics and non-classics, that Hollywood destroys every day.
Old cars were just a body dropped on a frame without much real thought in regards to safety other than "More steel is better than less." It probably didn't help much in the 60s and 70s when more and more cars went the way of unibodies.
PS-I've got a '66 Chrysler convertible I'd sell them for a few grand if they want to test another make.
I'm in complete agreement that technology has greatly increased the safety of the modern vehicle as compared to those in the era of the '59 Bel Aire. No seat belts, crush zones or airbags on the Bel Aire makes for a "bb in a can" approach to occupant safety.
I'm simply suggesting its not a true test when, in my opinion of the video, the Bel Aire was compromised by rust which impacted the integrity of the vehicle tested.
Let's be rational and think about what it would cost to purchase a '59 Bel Aire, restored to off-the-line integrity, then tested as shown. That would make for a better head-to-head test of the era of vehicles. I believe it would yield similar results (related to occupant injuries) with much less severity on one side, more on the other...
I agree Mtbcoach. I meant to quote only your last sentence before.
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Visit the Woodsman here and hereand hereGot a Sandstorm ? Go here !
I'm the Woodsman, the four-wheelin', tree-farmin', custom-furniture-makin' descendant of Olaf "The Woodcutter" Ingjaldsson.
The Bel Aire may have been a rust bucket, but it was in far better shape than most of the others that came off the line way back when (I was just a few years old......), since most have gone to car heaven by now. Hate to see the loss of all that sheet metal and what could have been someone's dream project.
Anyone know what is protruding out of the back center of the Bel Aire's front seat down near the floor? It almost looks like a restraint of some sort, but in looking at the Malibu, they have either camera or control wires running over the center console, and wonder if it would be the same in the Bel Aire?
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