Re: [MBZ] Crumple zones
The Corvair had two lethal problems, one by design and one by pure idiocy, I think -- to whit: the swing axle rear end was not protected against jacking, so at very high side loads the outside rear wheel could aquire so much camber that the rim would dig into the pavement. The resultant rollover combined with the totat lack of roof strength usually killed the passengers as their heads hit the pavement via the roof. This was avoided in the original design by a hook in the frame so that the control arm wouldn't travel that far, but Ed Cole demanded that it be removed because it cost $1.50 per car over leaving it off. It cost the executives at GM a lot more than that, all told, to bury the kids they had that rolled them, as every executive that had a teen driver got them a Corvair, and several were maimed or killed. The other idiocy, and I don't know if it was by design or just plan not looking, was that the steering column was solid, and the steering box was IN FRONT of the front axle. This was the preferred location for GM steering boxes until the Feds made them move them back in 1969. Naturally, a beer can has more structural rigidity than a 60's GM product, so the predictable result of hitting anything in the Corvair was that the steering wheel shot out of the dash and upwards, neatly breaking the driver's neck. This design "feature" was present up to 1969 when the collapsable steering column was installed, hopefully preventing any more unnecessary deaths. Fortunately, even the Japanese have figured out crash safety, so we can drive at the ridiculous speeds we do and not risk instant death in an accident (unless driving a US made SUV). Peter On Tuesday, October 25, 2005, at 10:47 PM, David Brodbeck wrote: Peter Frederick wrote: Unless I'm mistaken, the Ponton was the first chassis with crumple zones and a rigid passenger compartment. the Adenauer was the last car built with a separate chassis with body bolted on. Makes Detroit's refusal to do anything to make cars safer look pretty shabby. Which was actually the point of Ralph Nader's book, "Unsafe at Any Speed." I'd gotten the impression, from the automotive press, that it was mostly a diatribe against the Corvair's unusual handling characteristics. When I read it I was surprised to find that it was, in fact, mostly about other safety flaws that applied to many cars, and about the general lack of interest Detroit had in safety at the time. Problems like hard-surfaced dashboards, non-collapsible steering columns, chrome trim in the driver's eye line, and cars sold with tires that weren't designed to support their fully loaded weight. It's still an interesting read, just to see where we've come from. ___ For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net
Re: [MBZ] Crumple zones
Peter Frederick wrote: Unless I'm mistaken, the Ponton was the first chassis with crumple zones and a rigid passenger compartment. the Adenauer was the last car built with a separate chassis with body bolted on. Makes Detroit's refusal to do anything to make cars safer look pretty shabby. Which was actually the point of Ralph Nader's book, "Unsafe at Any Speed." I'd gotten the impression, from the automotive press, that it was mostly a diatribe against the Corvair's unusual handling characteristics. When I read it I was surprised to find that it was, in fact, mostly about other safety flaws that applied to many cars, and about the general lack of interest Detroit had in safety at the time. Problems like hard-surfaced dashboards, non-collapsible steering columns, chrome trim in the driver's eye line, and cars sold with tires that weren't designed to support their fully loaded weight. It's still an interesting read, just to see where we've come from.
Re: [MBZ] Crumple zones
Unless I'm mistaken, the Ponton was the first chassis with crumple zones and a rigid passenger compartment. the Adenauer was the last car built with a separate chassis with body bolted on. Makes Detroit's refusal to do anything to make cars safer look pretty shabby. Peter
Re: [MBZ] Crumple zones
BillR wrote: Steve MacSween wrote: As to Mercedes, I assume you had tongue in cheek? Mercedes was the first company to actually crash test vehicles (in the late 1950s or early 60s), and it was a Mercedes engineer who patented the concept of automotive crumple zones. I was told that the '62 220Sb I was driving when I had 'the big one' was the first production car with them. I didn't exactly walk away from a head-on at 55MPH [3mos in the hospital, three more in a body cast] but I lived a lot longer than the girl who hit me in her boy friends mid 60's Chevy. Steering column through her chest. Pretty sure the mid/late 50s pontons were built using crumple zones. I have several friends and relatives that have survived highway head-ons in Mercedes built between the late 50s thru the early 80s. If I have to have a head-on, I'd prefer it be in a Mercedes. Marshall -- Marshall Booth Ph.D. Ass't Prof. (ret.) Univ of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Department of Pharmacology 1300 BST Pittsburgh PA 15261 USA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [MBZ] Crumple zones
Actually, I think it was 1953, along with unibody construction. They have improved each rendition 55mph headon in ANY car you are lucky to be alive! Peter
[MBZ] Crumple zones
> Steve MacSween wrote: >> As to Mercedes, I assume you had tongue in cheek? Mercedes was the first >> company to actually crash test vehicles (in the late 1950s or early 60s), >> and it was a Mercedes engineer who patented the concept of automotive >> crumple zones. > I was told that the '62 220Sb I was driving when I had 'the big one' was the first production car with them. I didn't exactly walk away from a head-on at 55MPH [3mos in the hospital, three more in a body cast] but I lived a lot longer than the girl who hit me in her boy friends mid 60's Chevy. Steering column through her chest. BillR Jacksonville FL 1981 300SD 265K / 200K engine [?]