Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
Peter wrote old 300D where I got hit in the driver's It's been a while since making this observation, but at one time I would walk junk yards looking at cars and I noticed the MB's all seemed to have been involved in accidents that would likely not be fatal. While other cars were obviously fatal, MB's seem to protect occupants much better. This wasn't scientific at all, and I suspect others may have observed the same. There's exceptions to the rule of course, a few years ago a car came over the Jersey Barrier and landed on top of a MB killing those inside - but I guess designing a roof structure for such a bizzare accident wouldn't make sense. Larryt 91 300D OilAnalysis Time? Looking for Weber Parts or Porsche Posters? www.youroil.net -- From: Peter Frederick psf...@earthlink.net Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 10:58 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Subject: Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones The flimsy construction of late 1950's and early 1960 american made cars is terrifying. I think the high speed expensive Italian ones were worse, but the lack of a substantial frame and the single sheet metal body simply smashed flat in accidents. I can still close my eyes and see the film of a 1961 or 1962 Oldsmobile 98 hitting a telephone pole dead center at 60 mph -- the pole pretty much cut the car in half lengthwise. Horrible to watch -- the rear end and drive train come out the back from under the car and the body just keeps crunching up. Finally stops with the telephone pole where the rear seat should be. And that car weighed almost 4000 lbs, too. Surprisingly, the dummy wasn't impaled on the steering column, a very common fatality in those days. There was a fatal accident in town a week or so ago when some idiot running from the police blew a light and T-boned a Cadillac (fairly new, I think) with a Ford Taurus and killed the driver of the Caddy. I don't know if it was on the driver's door or passenger side, I didn't see the pics, but this is similar to the accident I had the my old 300D where I got hit in the driver's door by a work van (Chevy 3500 series fully loaded). I walked away, somewhat battered, but the guy in the Caddy died. There is something wrong here, I think -- he may have not had his seat belt on, and if not probably died from head trauma, but if he was belted in he should have survived anyway. Naturally, the idiot driving 80 miles an hour into an intersection with a very narrow, 45 degree turn just past the crossroad intersection didn't get a scratch. He is going to spend significant time in prison, though. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
pm7...@comcast.net wrote: I'm driving 65 MPH, look in my mirror to change lanes, there's a bike about 500 feet behind me. I pull in front, holy crap, he screams by me going about 120! This is normal in Germany... I was cruising along at 130mph in the fast lane, and nobody ever pulled out in front of me even with that large of a speed differential! The drivers there are AMAZING!!! A random tidbit... most of the drivers there go 60-70, and about 10-15% cruise at high speed. Most of the cars that passed me were BMW's, MB being next in line, and after that it was a pretty good mix. FWIW, a Ford Focus *flew* by me when I was going about 100mph!! John ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
Well according to that bit of crap the insurance companies and the highway mob are solely responsible for advancing automotive safety in the last 50 years. And here is MB and other manufacturers claiming that they developed safety systems, tsk tsk tsk. What did I read in another post, only a couple of months ago Texas decided that seat belts safe lives. If the insurance companies and the highway mob reckon that they have any bearing on car safety they are fn dreaming. Hendrik relng...@aol.com wrote: To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashed a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air into a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The video speaks for itself and makes the need for crumple zones obvious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUkfeature=player_embedded#t=45 RLE ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
Peter Frederick wrote: There was a fatal accident in town a week or so ago when some idiot running from the police blew a light and T-boned a Cadillac (fairly new, I think) with a Ford Taurus and killed the driver of the Caddy. If the pursuit was only going 60 or so, a list member survived getting whacked in the driver door of a W124 by a van at that speed not too long ago. We don't expect good judgment from some idiot fleeing from police, but do we have the right to expect better judgment from the cops themselves? http://www.examiner.com/x-15870-Populist-Examiner~y2009m8d11-Time-for-police-to-end-high-speed-chases ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
Amongst the Experts there is no consensus of correct action here. After working 12 years in local amulance service, I would never have the testicles to question the motives of a police pursuit. That being said, a duty sargent will often call of a pusuit using third person judgement. I wouldn't second guess him either. Unfortunately, when people do bad things, other folks get hurt by Friendly Fire. The State PD in my state will not pursue a motorcycle, they have been blamed in the press for the death of too many hapless bikers who wrecked while being chased. WTF? Where are my rights? I'm driving 65 MPH, look in my mirror to change lanes, there's a bike about 500 feet behind me. I pull in front, holy crap, he screams by me going about 120! If I'd have killed him, I would have blamed myself and my sole would have been troubled for a long time. -- Peter Arnold Windsor, CT - Original Message - From: Mitch Haley m...@voyager.net To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes@okiebenz.com Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 7:19:28 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones Peter Frederick wrote: There was a fatal accident in town a week or so ago when some idiot running from the police blew a light and T-boned a Cadillac (fairly new, I think) with a Ford Taurus and killed the driver of the Caddy. If the pursuit was only going 60 or so, a list member survived getting whacked in the driver door of a W124 by a van at that speed not too long ago. We don't expect good judgment from some idiot fleeing from police, but do we have the right to expect better judgment from the cops themselves? http://www.examiner.com/x-15870-Populist-Examiner~y2009m8d11-Time-for-police-to-end-high-speed-chases ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090928/0a4288f5/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
What a heel. --R pm7...@comcast.net wrote: Amongst the Experts there is no consensus of correct action here. After working 12 years in local amulance service, I would never have the testicles to question the motives of a police pursuit. That being said, a duty sargent will often call of a pusuit using third person judgement. I wouldn't second guess him either. Unfortunately, when people do bad things, other folks get hurt by Friendly Fire. The State PD in my state will not pursue a motorcycle, they have been blamed in the press for the death of too many hapless bikers who wrecked while being chased. WTF? Where are my rights? I'm driving 65 MPH, look in my mirror to change lanes, there's a bike about 500 feet behind me. I pull in front, holy crap, he screams by me going about 120! If I'd have killed him, I would have blamed myself and my sole would have been troubled for a long time. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
When I moved to Texas in 99 the legislature had just passed a law that said the driver could not be drinking and driving. Made it kind of hard to measure distances then on your travels (Thass about a 3 beer trip) Then the next year they banned the passengers from drinking too. Then sometime later I think the seatbelt law was instituted, then a law that said you couldn't have those things surrounding your license plates (which was done to give cops an excuse to pull you over just because) and that got rescinded the next year because the voters actually howled in outrage. Now if they could just get the guest workers and their extended families to learn about drivers' licenses, insurance, the actual process of driving, using seatbelts (It's a cultural thing), and not putting 15 people in a vehicle, that might make things even better. --R Hendrik Fay wrote: Well according to that bit of crap the insurance companies and the highway mob are solely responsible for advancing automotive safety in the last 50 years. And here is MB and other manufacturers claiming that they developed safety systems, tsk tsk tsk. What did I read in another post, only a couple of months ago Texas decided that seat belts safe lives. If the insurance companies and the highway mob reckon that they have any bearing on car safety they are fn dreaming. Hendrik relng...@aol.com wrote: To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashed a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air into a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The video speaks for itself and makes the need for crumple zones obvious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUkfeature=player_embedded#t=45 RLE ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
-- Theres a seat belt law in Texas? I subscribed to Polk County newspaper for a year {Daily News comes out twice a week?}. Seems that every 2 weeks some bloke would assume room temperature after being ejected from his pick-up truck. Peter Arnold Windsor, CT When I moved to Texas in 99 the legislature had just passed a law that said the driver could not be drinking and driving. Made it kind of hard to measure distances then on your travels (Thass about a 3 beer trip) Then the next year they banned the passengers from drinking too. Then sometime later I think the seatbelt law was instituted, -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090928/4143e9e7/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
Rich Thomas wrote: What a heel. The biker who blew by Peter? I had one of those a couple of years ago. Heard him (probably had the 16v's roof open), saw him approach fast from behind, watched him go by with about 80mph speed differential, sounded like he had the throttle pegged, engine was a loud steady drone at high rpm. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
pm7...@comcast.net wrote: Amongst the Experts there is no consensus of correct action here. Who needs experts? Either police chases offer some benefit to society that's worth more than the 300 or so lives lost annually, or they don't. This isn't a pro-cop/anti-cop subject, it's a simple policy choice, with widely available statistical data to inform the choice. If we end these chases, the lives we save (or about 1/5 of them anyway) may be the cops'. a duty sargent will often call of a pusuit using third person judgement. I wouldn't second guess him either. I would, as did the author of the opinion piece I linked. How in the world would he know, listening to the chase on the radio, when it gets out of hand? The only one in a position to know is the chaser, but he's to busy chasing (and fueled by adrenalin) to think about it. Many cops do, of their own volition, break off a chase when the fleeing subject's actions appear to be dangerous. Many others don't, and then when the dash cam tapes are released after a fatality, we look at them with the benefit of hindsight and think this was nuts, no traffic ticket could be worth that. BTW, when making my initial reply, I failed to catch the part about the car doing the T-bone traveling at 80mph. Due to the velocity squared factor, that car at 80mph probably had significantly more kinetic energy than the van that hit the W124 at 60mph. (I'm still impressed by the W124's performance, especially considering that it was designed around 1985) Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
OK read the previous post and think about it a bit. --R Mitch Haley wrote: Rich Thomas wrote: What a heel. The biker who blew by Peter? I had one of those a couple of years ago. Heard him (probably had the 16v's roof open), saw him approach fast from behind, watched him go by with about 80mph speed differential, sounded like he had the throttle pegged, engine was a loud steady drone at high rpm. Mitch. ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
Not sure where your 300 per year morbidity rate come from. I'll assume its true. So what is the cost of all the death, damage and suffering by those who are not apprehended? Is it good if they are trained that if they run, they will not be pursed. Do you spank a child who runs into the street if they don't get hit by a car? I did, right than, right now! 300/year is less that 1 per year, a tragic loss if you or your loved one is lost. It does pale in the light of the bigger number of 43,000 annual motor vehicle deaths as quoted here; http :// www . soyouwanna .com/site/ toptens /accidents/ accidentsfull . html -- Peter T. Arnold P.M. x3 All Mail to: Secretary Hartford Evergreen Lodge #88 A.F. A.M. 34 Country Club Drive Windsor, CT 06095 - Original Message - From: Mitch Haley mlh @voyager.net To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes @ okiebenz .com Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 8:33:18 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [ MBZ ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones pm7...@comcast.net wrote: Amongst the Experts there is no consensus of correct action here. Who needs experts? Either police chases offer some benefit to society that's worth more than the 300 or so lives lost annually, or they don't. This isn't a pro-cop/anti-cop subject, it's a simple policy choice, with widely available statistical data to inform the choice. If we end these chases, the lives we save (or about 1/5 of them anyway) may be the cops' . a duty sargent will often call of a pusuit using third person judgement. I wouldn't second guess him either. I would, as did the author of the opinion piece I linked. How in the world would he know, listening to the chase on the radio, when it gets out of hand? The only one in a position to know is the chaser, but he's to busy chasing (and fueled by adrenalin) to think about it. Many cops do, of their own volition, break off a chase when the fleeing subject's actions appear to be dangerous. Many others don't, and then when the dash cam tapes are released after a fatality, we look at them with the benefit of hindsight and think this was nuts, no traffic ticket could be worth that. BTW, when making my initial reply, I failed to catch the part about the car doing the T-bone traveling at 80mph. Due to the velocity squared factor, that car at 80mph probably had significantly more kinetic energy than the van that hit the W124 at 60mph. (I'm still impressed by the W124's performance, especially considering that it was designed around 1985) Mitch. ___ http :// www . okiebenz .com For new and used parts go to www . okiebenz .com To search list archives http :// www . okiebenz .com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http :// okiebenz .com/mailman/ listinfo / mercedes _ okiebenz .com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090928/d22138b1/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
That was me. He was probably going faster, but not by much (only three blocks from a right angle turn) and it would take two or three empty Taurus sedans to equal a fully loaded work van Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
Let's not forget that morbidity and mortality are not synonymous! Sent from my iPhone On Sep 28, 2009, at 11:58 AM, pm7...@comcast.net wrote: Not sure where your 300 per year morbidity rate come from. I'll assume its true. So what is the cost of all the death, damage and suffering by those who are not apprehended? Is it good if they are trained that if they run, they will not be pursed. Do you spank a child who runs into the street if they don't get hit by a car? I did, right than, right now! 300/year is less that 1 per year, a tragic loss if you or your loved one is lost. It does pale in the light of the bigger number of 43,000 annual motor vehicle deaths as quoted here; http :// www . soyouwanna .com/site/ toptens /accidents/ accidentsfull . html -- Peter T. Arnold P.M. x3 All Mail to: Secretary Hartford Evergreen Lodge #88 A.F. A.M. 34 Country Club Drive Windsor, CT 06095 - Original Message - From: Mitch Haley mlh @voyager.net To: Mercedes Discussion List mercedes @ okiebenz .com Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 8:33:18 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [ MBZ ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones pm7...@comcast.net wrote: Amongst the Experts there is no consensus of correct action here. Who needs experts? Either police chases offer some benefit to society that's worth more than the 300 or so lives lost annually, or they don't. This isn't a pro-cop/anti-cop subject, it's a simple policy choice, with widely available statistical data to inform the choice. If we end these chases, the lives we save (or about 1/5 of them anyway) may be the cops' . a duty sargent will often call of a pusuit using third person judgement. I wouldn't second guess him either. I would, as did the author of the opinion piece I linked. How in the world would he know, listening to the chase on the radio, when it gets out of hand? The only one in a position to know is the chaser, but he's to busy chasing (and fueled by adrenalin) to think about it. Many cops do, of their own volition, break off a chase when the fleeing subject's actions appear to be dangerous. Many others don't, and then when the dash cam tapes are released after a fatality, we look at them with the benefit of hindsight and think this was nuts, no traffic ticket could be worth that. BTW, when making my initial reply, I failed to catch the part about the car doing the T-bone traveling at 80mph. Due to the velocity squared factor, that car at 80mph probably had significantly more kinetic energy than the van that hit the W124 at 60mph. (I'm still impressed by the W124's performance, especially considering that it was designed around 1985) Mitch. ___ http :// www . okiebenz .com For new and used parts go to www . okiebenz .com To search list archives http :// www . okiebenz .com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http :// okiebenz .com/mailman/ listinfo / mercedes _ okiebenz .com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090928/d22138b1/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
--R wrote: OK read the previous post and think about it a bit. It was sole - as in heel. ...just to be obvious... mao ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
Dimitri wrote: Let's not forget that morbidity and mortality are not synonymous! Yes, and let's not forget that either of those is certain for each of us. So, shrug and get on with life. When the big whatever happens, it happens - whether it be a fully loaded work truck doing 80mph, a bullet, or any of the top 10 in the soyouwanna link. We die, and accidents happen. If someone is doing killings for a purpose, I might want to join nra and have some guns around to stop them - but most death is accidental. If we could get over that reality - we might lose some of our health care fiascos these days. Let us old guys die, already - the genX guys already wear the t'tshirts telling us old guys that sentiment, as I understand it. mao ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
Throw the man a fish. --R Mountain Man wrote: --R wrote: OK read the previous post and think about it a bit. It was sole - as in heel. ...just to be obvious... mao ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090928/776bc71a/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
--R wrote: Throw the man a fish. ...gimme an F... ... mao ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
[MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashed a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air into a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The video speaks for itself and makes the need for crumple zones obvious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUkfeature=player_embedded#t=45 RLE -- next part -- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://okiebenz.com/pipermail/mercedes_okiebenz.com/attachments/20090927/8b24f2c2/attachment.html ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
The flimsy construction of late 1950's and early 1960 american made cars is terrifying. I think the high speed expensive Italian ones were worse, but the lack of a substantial frame and the single sheet metal body simply smashed flat in accidents. I can still close my eyes and see the film of a 1961 or 1962 Oldsmobile 98 hitting a telephone pole dead center at 60 mph -- the pole pretty much cut the car in half lengthwise. Horrible to watch -- the rear end and drive train come out the back from under the car and the body just keeps crunching up. Finally stops with the telephone pole where the rear seat should be. And that car weighed almost 4000 lbs, too. Surprisingly, the dummy wasn't impaled on the steering column, a very common fatality in those days. There was a fatal accident in town a week or so ago when some idiot running from the police blew a light and T-boned a Cadillac (fairly new, I think) with a Ford Taurus and killed the driver of the Caddy. I don't know if it was on the driver's door or passenger side, I didn't see the pics, but this is similar to the accident I had the my old 300D where I got hit in the driver's door by a work van (Chevy 3500 series fully loaded). I walked away, somewhat battered, but the guy in the Caddy died. There is something wrong here, I think -- he may have not had his seat belt on, and if not probably died from head trauma, but if he was belted in he should have survived anyway. Naturally, the idiot driving 80 miles an hour into an intersection with a very narrow, 45 degree turn just past the crossroad intersection didn't get a scratch. He is going to spend significant time in prison, though. Peter ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
Re: [MBZ] Bel Air vs Malibu and crumple zones
On Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:36:50 EDT relng...@aol.com wrote: To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashed a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air into a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. The video speaks for itself and makes the need for crumple zones obvious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUkfeature=player_embedded#t=45 That's really amazing! Craig ___ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com