So after the near miss when the brakes went out on the maiden voyage in my Model A coupe, I'm curious, just how bad an accident would be if one of our cars went head to head with a new Lincoln Navigator. I'm not interested in close calls, gentlemen, just some real life stories about how badly folks were hurt and the cars were damaged. My gut reaction is I might as well order the coffin now...
Two I can tell of here in Oz. One was a friend in a 29 A roadster, 351 clevo and a C10 with a shift kit. Going into a roundabout the throttle jammed open, he went through the roundabout up on the sidewalk and hit a Hyundai dealers sign. Twisted up the chassis bad but walked away as did his wife with bruising and one very sore knee, both were wearing seat belts or it would be a VERY different story. Another was a 34 Chev, the driver put it sideways into a tree. Burst into flames and killed him and the passenger.
Yea, or how badly hurt a kid would be if he/her got in the way of a Model A-coupe running 40mph with NO brakes ... Klaz
The statistics don't lie. Modern cars are much safer than the old stuff, especially the early cars. Granted the statistics are loaded in the sense that when they were taken it was old cars crashing into big old cars. Now it's big old cars crashing into plastic bumpers with crumple zones. Even still, it doesn't take a genius to realize that the rigid steering column in front of you is a lot sturdier than your ribs and liver, and that without seat belts it would be pretty easy to make a B-line through the windshield in the event of a serious collision. I got blasted by an SUV years ago in my 57 Bel Air. I was stopped at a red light outside my high school. He had his license for 28 days and was showing off in his dad's truck, going waaaaayyyy too fast on wet pavement, and though he hit the brakes, it was way too late. He folded the whole bumper under the trunk, caved in the tailfin, and moved the whole driver side rear quarter foward into the back door. I couldn't open the door after that, and the quarter having nowhere else to go blew out like a bubble skirt. The motor jarred back on the mounts and cracked the distributor cap. What a shame. Luckily the rear window was fogged up and I never saw it coming. My head and neck folded over the seat. I remember looking forward then immediately seeing the headliner. I was fine that day but my neck was killing me for the rest of the week. Could have been a lot worse though. There are things you can do to improve your chances, mostly through proactive measures. Install seat belts is a given, but installing a dual master, upgrading to disc brakes, and generally following good build practices like using grade 8 hardware, lock nuts, cotter pins...can prevent accidents from happening in the first place
Might be morbid but if it motivates people to build safer its a good thing. I have been in the emergency medicine gig since I was in the Army and have attended many motor vehicle accidents. If this thread saves one person from the shit I have seen it is worth the thread authors weight in gold. I bet Doc could chip in here with the same sentiments.
I understand where he's coming from and I also agree with you, but it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to know that the average hot rod doesn't stand a chance in a collision with a modern car or (God forbid) SUV. It's a given. Horror stories don't need to be a motivation for safety, common sence should. You can not drive a 50+ year old car, like it's a new Volvo or you will get hurt or die.
57 JoeFoMopar wrote: There are things you can do to improve your chances, mostly through proactive measures. Install seat belts is a given, but installing a dual master, upgrading to disc brakes, and generally following good build practices like using grade 8 hardware, lock nuts, cotter pins...can prevent accidents from happening in the first place. Great stuf fellas, just what I was hoping to stir in the thread! I don't have to pass a vehicle safety inspection here in Virginia with an antique, but the next stop now that I have the muffllers on the car will be for a Vehicle Safety Inspection so I can have another mechanic look for anything that might have fallen off my radar screen.
Back in the days of Ralph Nader ( a sort of 70's Al Gore) a lot of thought was put into the crash safety characteristics of various cars on the market. one the very few cars to come out well from chrash test program was this make; The Morgan. A lot of it has been attributed to the fact the fenders absorb impact and the passengers are protected from impact by the length of the chassis. Just like Crumple zones. Not too much difference between our cars and a Morgan is there?
OK.. ROLLING UP VERDUGO ROAD IN GLENDALE CA. I'M SHOTGUN IN MY BUDDY'S STEEL PINTO POWERED 27 ROADSTER.. 35 M.P.H... DID IMENTION THE LACK OF FRONT BRAKES?.. COMING THE OTHER WAY.. 1964 FORD 3/4 TON TRUCK.. LOADED WITH SAND.. AS WE ARE ABOUT TO PASS THE TRUCK.. MEATCAKE DRIVING DECIDES TO HANG A LEFT.. WE MEET.. BIG CRASH.. COPS... AMBULANCE.. DOCTORS... NURSES.. PAIN... MORE PAIN.. 30 YEARS LATER, STILL PAIN.. GREAT PICTURE OF ME LAYING ON THE GROUND WITH A TENNIS SHOE NEXT TO MY HEAD IN THE LOCAL PAPER.. GREAT TITLE TOO.. "CLASSIC CASE OF CAR CRASH".. THAT SUCKER HIT US SO HARD, (HEAD ON CRASH) IT BENT THE DECK LID.. DID I MENTION THAT IT STILL HURTS? SOMEDAY I'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO POST PICS.. I HAVE A NICE ONE WHERE THE ENGINE WAS FORCED INTO THE FIREWALL 16 INCHES.. LEG ROOM??? WE DONT NEED NO STINKING LEG ROOM...
This was from a few years back at the LARS. My buddy talked to the guy,so I don't know the details. I guess he was sandwiched between two cars on the way to the show. The back was smashed too!
SORRY BOUT THAT.. KEYBOARD IS FUCKED UP.. I HAVE TO SHOVE SOMETHINGIN THE SHIFT KEY.. I'M AMAIZED HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS BOTHERS..
Many years ago, A T bucket lost a weld in something holding the rear axle. when he passed another car, and turned sharp of the road, got upside down and got killed. Not only enginering is important but workmanship is to. Regarding upper case, ITS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE SHOUTING IN REAL LIFE. And nobody likes to be shouted at. just an explanaition nothing else.
give it a break already.. i feel like a 15 yearold in a fucking chatroom.. <<<< LOOK MA!!! NO CAPS!!!
The beauty of it all is that it really isn't that expensive to be safe. My dual master cost me $25. Halogen headlamps and a mechanical brake switch are inexpensive items that help immensely. Electric wipers aren't outrageously priced either. I log a lot of miles in my car, often with passengers. It's great to have fun in your car, but you also have a duty to your passengers and those on the road to be safe.
These pictures and story came from Frank Mack ( later backed up by Bob Vivian),.. Summer night 1953 Bob Vivian is over to Franks House with his A V8 and some other guys are hanging around, One guy that just got discharged from the Navy says he never rode in a Hot Rod, Bob tells him he would take him for a ride, Frank was working on something on his roadster. They take off and are riding around having the time of there life, on 9 mi. road in farmington Mi. they approach a small hill, as Bob just crests the hill there is a drunk in a Cadillac right in the middle of the road, Bob cuts hard to the right to avoid the accident, But the drunk still clips his left front sending Bob end over end then rolling into a field,... Bob lived through it,... but the other guy was killed. Newspapers reported a two car collision involving a Hot Rod, from the story I got the details of the other guy being drunk in the middle of the road was never mentioned,... making it look like it was another Hot Rod menace story,... this car was just in the first Detroit Autorama just a few months before.
Here's some old wrecks for you: http://www.monroecountysheriff.info/about/history_gallery1.html http://www.monroecountysheriff.info/about/history_gallery2.html http://www.monroecountysheriff.info/about/history_gallery3.html http://www.monroecountysheriff.info/about/history_gallery4.html
Wow, the vintage wreck pics are really scarey, thanks carcruse. I know we've all seen it a thousand times, but while we're on the subject of simple things to do to improve safety, here's the NSRA Safety Inspection Checklist: Vehicle Safety Inspection Requirements Required Equipment Horn: Electric only. Speed Indicator: Speedometer or calibrated tachometer at 65 mph. Rear View Mirror: One inside or outside on driver's side of vehicle. Glass: Must be safety plate, lexon, or tempered glass. Lighting: Hi-beam; low-beam; tail; brake; license. Windshield Wiper: Electric or vacuum operated. Automatic Transmission Lockout: Neutral and/or park start only. Tires: 3/32 tread acceptable. Must meet D.O.T. specifications. Steering No excessive "play" (2" radius max.) or binding; system must be safely mounted. Throttle Linkage: Must not travel past center. Fuel System: Check Vent on Trunk and Interior Mounted Tanks; no clear, plastic lines allowed. No leaks. Exhaust System: No Leaks: Must pass rear edge of front door and exit exhaust away from vehicle. Self-aligning Rod End Bearings: Check for fractures, insert sloppiness or binding. Shock Absorbers: One per wheel, no leaks, 2" travel in each direction. Brakes: Four-wheel brakes, no leaks, check brake pedal travel, no copper tubing, check length of flexible lines. Scrub Line: No steering, suspension or chassis components should be below this line. Recommended Equipment: May be reason for failure Windshield: Should be AS-1. Shift Pattern: Shift pattern should be visible except on three speed standard column shift. Fuel Lines: Should be safely mounted and routed. Parking Brake: Should be activated independent of vehicle's hydraulic system. Self-aligning Rod End Bearings: Ball should have 1/8 inch spacer on each side of the ball if there is any misalignment. Rod ends should not have more than 10° misalignment. ROD ENDS and 4 BAR-PARALLEL RADIUS ROD SYSTEM rubber bushed ends should have a safety washer at least the same outside diameter as the housing or larger. Brake Lines: Should be safely mounted and routed. Chassis Fasteners: Self-locking nuts, lock-washers, safety wire, or cotter pins. For Your Safety Safety Equipment: Fire extinguisher in driver/passenger compartment, seat belts, a third brake light and a dual master cylinder.
About 15 years ago in Hamburg New York, one of the local car clubs hosted a national event. Streetmachine something or another. The show was held for a few years there, afterwards it would become a free for all on all the streets and parking lots around town. Everyone would line the streets and watch the speed demons come everyone of that left the show. On this one really busy intersection one of the local club members was making a right turn, just cruising, as not to make trouble, the kid behind him wasn't paying attention. The kid peddled his 80's Camaro to show off to the crowd and rearended the club member in his coupe. The seat ripped out of the floor and he flipped backwards breaking his neck on the package tray, then the trunk section of the car kinda folded up on top of him. The driver didn't survive the accident. Can't find the pictures, some of the Buffalo guys may have something. The club members put the car back together out of respect of their lost member.
Hahaaa... I'd like you to provide some proof of that! I really would hate to crash a Morgan.Not much to those cars.
October 2006, Cruising the Coast, Gulfport, Mississippi. Stop and go traffic and we were stopped. A show-off in a new 2006 Mustang with dealer plates slammed into the old Thunderbird in back of our car and shoved it into us...and us into the car in front. My car was considered totaled (replacement parts) and my wife went to the hospital with head lacerations. Sucks...there's some idiots out there.
Man these are some cool pictures...My dad is a retired Monroe County Sheriff so it was pretty cool looking over those pics as i can actually remember some of them...car's, certain building , a few people...thanks for the link's.. I have to show him.. Are you from Rochester? Sorry for straying off topic.. There's also some cool wreck's in there.. Somewhere i have a photo of a wrecked 66 Biscayne two door post Sheriff's car here...Something nailed it from the passenger side and basically opened it up like a tin can.. Tony
damn this is one serious tow truck http://www.monroecountysheriff.info/images/historical/144-Truckbeingtowed1940.jpg
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