Crash resistance and survivability and the e30

[mulletman]

that's cool, threat and error management training. The DMVs need that haha. What kinda planes you fly dude?

I fly Dash-8's.. the 400 version. It's what happens when you let French Canadians build airplanes..... yikes. Shockingly terrible actually. Haha.

oh and you didnt say 'will never happen' , someone else did. idk how to multiquote

It's all good, I must have edited my post like 6-7 times in under about a minute because I need to learn to type.

[JasonC]

The 59 also has an "X" frame that don't help.

[BlackbirdM3]

I've been taken out in both of my cars built in the '60s, the roadster got smeared by a hit and run who was doing 40+ when they hit me broadside while I was sitting at a stop sign, and with my Alfa GTV I got rear ended and punted into a ditch. I was doing 0, the guy who hit me was doing about 50 in a Nissan Frontier. In both cases, I walked away without so much as a scratch.
In the roadster I was wearing 5 point race harnesses. It made a mess of the front of the car, and cracked the windshield on the passenger side (I was hit on the drivers side squarely in the front wheel)




In the Alfa I was wearing the original 40+ year old seatbelts in the original seats. Again, punted from the rear and I came to an abrupt stop when the ditch ended with the car below ground level. I couldn't open the drivers side door, it was under load and so I had to climb out the drivers side window. Not a single window broke, nor any of the headlights. (that included the $800 set of Marchal driving lights on the car. I was shocked to learn they were worth that much.)





After walking away from both of these without a scratch, I'll take my chances in an e30 any day of the week. Still, there are often ways to avoid accidents, especially while you are driving (being stopped is another matter). Always leave yourself an out. Be observant and aware of your surroundings. In every accident I've ever been in, I've seen it coming and haven't had an out (not once have I been moving when I've been hit.) I'm pretty sure E30s do have crush zones, (even my Alfa did as you can see) Drive smart and be aware.

As far as modern cars go, I have a good friend who was involved in an accident while driving a full sized Chevy diesel truck. An on coming vehicle lost a wheel and it hit her squarely in the radiator. The airbag deployed and while she didn't hit the steering wheel (and likely wouldn't have since the truck has a lot more forward momentum than the wheel with a tire.) The airbag knocked her out, and left her with an ongoing brain injury that still gives her headaches two years later. She has been on disability because of this. Had the airbag not gone off, she likely would have walked away shaken but not stirred. I've heard of other people having similar experiences as well. That raises the question, how safe are airbags in reality? I can't say I know a single person who's life has been saved by one. Case in point, if they were really that great of an idea, wouldn't they be mandatory in race cars where the speeds are higher? They don't weigh that much, and safety equipment is safety equipment, why are they not there for race cars where a front end collision with a wall or another car is very possible? I for sure don't want to be in a car when the airbags deploy.

I'll drive my old, and older cars anywhere any day. I'll take my chances with my apparent "unsafe" cars. So far I have yet to have so much as a scratch in an accident.

Will

[franky2fingaz]

Glad you walked away but I don't care what you say there is NO WAY I'm driving that roadster in Detroit or nearby. . . Also I just came through DC with a truck and trailer, not there either.. you won't be able to enjoy the drive it's too chaotic, no one gives a shit about actually driving..

[z6ne]

too chaotic, no one gives a shit about actually driving..

exactly. everyone's in such a hurry to get their starbucks and be on time for work. :finger:

[mulletman]

What a beautiful Alfa.... if I were you, the other person would not have survived the crash.

[Solarian]

I've been taken out in both of my cars built in the '60s, the roadster got smeared by a hit and run who was doing 40+ when they hit me broadside while I was sitting at a stop sign, and with my Alfa GTV I got rear ended and punted into a ditch. I was doing 0, the guy who hit me was doing about 50 in a Nissan Frontier. In both cases, I walked away without so much as a scratch.
In the roadster I was wearing 5 point race harnesses. It made a mess of the front of the car, and cracked the windshield on the passenger side (I was hit on the drivers side squarely in the front wheel)

In the Alfa I was wearing the original 40+ year old seatbelts in the original seats. Again, punted from the rear and I came to an abrupt stop when the ditch ended with the car below ground level. I couldn't open the drivers side door, it was under load and so I had to climb out the drivers side window. Not a single window broke, nor any of the headlights. (that included the $800 set of Marchal driving lights on the car. I was shocked to learn they were worth that much.)
After walking away from both of these without a scratch, I'll take my chances in an e30 any day of the week. Still, there are often ways to avoid accidents, especially while you are driving (being stopped is another matter). Always leave yourself an out. Be observant and aware of your surroundings. In every accident I've ever been in, I've seen it coming and haven't had an out (not once have I been moving when I've been hit.) I'm pretty sure E30s do have crush zones, (even my Alfa did as you can see) Drive smart and be aware.

As far as modern cars go, I have a good friend who was involved in an accident while driving a full sized Chevy diesel truck. An on coming vehicle lost a wheel and it hit her squarely in the radiator. The airbag deployed and while she didn't hit the steering wheel (and likely wouldn't have since the truck has a lot more forward momentum than the wheel with a tire.) The airbag knocked her out, and left her with an ongoing brain injury that still gives her headaches two years later. She has been on disability because of this. Had the airbag not gone off, she likely would have walked away shaken but not stirred. I've heard of other people having similar experiences as well. That raises the question, how safe are airbags in reality? I can't say I know a single person who's life has been saved by one. Case in point, if they were really that great of an idea, wouldn't they be mandatory in race cars where the speeds are higher? They don't weigh that much, and safety equipment is safety equipment, why are they not there for race cars where a front end collision with a wall or another car is very possible? I for sure don't want to be in a car when the airbags deploy.

I'll drive my old, and older cars anywhere any day. I'll take my chances with my apparent "unsafe" cars. So far I have yet to have so much as a scratch in an accident.

Will

Holy crap, you have the coolest collection of cars ever. I'm extremely jealous.

[BlackbirdM3]

Glad you walked away but I don't care what you say there is NO WAY I'm driving that roadster in Detroit or nearby. . . Also I just came through DC with a truck and trailer, not there either.. you won't be able to enjoy the drive it's too chaotic, no one gives a shit about actually driving..

Welcome to driving the SF Bay Area. I've never seen more horrible drivers. The trick is, you expect everyone to do something stupid so you leave yourself an out at all times. Its so bad here I've given up doing night rides on my bicycle on the back roads. Even lit up like a christmas tree, I've had too many close calls just trying to get out of town.

Driving the Datsun I sit so low that even the average car's headlights are at eye level. Driving at night is more or less out of the question. I'm usually both physically and mentally exhausted after a two hour drive through the Bay Area. I make a move to the fast lane and go. That way at least I have (usually) a meaden to duck into if someone blows it in front of me. I also never ever tailgate.

Mulletman, yes it was a nice car. I was the third owner, it as a Napa Valley car its whole life. It was rumored to be the first fuel injected Alfa in the bay area. The rumor comes from one of the most reputable Alfa people in the area, Jon Norman. He remembered the car from when it was brought into Steven Griswolds shop in Berkeley when it was new for a tune up. Everyone stood around and looked at it because they didn't have a clue as to what to do with it. It was one of 640 US spec cars built for '69, nearly completely original. From the research I've done, there are less than 200 of them left. They were different from the Euro versions in many ways, although the body was the same as the early stepnose cars, but with the revised 4 headlight front end. There were no 1970 cars brought into the US, and the '71 1750 GTVs used the later 2 liter body that was 2 inches longer, and had a different interior. The car was such a solid car that after sitting in a barn for 30 years, I had it cleaned up and back on the road in a month and a half. I didn't touch the engine or the fuel injection system. I got it running a couple days after I brought it home. I ran a hose into a gas can from the fuel pump and after replacing the points and condenser in the distributor, I turned it over till it showed oil pressure, hooked up the coil and it lit off. It smoked like it was on fire, and blew tons of rust and acorns (thanks to the mice) out the tailpipe but once it lit off, it settled into a 1000 rpm idle (as it should when cold) then settled down into a smooth 800 rpm idle. The smoke cleared up and the exhaust stopped shedding itself after running for half an hour or so. I did a 1000 mile trip two weeks after I had it ready to drive. The only issue it had was the exhaust blew out in several places a little north of Fresno on my way home. It was a bit loud and sounded horrible.

Oddly enough I was very controlled after the guy hit me. His reason why he didn't stop was "I don't know" Seriously, how do you miss a bright red car stopped in front of you on a two lane road on a sunny day. (I was making a left turn, waiting for the oncoming Honda to pass) I didn't get pissed till I stared dealing with the insurance companies over it. The guy was a horrible driver. I've seen him several times since the incident, he's tried to hit me again twice in the same place the Alfa accident took place. Heck, he still has the red paint transfer on the front of his truck 2 years later.

By the way, I would have killed the passenger in the car that hit the Datsun. They got the car restarted and drove off before I could get out of my 5 point harnesses and exit the car. Had I gotten out of the car, I likely would have gone to jail for assault. They were both minors with a long record. This time they stole mommy's car and after nearly running several other people off the road, ran out of talent and planted their Saturn into the front of my car.

Solarian, thanks, it would be even cooler if I still had the GTV. I really miss the car. I'd really like to have the $$$$ to get my '59 Alfa project going again. It needs about $3k worth of sheet metal work to the front end, and a total paint job. Heck, it needs everything including a motor. Its a HUGE project that needs a good $15K to be driveable. Still, once done it will likely be worth more than I'll have into the car.

Like I said above, we have some of the worst drivers ever here.

Will

[Herr Faust Schinken]

I'm sad after seeing your GTV bent up those are some of my favorite cars its made worse because it was probably a rust free chassis too

[BlackbirdM3]

I'm sad after seeing your GTV bent up those are some of my favorite cars its made worse because it was probably a rust free chassis too

One of the few that was spotless. Like I said, it spent 30 years inside. It had 35600 miles on the odometer when I got it. I put 50K miles on it and it only failed to get me home once, the clutch master died 120 miles from home. I nursed it to a friends place that was on my way home. I also drove it 100 miles home with no brakes once... the brake master cylinder failed but didn't leak, it just didn't do anything. Luckily it was late at night and there wasn't any traffic. I used the parking brake when I needed to stop as well as downshifting and pumping the brake pedal madly. The car had three trouble spots, the brakes, the heater control valve (located right above the gas pedal and prone to blowing up in the most inopportune times possible.) and the clutch master cylinder. Both master cylinders were mounted below the floor boards, pretty much the worst possible place to mount them. The pedals were floor mounted rather than the later hanging pedals. Crap would find its way through the seals and they'd stop moving fluid where it needed to go.

Will

[Lawn_Mower]

I've been taken out in both of my cars built in the '60s, the roadster got smeared by a hit and run who was doing 40+ when they hit me broadside while I was sitting at a stop sign, and with my Alfa GTV I got rear ended and punted into a ditch. I was doing 0, the guy who hit me was doing about 50 in a Nissan Frontier. In both cases, I walked away without so much as a scratch.
In the roadster I was wearing 5 point race harnesses. It made a mess of the front of the car, and cracked the windshield on the passenger side (I was hit on the drivers side squarely in the front wheel)

In the Alfa I was wearing the original 40+ year old seatbelts in the original seats. Again, punted from the rear and I came to an abrupt stop when the ditch ended with the car below ground level. I couldn't open the drivers side door, it was under load and so I had to climb out the drivers side window. Not a single window broke, nor any of the headlights. (that included the $800 set of Marchal driving lights on the car. I was shocked to learn they were worth that much.After walking away from both of these without a scratch, I'll take my chances in an e30 any day of the week. Still, there are often ways to avoid accidents, especially while you are driving (being stopped is another matter). Always leave yourself an out. Be observant and aware of your surroundings. In every accident I've ever been in, I've seen it coming and haven't had an out (not once have I been moving when I've been hit.) I'm pretty sure E30s do have crush zones, (even my Alfa did as you can see) Drive smart and be aware.

As far as modern cars go, I have a good friend who was involved in an accident while driving a full sized Chevy diesel truck. An on coming vehicle lost a wheel and it hit her squarely in the radiator. The airbag deployed and while she didn't hit the steering wheel (and likely wouldn't have since the truck has a lot more forward momentum than the wheel with a tire.) The airbag knocked her out, and left her with an ongoing brain injury that still gives her headaches two years later. She has been on disability because of this. Had the airbag not gone off, she likely would have walked away shaken but not stirred. I've heard of other people having similar experiences as well. That raises the question, how safe are airbags in reality? I can't say I know a single person who's life has been saved by one. Case in point, if they were really that great of an idea, wouldn't they be mandatory in race cars where the speeds are higher? They don't weigh that much, and safety equipment is safety equipment, why are they not there for race cars where a front end collision with a wall or another car is very possible? I for sure don't want to be in a car when the airbags deploy.

I'll drive my old, and older cars anywhere any day. I'll take my chances with my apparent "unsafe" cars. So far I have yet to have so much as a scratch in an accident.

Will

Personally I really hate the racing car argument when it comes to air bags. In race cars you have a roll cage, racing seats, harnesses, helmet, hans device, ect... In a race car you physically can't move far enough to hit the air bag (if there was one). Street cars are a compromise between safety and comfort. Comparing a street car to a race car is not a fair comparison, just my $.02.

[Dj Buttchug]

i watched that vid like 10 times

[Rockwool2117]

That is a insane amount of class inside your garage. Of all cars for a idiot to run into....
Recently a chevy astro ran a red light doing about 40, if things happened differently Id definatly be looking pretty fhuking mad.

[Herr Faust Schinken]

One of the few that was spotless. Like I said, it spent 30 years inside. It had 35600 miles on the odometer when I got it. I put 50K miles on it and it only failed to get me home once, the clutch master died 120 miles from home. I nursed it to a friends place that was on my way home. I also drove it 100 miles home with no brakes once... the brake master cylinder failed but didn't leak, it just didn't do anything. Luckily it was late at night and there wasn't any traffic. I used the parking brake when I needed to stop as well as downshifting and pumping the brake pedal madly. The car had three trouble spots, the brakes, the heater control valve (located right above the gas pedal and prone to blowing up in the most inopportune times possible.) and the clutch master cylinder. Both master cylinders were mounted below the floor boards, pretty much the worst possible place to mount them. The pedals were floor mounted rather than the later hanging pedals. Crap would find its way through the seals and they'd stop moving fluid where it needed to go.

Will

its an alfa i wouldn't expect it to be 100% reliable, I've just always wanted a GTV

[efficient]

clicked on link browsed around and ended up watching mexican cartel vids :eeek: