Bought my first car this week!

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

My Lincoln on the other hand has thick steel bumpers bolted directly to the frame. So if some crazy schnook (I see enough of them out here to have reason to worry) cuts me off or rear ends me in anything short of a truck or a Chevy Suburban sized SUV, I'll cut through them like the plastic and tin foil sneakers on wheels they are.

That's pretty much what I was thinking.

Originally Posted by Electronic M

Heck even trucks and semis, while likely able to total it, ain't going to have an easy time reaching me unless they manage to hit the driver side....I find all that protective steel bulk around me quite comforting.

I wouldn't be too concerned about truck drivers. The worst drivers, around here anyway, tend to be bus drivers.

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by Jon A.

I wouldn't be too concerned about truck drivers. The worst drivers, around here anyway, tend to be bus drivers.

I've been in cars which were cut off by trucks (trailer less semis, and otherwise) before....Not fun. Not common, but not fun.

@maxhifi: I'd say that is partially invalid since a plethora of design changes for crash safety and even the rigidity of bumpers were implemented between 1959 and 1978.

[maxhifi]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

I've been in cars which were cut off by trucks (trailer less semis, and otherwise) before....Not fun. Not common, but not fun.

@maxhifi: I'd say that is partially invalid since a plethora of design changes for crash safety and even the rigidity of bumpers were implemented between 1959 and 1978.

And how about all the changes implemented between 1978 and 2015? And the fact that any 37 year old machine isn't going to be operating as new.. and some of the structure will be eroded by time and corrosion. The lack of crumple zones means that at high speed impacts there's nothing to absorb the force of the impact except for the inertia of the vehicle.. which may be substantial, but this kind of brute force management of collision impact isn't what drives any sort of modern design. And old cars don't perform well in roll over collisions either, new ones are much better at landing on their roof and allowing the driver to walk away.

I like old cars as much as you do, but safety is certainly not a reason to own one. In fact when I am driving an old car I like to take a bunch of emergency supplies with me to prepare for the inevitable extended and unplanned road side troubleshooting session.