Re: [AMC-List] Door Hinges.... (Safety Beams -- and bumpers)

[farna@xxxxxxx]

John Mahoney posted the NHTSA link yesterday. To quote from the link: "In 1970, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued Federal motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214, which incorporated the static test and required all passenger cars to achieve certain minimum scores on the test, effective January 1, 1973." That would mean half the 1973 models -- early ones built in the last third of 72 technically didn't have to have them. Manufacturers had fore warning of upcoming regulations and most started early, but not always (such as the VIN on the dash -- early 68 models have it under the hood, and some have it in both places). 

The bumper regulation has changed, but I did find this quote from a report on the effectiveness of the new regualtion: "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 215, "Exterior Protection," was initially effective on September 1, 1972, and imposed requirements which prohibited damage to specified safety-related components such as headlamps and fuel systems in a series of perpendicular barrier impacts, at 5 mph for front and 2.5 mph for rear bumper systems." I don't think it was by chance that the effective date was September 1. That would be when the new 73 models were introduced. Only a handful of cars would have been made in August, and the bumper design impacts the look of the car, so all 73 models would have the same. 

As I stated in an earlier post, AMC got a waiver for the Javelin due to it being the last year of production for that body. To bad they didn't doll/sport up the Hornet hatchback and make it the new Javelin. It was just swoopy enough to have worked, and been perfectly in sync with the downsized Mustang II. A unique grille and maybe some trim would have been enough to differentiate it from the Hornet line. Everyone would know it was built on the same body, but it would have had a few distinct touches setting it off from the standard Hornets. 

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

-- original message ----------------------------

Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 06:54:03 -0400
From: AMC74Hornet@xxxxxxxxx (Mr. AMC)
Subject: Re: [AMC-List] Door Hinges.... (Safety Beams)

Frank thanks for almost clearing up the Javelin bumper question for me
but wasent 73 the year all cars had to have a front 5 mph bumper? I know
on 73 Hornet's the rear 5 mph bumper was an option and mandatory in 74.
I know the Hornet info from looking into buying a 73 but I ended up
buying a 74 instead.
"Doc"
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