No rod or muscle car is going to be as safe as a modern car. Having said that, I would think if you're doing a rod, you can update it with some modern features, like better seats for neck protection,modern steering columns, etc., along with proper belts. I prefer hardtops over drop tops, not that the old ones offered great roll over protection. Partial rollover bars can be added if you want. More than crash protection, I think with these old machines, building in crash avoidance wherever you can (like modern disk brakes, etc), and most of all, driving it with the respect that an old car with limited crash protection offers, is the way to go.
The benefit of going to a muscle car, or building a musle car, is that there are many vendors offereing body and mechanical bits for cars like Stangs and Chevs. With a true rod, many of the bits will most like have to be custom, and I'm now sure that really the way to go for a first time project. There are lots of part finished rods sitting around, were people just got tired of them, and walked away. Either way, good luck with the venture. Ed 300E On 21 June 2011 14:54, Randy Bennell <rbenn...@bennell.ca> wrote: > My 22 year old mechanic son has a desire to build a hot rod type classic > car. He works for a shop that does that sort of thing and that has fanned > the flame, so to speak. > > In any event, I have been thinking of encouraging and participating to some > extent as he lacks the cash to do it right now. He has moved out onto his > own with his girl friend and they are learning to pay rent etc. > > So, my reason for posting this is to ask a question. > > What do you folks think is one of the safer classic cars? > > Please do not say Mercedes unless you wish to hear tales of how we stuffed > a small block Chevy into it as that is the most likely result. > > I could go for one of the gasser MB's but he will not wish to do so and the > point of this is him rather than me. > > I am sort of guessing that newer is generally better to some extent. > > For example, one of the 80's Chevy Monte Carlos or Mustangs is likely a > better choice than a 55 Chevy in terms of accident protection. > > He will not be concerned about this sort of thing, but I am and as his > father, I would like to steer him in that direction without disclosing that > as my purpose. > > So, what think you all? > > Randy > > > > ______________________________**_________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives > http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/<http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/> > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.com<http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com> > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
