bummer steel vs safety

[ezz16]

I can't call him a friend but he was a local car guy probably 10 years older than me I'm 58. had all the cool cars and kept most of them. his fav was a 58 impala restored years ago. original black car. he drove it to all the cruisins and just drove it because I assume he loved to. I'm stunned and just want to tell this.. today a sunny day in NC at 2:30 he was killed and his wife airlifted in critical condition. in a head on collision on a rural 2 lane rd about a mile from where he lived.
and this just gets me...he was hit by a speeding Honda civic! driven by a 21 yo woman who was walking around in shock after the crash.

a civic against a 58 impala I guess the old steel is no match for the new safety features.

let me bring this back around to these old trucks. what safety features are you installing or want to. me I'm looking for a set of late model chevy truck seats with the built in shoulder belts

[CG]

Cant beat a new car when it comes to safety. Old steel doesn't stand a chance. Sorry bout your friend. I hope his wife comes out of this OK.

[ezz16]

thanks cg I'm sure you as well as me have pulled parts off of wrecked cars but it seems that people faired much better in crashes when it was steel vs steel. I know a guy that rolled a 67 chevelle he held on to the shifter until it was pulled out of their hands by shucking the trans and walked away.
the funny thing is they used his car in a Christmas parade float saying speed kills

[OrrieG]

I wish the best for the guys wife too. You would think mass would win. Here is a video of a 59 Impala vs a 2009 Malibu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g

I remember when air bags and abs came out. I was skeptical but became a believer when two Dodges with driver air bags got in a head on at freeway speeds and both drivers walked away unscathed. It was time for the wifes new car and we had to look hard to find one with both driver and passenger airbags and ABS brakes.

[mongocanfly]

That's awful..what a shame..I saw the video orrieg put up several years ago and couldn't believe the outcome..

[ezz16]

Thanks guys I watched the video too but still waking up to the reality.
I hope to find out who towed both cars and take comparrison pics

[MARTINSR]

I am a safety nut, and I drive a 1959 Rambler every single day. This is how I look at it, I am "riding a motorcycle" and as when I rode a motorcycle I leave a lot of room, I pay attention and don't screw off.

It's still a gamble, I know that and accept it.

Brian

[dwcsr]

Its scary how these old cars and trucks were put together. Take a look at where the steering wheel ended up.

If you do nothing else for safety on these it should always have two U-joints in the steering shaft so it doesn't come straight back on you.

[whitedog76]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

If you do nothing else for safety on these it should always have two U-joints in the steering shaft so it doesn't come straight back on you.

I will agree with this statement, especially on our old trucks. With the steering column/box bolted ridgid to the frame you basically have a battery ram in your face.

There's talk time to time of 3 point belts, I'm wondering if a 4 point would be even wiser.

[tmoble]

I'm betting he had no belts, dies on the steering wheel. 3 point belts might well have saved him. Steering box behind crossmember in that car, serious business to crush it back any, not like a Chevelle where it's in front of the crossmember. Many people were killed by the steering wheel in those front steer cars before they came out with the collapsing steering shaft deal.

My truck will have real 3 point belts in it. I thought about using a air bag column in it but couldn't find any credible looking info about hooking up the sensor and control module. Kinda tough to do any testing too.

[HUSSEY]

My steering has two u-joints along with a telescoping steering shaft. I also plan to install shoulder belts and bear claw door latches. It's also on an S10 chassis which I think would have better break, steering, and handling. I don't know what else I could do to make it safer other than a full roll cage.

[Boyd67]

He was one of my dad's friends. I didn't know him well but he seemed like a good guy. He drove that impala pretty much to every cruise in. He has some other cars, chevelle's, and whatnot but was always in that impala. R.I.P. Jimmy

[ezz16]

I'm hearing he was thrown from the car. this will be the first cruisin Saturday without him that I can remember

[Boyd67]

Originally Posted by ezz16

I'm hearing he was thrown from the car. this will be the first cruisin Saturday without him that I can remember

I don't recall if it had seatbelts in it or not. Either way he probably wasn't wearing them if it did. Yep it wouldn't surprise me if they held his spot for him this weekend.

[_Ogre]

what safety features are you installing or want to.

sorry about your friend, but if you want safety drive the honda civic, not a classic truck

i know from experience that in a wreck the doors pop open in these old trucks, no matter what latches you install
also from experience; if you roll a 55-59 bbw, those 2'' wide 'S' shaped A pillars fold like a cheap a cheap lawn chair
3 point seat belts may save your face at the cost of a broken neck as the roof comes down

drive smarter, don't depend on technology to save yourself

[Boyd67]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

drive smarter, don't depend on technology to save yourself

In Jimmy's case he was just cruising down the road and the girl run off the road and corrected back into him. I don't think he could do anything about it

[mr48chev]

I've seen that over correct and hit someone head on too many times around here. Not much the driver in the other lane can do except pray.

I'm not going to second guess the driver of the Chevy but hope by gum that they file vehicular homicide charges against the person driving the Honda and make them

[mongocanfly]

If it happened like it does around here, the honda driver was probably messing with a blame phone. But I don't know that for sure..I've heard they are talking about passing a law where if your in a wreck they can confiscate your phone..

[Boyd67]

I think they are looking into the phone thing and I have heard possible charges are coming but who knows, really. They had a memorial for him at the cruise in today