Are classic cars safe, and are there ways to make them safer for both drivers and passengers without compromising their charm?
The Research
As the auto industry continues to introduce new safety features, a lot of classic car enthusiasts feel those safety features come at the expense of design and appeal. Just compare the 2021 Ford Mustang to its 1969 ancestor. But with obvious changes in aesthetic come obvious innovations in safety.
Are classic cars safe? A government study suggests that a driver of a car eighteen years old or older is 71% more likely to die in a crash than the driver of a car three years old or newer. Here's some footage the 2009 Chevy Malibu vs. the 1959 Bel Air crash test.
Are classic cars safe? A government study suggests that a driver of a car eighteen years old or older is 71% more likely to die in a crash than the driver of a car three years old or newer. Here's some footage the 2009 Chevy Malibu vs. the 1959 Bel Air crash test.
Examples of Unsafe Classic Cars
Chevrolet Corvair
Photo Credit: Christopher Ziemnowicz
The Corvair's engine would release toxic fumes into the interior. According to a 1971 New York Times article, engineers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "confirmed the leakage of carbon monoxide and other fumes into passenger compartments." It was determined that a malfunction in the heater operation was the cause of bad odors, hissing sounds, and "significant concentrations of carbon monoxide."
Today, auto engineers perform rigorous testing to ensure air safety. Automotive engineer Peter Leiss explains that there are three specific strategies used in modern cars to establish air safety, including:
Today, auto engineers perform rigorous testing to ensure air safety. Automotive engineer Peter Leiss explains that there are three specific strategies used in modern cars to establish air safety, including:
- Carbon Monoxide Reduction: Vehicle efficiency improvements - like catalytic converters - convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, which is less toxic.
- Exhaust Diversion: The carbon monoxide produced by internal combustion is re-directed away from the cabin.
- Engineered Cabin Air-Flow: The interior cabin is designed to not only introduce fresh air but to also expel stagnant air and close off areas that would introduce toxic fumes, like the engine compartment.
Ford Pinto
Photo Credit: Mr. Choppers
Thanks to a defective fuel tank design, the Ford Pinto was known to go up in flames if it was rear-ended, even at impact speeds of only 20 MPH. Not only that, but there were cases where the doors would jam shut after wrecks. Ford ended up recalling all 1971 - 1976 Pinto models to modify the fuel tank.
Today, car manufacturers ensure that fuel tanks are placed in areas that are most immune to puncture or deformation, like in front of the rear axle. Modern fuel tanks also include shields that absorb most of the impact of another vehicle.
Today, car manufacturers ensure that fuel tanks are placed in areas that are most immune to puncture or deformation, like in front of the rear axle. Modern fuel tanks also include shields that absorb most of the impact of another vehicle.
DMC Delorean
Photo Credit: Lee Haywood
This safety flaw is pretty much limited to classic cars with gullwing doors. The Delorean was beautiful, but it was proven unsafe in accidents. Its gullwing door design lacked any type of safety mechanism. Like the Pinto, the doors could jam during an accident, and the windows were too small to use in an emergency. Heaven forbid if it rolled onto its roof. There'd be no way of getting out.
On the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - another car with gullwing doors - was designed to include explosive bolts that activate and fire the door off of the vehicle when it's turned upside down.
On the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - another car with gullwing doors - was designed to include explosive bolts that activate and fire the door off of the vehicle when it's turned upside down.
VW Beetle
Photo Credit: Bene Riobó
The classic VW Beetle was very simple and easy to maintain. Back in its prime, if there ever was a minor malfunction, repair was cheap since pretty much every body shop had parts. But simple 'aint safe. In terms of safety features, there was a lap belt and a bunch of metal. That's about it.
Examples of Safer Classic Cars
When we say "safer," we of course mean safer than other vintage cars. But compared to modern safety features, they still fall way short and should be driven with caution.
Volvo P1800
Photo Credit: Staffan Andersson
The Volvo P1800 was the world's first sports coupé to have seat belts as a standard feature for all four passengers. Then in 1970, new electronic fuel injection technology was introduced, which added more power without negatively impacting fuel economy.
Range Rover Classic
Photo Credit: OSX
When the Range Rover was introduced in 1970, it received critical acclaim. Safety features included hydraulic disc brakes on all four wheels and a steel safety frame that allowed for greater structural strength. Power steering was added a few years later, and in 1980, the suspension was lowered to avoid body roll (which was a problem).
Mercedes-Benz R107 SL
Photo Credit: Johannes Maximilian
Built to last, the R107 SL boasted some pretty hefty safety features and top-of-the-line build quality for its day, including steel reinforced A-pillars and emissions-management features. North American models also had wider bumpers to comply with NHTSA regulations.
Further Studies of Classic Car Unsafety
Another study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) from 2005 - 2011 illustrates the comparison between driver fatality and vehicle age by model year. See the graph below.
The study concluded that:
"In fatal crashes, the study shows that a driver in a vehicle of age 4–7 years was 10 percent more likely to be fatally injured than a driver in the baseline vehicle age category of 0–3. The model produced comparable estimates for drivers of vehicles age 4–7 (10%), 8–11 (19%), 12–14 (32%), 15–17 (50%), and 18+ (71%)."
A 2018 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety examined blind-spot technology and its effectiveness in preventing lane-changing accidents.
"Crash involvement rates in lane-change crashes of all severities and with injuries were 14% and 23% lower, respectively, among vehicles with blind spot monitoring than those without. Although only the reduction in crashes of all severities reached statistical significance, the effect for injury crashes was consistently in the expected direction for 5 of the 6 manufacturers examined."
What stands out more is the final assessment:
"If every U.S. vehicle in 2015 were equipped with blind spot monitoring that performed like the study systems, it is estimated that about 50,000 crashes and almost 16,000 injuries could have been prevented."
"Crash involvement rates in lane-change crashes of all severities and with injuries were 14% and 23% lower, respectively, among vehicles with blind spot monitoring than those without. Although only the reduction in crashes of all severities reached statistical significance, the effect for injury crashes was consistently in the expected direction for 5 of the 6 manufacturers examined."
What stands out more is the final assessment:
"If every U.S. vehicle in 2015 were equipped with blind spot monitoring that performed like the study systems, it is estimated that about 50,000 crashes and almost 16,000 injuries could have been prevented."
Recommended Classic Car Safety Upgrades
1. Anti-Lock Brakes
Maintaining originality is a big concern for a many classic car owners, but upgrading to a safer modern anti-lock system can be the difference between life or death. Less skidding. More control. Gordon McCall, a veteran of classic cars and CEO of McCall Events, suggests "replacing rubber [brake-line] hoses with braided stainless steel" which "firms up the pedal feel."
2. Back-up Cameras
A 2010 government report suggests that over 200 people died every year - and 15,000 more are injured - in backup accidents. 31% of these deaths are children under the age of 5. Adults over 70 make up 26% of those fatalities.
According to AARP, "Federal regulations say that all new vehicles must have back-up cameras starting in May 2018." That says something about the concern over these preventable accidents.
3. Power Steering
Classic cars often lack the rack-and-pinion steering systems used in modern vehicles. This leads to a higher risk of losing control when faced with unexpected obstacles.
Maintaining originality is a big concern for a many classic car owners, but upgrading to a safer modern anti-lock system can be the difference between life or death. Less skidding. More control. Gordon McCall, a veteran of classic cars and CEO of McCall Events, suggests "replacing rubber [brake-line] hoses with braided stainless steel" which "firms up the pedal feel."
2. Back-up Cameras
A 2010 government report suggests that over 200 people died every year - and 15,000 more are injured - in backup accidents. 31% of these deaths are children under the age of 5. Adults over 70 make up 26% of those fatalities.
According to AARP, "Federal regulations say that all new vehicles must have back-up cameras starting in May 2018." That says something about the concern over these preventable accidents.
3. Power Steering
Classic cars often lack the rack-and-pinion steering systems used in modern vehicles. This leads to a higher risk of losing control when faced with unexpected obstacles.
Classic car or not, an injury is an injury. If you've been in a car accident, call Wilkes & Mee today. Alisa Wilkes is a Jacksonville car accident lawyer with the ability to help you get the compensation you deserve from insurance companies who have anything but your best interests in mind.