Damn. For 30mph or ~50km/h it doesn't look the best.

I daily drive my 82 FB in the summer including highway and the thought of 'what if' is hard to avoid. Modern cars you're a lot more likely to walk away from.

Also from the underside video its hard to imagine the fuel tank didn't leak?!

From Youtube vid description:
A rear impact at 30 Mp/h. No dummy readings reported Doors were unable to be opened, required tools. No leakage was reported.

 

There's an interview with the designer of the SA22C and he says he added extra metal to the back such that the engineers said he designed a bank vault. Sure, pal.
Considering it didn't get flattened and designers weren't factoring crumple zones, that's probably the best they could hope for.

I was rear ended like that at about 30mph in an old brick Volvo 940 and the body was tweaked so that the driver's door and the passenger rear door could not open. I was the sandwich in a pile up.

 

I think about this every time I drive it (*like today), because there are a lot of inattentive drivers screwing with their phones when they should be driving their cars. The worst place? Sitting at a light while traffic is approaching from behind. I tap my brake pedal constantly when I see high speed traffic approaching and I'm stopped. I don't care if they think I'm overdoing it - I just dont want them to wreck the car I've been taking care of the past almost 40 years...

The other driver fan just go out and get another of what they're driving. Can any of us? Show a lot of early brake lights,

 

I thought painting mine bright blue would prevent people from changing lanes into me. Nope, still gotta be extra defensive.

 

Yellow helps,... a little.

 

Nice set of rare Keyhole rims on that sacrificial SA.

 

Watching both videos on YouTube, I feel as though given the time period, the car did well and as expected. I think LongDuck had a good point when he said he taps his brake pedal at a stop light when fast moving traffic is approaching. Our cars are getting harder and harder to replace and some of us have had our cars for decades. Whatever we can can do to minimize the chance of an inattentive driver hitting us is good by me.

 

Yep - don't pretend to know the 79 impact criteria but the fact (1) the tank moved forward. INTACT. And the doors remained solidly in place to absorb cockpit collapse seems...impressive? to my eye. Do recall alverts of the day claiming the US cars, with the absent rear seat, have additional rear structure there too. But...yeah... as we drive our Precious's in modern/distracted/SUV traffic, am always rear-viewing to see what idiot is blissfully texting instead of watching traffic. The fact a good friend in PHX had his immaculate 69 Datsun 2000 Vert written off that way underscores this...

And to throw this in, _I_ got rear-ended...by a SEMI last year. Fortunately he was rolling up to a stop light (me, of course, in front...) and when the light changed, he goosed it into my @ss!! Why? Near as I could tell he forgot I was there, being out of site-line over his hood. I dutifully pulled over - and he was off!! Didn't even know he had hit me. 5 mile chase and he was clueless why I was honking at him. Finally gave up and reported it as Hit-and-run, but told the Constabulary he probably didn't even know he had hit me.
When I finally gave up The Chase and pulled over to look at my Beloved's derrier was surprised to see only a 4" scratch! Man! it sure felt like it was going to be ugly!! (Hagerty's didn't blink an eye at the - wait! - $1200 est to pull/repaint/remount...!)
On Guard everyone!!

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

^ I was thinking the same Stu - for it's time that crash test looks pretty good.

Car safety has improved in the last 40 years, but honestly I think that's part of why everyone drives like such a moron - they feel invincible.

 

Stu mentions a good point, my collector car insurance certainly reduces my anxiety level when I drive my RX7, especially when every other vehicle on the road is an SUV or pickup. As mentioned, screens in cars, cell phone users, people believing stop signs are optional, and that stoplights are just suggestions, it requires constant vigilance when driving now days. Insurance can't fix a car where parts are non-existent today, and skilled tradesman retiring doesn't bode well however, I will be compensated for my loss if the unimaginable does happen. And the cost are very reasonable.

 

You also bring up a couple of good points I never see discussed. Wouldn't surprise me if someday, fixing major damage to your car becomes more of a DIY hobby thing, like hot rodding an old car. In addition to finding the parts, It's becoming harder to find good, experienced paint and body shops too. And those still around, all complain of not having any help or even finding young guys wanting to break into the trade. Plus, more and more, everything is intentionally made to be disposable, and hence more profitable for the manufacturers. Todays young consumers support this trend because they aren't interested in yesterdays tech, they want the newest, shiniest toys available. Just a matter of time before we just recycle our old car with a new one if something major goes wrong, especially once they all become electrified.

Maybe because I spend a lot of time on 2 wheels, but I've always believed it doesn't matter if your driving a tank or a pair of roller skates down the road, you need to be on a constant look out for what's going on around you, while driving. Try to avoid bad situations and don't trust others to see you. I have noticed that driving behaviors in general continue to get worse and traffic isn't what I'd even call bad where I live. I'd hate to live in a more densely populated area, where it has to be more competitive and much worse.

 

I agree! Yesterday on the highway left lane, the car in front of me was wandering like a drunk and in my mirror the guy behind me was just staring at his phone. Not a good feeling.

So 2 wheels, which one is you? Maybe both?

 

Once upon a time, Banzai was my actual nick name, but I'm not as young as I used to be. 2 wheels or 4, I keep the rubber side down now a days.

 

I was rear ended in my 84 at a red light, I was behind an F150 and got sandwiched between (more like under the truck). Passenger cabin was intact, both doors opened without binding and I was able to start the car and drive it home like that. It was totaled and ended up parting it out.

 

I drive my car as if I'm in a motorcycle . I brake super early and never never never do a dead stop without making the guy behind me is slowing down. I'd rather get sandwiched than take the direct hit.
I daily drive on the five freeway in CA , it's mad max out here some days.

 

DAILY LA Freeways! -been thru @ Sevenstock trips. NOT.FOR.THE.FAINT.OF.HEART in our tin beer-kegggers. Respect.

Stu A
80GS
of dinky Sedona, AZ
(PHX bad enough, thanks!)

 

Seven stock wasn't bad to be honest . I think people underestimate how safe these cars are because they don't understand how crash testing is done today . Most cars after the 80's are just as safe as a modern car in 100% full contact collision. The issue is they do partial contact crashes begining at 50% contact and now its down to 10% contact as of like 6 years ago . A five start car from 2010 will get 2 stars today due to this . Now our cars have no T bone protection .
When i mean contact i mean 10% if your cars bumper collides with a corner , most cars the corner rips through all the way to you or your passengers outermost foot because the car gets peeled like a tin can but the chance of this occuring is incredibly slim.