Posted on 12/06/2017 7:49:25 PM PST by sparklite2
Unpadded metal surfaces, blunt knobs and rods, steering columns that impale—and seatbelts weren’t even on the options list. We may think highly of the 1955 Chevrolet, but like all cars of the era, it didn’t think much of its passengers; here we use it as a lens through which to view the state of automobile safety of the time. Yes, 62 years later, things have become much safer.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.caranddriver.com ...
Hey. Don’t dis British Leyland. I have a fine product of British Leyland out in my garage, and one day, I may even get it running again.
I remember when a drunk driver totaled my says car when careened out of control only to be stopped cold by a parked 49’ Buick. There was barely a scratch on the Buick but you should have seen the other guy’s front end.
My grandfather, born about 1895, was a brilliant machinist and mechanical engineer. My Dad used to tell me stories of when he was a kid his Dad made homemade spare axles for their first car (Model A or T). He would change axles on their trips when they snapped!
Ah. Very similar to my 1972 Bluesmobile.
With a 360 (390?) hemi. Only car in which I could light up the tires just by stomping the gas pedal to the floor.
My mistake it was a 1956 Plymouth DE SOTO! Hey it was sixty one years ago!
Back in the late 70s I was stationed in Wichita, KS. One of my best friends had an old, beat up, Toyota of some kind. The engine would overheat if he didn't keep the cabin heater turned on full blast. 100 degree August temps outside and we had the windows down trying not to melt in that darned thing.
oh, yes, I think we had only the more basic model (not sure, I was only a few yrs old).... I just plucked a photo off the web, but I know ours did not have the trim.
Six kids, a 1970 Vista Cruiser with a 400 Rocket. Gas was cheap and the Old Man knew where the gas pedal was.
Yeah, but those of us who survived that era were not turned into hamburger meat, so we are allowed to be nostalgic.....
No you would both be dead from either crushing your scull against the steering wheel or being ejected through the windshield. Those cars where death traps.
I wonder if it would be possible to have style, toughness and safety?
In High School, I had a 1930 Buick.
Right, float into the sky to Saint Peter’s Gate.
And pork rind. Pork rind made for workable piston rod shaft bearings.
My motorcycle doesn't have seatbelts. It specifically and intentionally does not have the linked front and rear brakes option, nor does it have the ABS option. Two reasons. One, I've ridden more than enough to make proper braking reflexive, and there may be times i want or need to do something "non-standard" and I don't want a computer chip second guessing me. Two, if I had to pay for those options, I'd still be saving for it, not riding it.
Mg take on it. Safety is all well and good - as an option. Forced safety s##ks.
That wouldn’t be it, either. DeSoto was another Chrysler brand like Dodge and Plymouth.
I wanna Jag
I liked the Porsche ad.
An XKE would be nice, if the engine didn’t sound like a lawn mower. A Triumph TR4A is nice if you like feeling every bump on the road.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.