Smashed Nash

[Mr Manhattan]

http://lansing.craigslist.org/cto/5383978967.html

We all like to look at wrecked cars ))   Too bad it was a clean rare two door .

[joefrazer]

Check out the damaged dash and steering wheel. That speaks volumes as to how far occupant safety has come over the years.

[51Deluxe]

One of my biggest concerns when driving a car this old...Just imagine the force it took for the driver's chest to move that steering column- hope they survived and were able to heal up OK. This is the reason I installed retractable shoulder and lap belts in my '51, only took a couple of hours.

[MarkH]

Belts are definately going in mine.

[dpledger]

But note how the whole front end collapsed on itself and not much really got into the occupant compartment. This is due to cars of that era being mostly air under the large hood area. The more efficient vehicles of today have everything stuffed together in front and there is little shock absorption available. Also noticed that the front bumper didn't suffer that much. Bumpers were real in them thar.

[pjkaiser]

I disagree, these new cars are built with "Crush" zones, designed to absorb the energy of the crash and protect the Passenger compartment albeit up to certain speeds where after that,  nothing will help.

Watch this video from the Insurance Institute about a head on crash of a 2009 Malibu and a 1959 Chevy Impalla.  Be sure to watch the conclusion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ5PcWziXT0

[51Deluxe]

That '59 Impala video is amazing, would hate to be the dummy riding in it. Todays cars do have crumple zones which is why the new Impala did so well. What's incredible is that the Nash crumpled more like today's cars would despite not being intentionally designed that way. A belted in driver (3 point) would have done quite well in that wreck despite no airbags.

[pjkaiser]

Yes, but did you notice the steering wheel collapse and the someone/something hit the passenger side windshield!!!

Whatever it hit, went and stayed above the bumpers, that's why it crumpled!!