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Head on a swivel and drive it like you stole it... life's too forkin short...
Anyone had an accident in 71-74 Dodge Charger?
- Thread starter Jsmooth
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66 Sat
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If your that worried sell the car and buy something new.
I've had 2 low speed (under 5 mph) collisions in 2 different cars from that era. 66 Satellite front corner into steel stud/drywall, and rear ended in my 71 Ford Falcon.
I felt both right through my body. I've been in a few in new cars and never felt a thing. Perhaps with speed the impact in the old car will feel less but I doubt it. Does it stop me driving my 66? Not at all, in fact I choose to go out in the old car over my new car whenever possible. Life is fragile regardless. Just drive fast in a straight line and brake well before the bends
I've had 2 low speed (under 5 mph) collisions in 2 different cars from that era. 66 Satellite front corner into steel stud/drywall, and rear ended in my 71 Ford Falcon.
I felt both right through my body. I've been in a few in new cars and never felt a thing. Perhaps with speed the impact in the old car will feel less but I doubt it. Does it stop me driving my 66? Not at all, in fact I choose to go out in the old car over my new car whenever possible. Life is fragile regardless. Just drive fast in a straight line and brake well before the bends
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I know one thing......
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at a Tercel and think "is the circus in town?
How many clowns are gonna climb out of that death trap of a sardine can?"
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at a Tercel and think "is the circus in town?
How many clowns are gonna climb out of that death trap of a sardine can?"
I am curious as to 'why' you have this car? You seem to be frightened by it or something?
I really think that you are worrying to much. You will always have 'the other guy' to watch out for no matter what you are in.
I would encourage you to try to simply enjoy driving it whenever you can.
Older car vs newer car with crumple zone:
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chargervert
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Our cars have zero side impact protection. My friend got T boned at 70 miles an hour by a Chevy Suburban,in his 73 Road Runner and the passengers door was against the drivers seat! You could stand where the passenger's seat used to be! If he had a passenger in the car,they would have fit in a 5 gallon bucket, after being cleaned up with a shovel! Fortunately he was alone in the car!
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Well that should make him feel better! LMAO.. Almost got T boned in the wife's '17 Challenger yesterday, my side, and I'd probably be dead if I'd braked vs hammering every pony it had to clear the guy. Not sure how he even missed our back bumper. He ran a Red at 65 mph...
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I wouldn't say "No side impact" protection. In 1972-73, many American cars had Federally mandated improvements integrated to existing platforms. I remember as a Camaro guy, the trick was to put 70-71 doors on the '73 and later models to save weight. There were sheet metal bars placed horizontally inside the doors to resist impacts. The Mopars had them too. Look at the inside of a 68-70 door and there is just the outer and inner door skin. The later models had the bars in them. They are crude compared to today's cars but they did have something.
chargervert
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That little stamped sheetmetal inside the door did nothing on my friends 73 Road Runner! He posted the picture on a previous thread about this. They have no side impact protection,and the earlier ones are worse. Go on Dodge Charger.com and see the thread on member Elanmars 69 Charger side impact crash,and you will not believe the carnage! The only Mopar I have that has good side impact protection is my Daytona stock car,that has a modern Nascar chassis and a full roll cage!
70chall440
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70chall440
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I like many here grew up driving these cars daily and I would agree that if you wanted to compare the safety stats new cars are far superior however the chances that you are going to drive this daily and drive it without thought are remote at best. Most of us when we drive our classic cars we are hyper vigilant watching for gawkers' who are looking at our car and not paying attention to the road or their surroundings as well as continually monitoring the car. This is especially true when I drive my 01 Viper which does have air bags but people drive like idiots normally and even worse when there is something cool to look at.
bottom-line is drive the car and enjoy it but be aware of your surroundings at all times (as you should anyway). I once worked at a salvage yard (back in the early 80's) and I was amazed at some of the wrecks we got in which people walked away from (vast majority).
bottom-line is drive the car and enjoy it but be aware of your surroundings at all times (as you should anyway). I once worked at a salvage yard (back in the early 80's) and I was amazed at some of the wrecks we got in which people walked away from (vast majority).
CBODY67
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Looking at the later NHTSA offset-frontal crash videos, the car becomes a deformed "brick" that wildly rebounds from the impact. Crumple zones? Think "front wheel intrusion" into the driver's area. Especially on full-size pickup trucks.
The side impact bars are more of a deflector than a real safety barrier, by observation.
Some of the worst side impact issues can be with the '77+ GM full size cars (Caprices to Electras). NO side structure, even with the impact bars. I saw two of those cars in t-bone wrecks and it was not pretty, but usually fixable. Front or rear impacts, they took those much berter, by observation.
A Chrysler UniBody is supposed to take about 150% more force to permanently deform than a body/frame car. Which should make them better, provided the rust mites have not been active.
I knew there was a reason I liked the '73-'74 Chargers more than the '71-'72s. Thanks for pointing that out.
When possible, "active safety" (steering and throttle rather than brakes) by a motivated and capable driver can work best for all.
CBODY67
The side impact bars are more of a deflector than a real safety barrier, by observation.
Some of the worst side impact issues can be with the '77+ GM full size cars (Caprices to Electras). NO side structure, even with the impact bars. I saw two of those cars in t-bone wrecks and it was not pretty, but usually fixable. Front or rear impacts, they took those much berter, by observation.
A Chrysler UniBody is supposed to take about 150% more force to permanently deform than a body/frame car. Which should make them better, provided the rust mites have not been active.
I knew there was a reason I liked the '73-'74 Chargers more than the '71-'72s. Thanks for pointing that out.
When possible, "active safety" (steering and throttle rather than brakes) by a motivated and capable driver can work best for all.
CBODY67
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