[Slipangle]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

We will have to agree to disagree. The cars weights are so close it isn't funny, I am have been blown away at how much these late model cars weigh. Remember, they are FULL, packed FULL of electronics, plus the MANY layers of HHS and UHHS, MUCH more than an older car. I have had cars cut into pieces replaceing things like rockers and pillars and such for over 30 years and have seen the difference believe me. Other than comparing a fender on a honda Civic to a 65 Chevelle, there is way more metal in a newer car. For that matter the sheetmetal on that Lexus is 18 gauge the same as that Tempast! Just the other day I picked up a 2000ish Lexus fender and it floored me how heavy it was.

No, it is 99% about design and metal used that makes the late model stronger.

Brian

(It was a LeMans, not a Tempest~ I know, same sheetmetal...)

[MARTINSR]

Sorry, I have never gotten the other A bodies straight being I am a Buick guy. What is the difference between the Tempast and the LeMans? I assume the LeMans was the upper end?

Brian

[Slipangle]

Yeah, Tempest was the low end, then LeMans, then GTO. I only know because I did a restoration on one for someone else, otherwise I stick with '55-6 FoMoCo.

[Slipangle]

Originally Posted by DoubleVision

If I remember right, it was 4jawchuck or "chuckie" as I call him who showed a video on here about the safety of older cars compaired to the new cars and the new cars hands down were far more safer. It made for many eye openers.

I can't help but go here... I'm not a GM guy (with respect to car hobbies that is) I'm a Ford guy, and I've seen the 1959 Bel-Air offset collision with the 2009 Impala. But for some reason, I only recently dug into it, and when I did it was the first I had really learned about the X-frame used on late '50's GM vehicles.

Given the presence of the X-frame on the 1959 Bel-Air, the IIHS test certainly doesn't seem to be a fair test in assessing the greater automotive industry of the time. The offset collision seems like it would naturally fold a weak spot in this particular design, but it is not (to the best of my knowledge) a design that was in use across the industry...

I'm curious, Brian or anyone else, do you or have you gotten much in for collisions on earlier model cars - particularly where there's photos you can share?

[MARTINSR]

Back when I was doing these cars all the time I didn't take photos.

But here is one that came in a few years ago. T Boned 54 Chevy (click here).

Brian

[Slipangle]

That reminds me... Thursday of last week, my Pacifica got hit by a Cushman. I kid you not, he checked to make sure traffic was clear both ways, sitting at a T intersection, he had a stop sign. He just didn't bother to check if it was clear in front of him. I was sitting there waiting to turn left onto my street and he accelerated all of 10 feet until he hit an obstruction, my left rear door.

[malc]

Where the 1967 Le Mans rests now.

[MARTINSR]

OMG it's at $1650! I'm sorry but you would have to be crazy to pay that much! There MAY be $1650 in salvagable parts but the work involved to discard what isn't sellable is way too much for this old man.

Brian

[redsdad]

Should buff right out.

[ChevelleSS_LS6]

I think you could get $1650 out of it in parts -especially considering the engine... Assuming it's a Pontiac engine, presumably warmed up a little bit and doesn't have a lot of miles on it?

[speedydeedy]

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

OMG it's at $1650! I'm sorry but you would have to be crazy to pay that much! There MAY be $1650 in salvageable parts but the work involved to discard what isn't sellable is way too much for this old man.

Brian

Where is it for sale ? As someone said earlier,you post with no info,unless I missed it in an earlier post.$1650.00 is not a lot for what I see there.Also no argument that the new cars are safer but because the Lexus was coming over the flower bed it hit the side of the car above the frame causing a lot more damage than if they would have both been at street level.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by speedydeedy

Where is it for sale ? As someone said earlier,you post with no info,unless I missed it in an earlier post.$1650.00 is not a lot for what I see there.Also no argument that the new cars are safer but because the Lexus was coming over the flower bed it hit the side of the car above the frame causing a lot more damage than if they would have both been at street level.

I don't know, if you can't read the post right before mine that I responded to.

Of course, now that this is three months old if you go to the link, there is no info because it is so old.

We don't really need to explain all this every time we post do we?

Brian