Re: [AMC-list] Safety Weinie

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Bruce, that car is safer than you think. It won't collapse as much as the latest models, but the steel dash isn't right in your face either. With good shoulder belts installed you should be just about as safe in that car as any modern small pickup with a full frame. Modern sedans are a good bit safer, but the trucks aren't. the padded dash would only help a wee bit if you don't have belts on or the dash is pushed right up to you. Otherwise you never get close to the dash. 

Case in point: see the pic of my old 63 Classic at http://www.hotrodders.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/5137/cat/500/page/1. That was a side impact on the driver's side. Cartwheeled the axle under the car (lifted back of car at least 5' in the air), spun it 180°, then slammed down on the gas tank, bursting it like an egg and spreading 10-12 gallons of gasoline over the road. I unbuckled my shoulder belt and got out of the car uninjured. Don't need impact rails in the doors! A two door with longer doors may have got the door pushed in more, or a corner impact on a door may have intruded a bit more, but I don't think so. This was hit by about a 2000 Nissan Exterra SUV with high bumpers running about 45 mph. The car is obviously demolished, but all I had was a bruised left shoulder where the B pillar was pushed in about 4" to the edge of the seat. 

A full front or head on collision would have been a bit worse, but I've got a collapsible column in mine. I did it to get the tilt column, not the collapsible feature. It had a rag joint then, the rack and pinion doesn't, but has a universal joint that would surely explode under any kind of hard front impact. 

Again, compare the old unit bodies to a full frame SUV/pickup and they are actually a bit better in a front impact... IMHO. A full frame doesn't give much, though the modern ones are designed to crush some. They can only crush in front of the front wheels without compromising strength though. Believe me, I've seen old Ramblers that have been in head-on collisions -- they crush pretty good in front of the front suspension before any damage occurs between the front wheels and firewall. 

Except for the padded dash I don't think a Concord would be much safer than the American. In the Concord you're much closer to the dash and have less footwell room too. The footwell room is important -- that's space that has to be crushed or for a body to slide down into in certain conditions. I say you're way over thinking this!! 

---------------
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:13:29 -0500
From: Bruce Griffis <bruce.griffis@xxxxxxxxx>

Thanks guys. This is all good information. And thanks for explaining
about the rag joint steering columns. I wasn't sure how they worked. I
am going through things I can do, and the biggest hitters are good
belts, collapsible steering column and good brakes. Well, driver
paying attention and driving for the conditions would trump all of
those. I'll start figuring out what I can do and try to write it as an
article. But those of you on the amcforum may have noticed I posted it
for sale. I like my steel dash and I like the way the '65 looks, and
I'm happy driving it by myself. Just not sure about bringing my
youngest son in it, and the whole goal was to use it for a weekend
getaway car hauling our 500 pound popup camper, some fishing gear and
a used beagle. I'm considering keeping working on the car as a
learning project, but keeping my eyes open for a Hornet or Concord. In
the meantime, I see nothing wrong with driving it on local roads,
staying out of Atlanta traffic and paying attention.

Farna - you already did shoulder laps and good seats in your '63. And
I'm sure more of you guys did that or more. So I think that is where I
should start.

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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