C-Body crash test

[1KoolBee]

Ya I know it’s a C body but very telling!

 

[1KoolBee]

So my Dad had both 1970 and 1973 Imperials. Weighed 200 lbs more than 3 Honda civics in the day. One day we were in the ‘70 on the 405 headed to LAX, and traffic started backing up. Then we heard screeching tires behind us and a ‘69 Ford LTD plowed into the back of the Imp. About 2 seconds later we felt a 2nd impact. Turns out a ‘68 Caddy Coupe d’ Ville rear ended the LTD. So the front of the caddy was pretty bent up but still ran. The back and the front of the LTD were completely mashed in a couple feet and it was dead in the water. The rear bumper of the Imp was slightly misaligned and there were a few deep scratches in the chrome. We drove on to LAX no problem and later my dad collected the $1200 insurance payout. He then had the body shop straighten the bumper mounts and put the bumper back on at a total cost of $18. Scratches were hardly noticeable.


Here’s the ‘70 Imp motor today, with a couple more barrels and 60 more inches:

 

[Don Frelier]

My roomate in College had a 72.
A friend of ours had a 73 Impala which the transmission failed (I predicted it the first time I drove it).
We used to cave in the side of the Impala just for fun.
There were no visible marks on the Chrylser even after we pushed it 3 feet sideways.

Call the wrecker for the little car it's lifetime has ended.

 

[DGE330/NC]

I bet the occupants of the white car still have headaches

 

[Coelacanth]

Modern cars have "crumple zones". With old cars, the "crumple zone" was...the other car.

 

[Matthew J]

Great if you get rear ended by a Civic. Hit something of equal mass or really solid (like a big ole tree) and you'll be wishing the car had some give to it.

 

[turbine68rt]

I remember like it was last week, back in '85 I just got a '72 SSP and for some reason the passenger side of the front bumper stuck out more than the driver's side. I somehow got "distracted" and rear ended a '68 Mustang fastback. His bumper bent into a slight V and the valance between the tail lights was pushed in. When the investigating officer was filling out the report he looked at the front of my car and said "hmm, no damage here". Not only that, the impact pushed my bumper back into perfect alignment.

 

[WileE]

I remember like it was last week, back in '85 I just got a '72 SSP and for some reason the passenger side of the front bumper stuck out more than the driver's side. I somehow got "distracted" and rear ended a '68 Mustang fastback. His bumper bent into a slight V and the valance between the tail lights was pushed in. When the investigating officer was filling out the report he looked at the front of my car and said "hmm, no damage here". Not only that, the impact pushed my bumper back into perfect alignment.

Some people go to great lengths just to do a mild adjustment, eh ?

 

[1KoolBee]

Great if you get rear ended by a Civic. Hit something of equal mass or really solid (like a big ole tree) and you'll be wishing the car had some give to it.

Like a Frod LTD and a ‘68 Caddy? Those bumper mounts gave at least a 1/4 inch!