There was never more variability in NHTSA's full-frontal 35 mph crash testing program than in its inaugural years (1979-1980). By the last year of the original program (2010), even that year's worst performer still got 4 stars out of 5, with minor to moderate injuries likely.
But in the first few years, the injury risks were all over the place: in the best vehicles, you could probably walk away with minor injuries, whereas the worst would have been a guaranteed fatality. But even the best performers of 1980 would rank near the bottom by 2010 standards.
Remember, "passing" was considered a HIC below 1,000 and Chest G's below 60. Serious injury was considered unlikely if forces fell below these levels.
In 1979-1980, there were 52 vehicles tested.
Driver HICs ranged from 547 to 4,611, averaging 1,288; chest G's from 38 to 101, averaging 57.0.
Passenger HICs ranged from 429 to 2,858, averaging 1,332; chest G's from 33 to 108, averaging 49.9
In 2009-2010, there were 64 vehicles tested.
Driver HICs ranged from 186 to 885, averaging 392; chest G's from 34 to 54, averaging 41.6.
Passenger HICs ranged from 234 to 835, averaging 428; chest G's from 29 to 52, averaging 41.4.
The vehicles' interiors were generally undamaged or suffered minor damage, save for deployed airbags.
Out of the cars tested by NHTSA for the 1979-1980 model year, the best performer was the 1980 Cadillac Seville, which had been redesigned for that model year. Forces on the driver were a 622 HIC and 43 Chest G's, on the passenger 523 HIC and 35 Chest G's; this would have been good for 4 driver stars and 5 passenger stars, and injuries probably would have been minor. The occupant compartment did suffer some intrusion, but maintained ample survival space. The passenger's head did not strike the dashboard.
However, when looked at by modern standards, the Seville's performance falls short. The driver's door was jammed; the front passenger door and rear left door were difficult to open. The driver's head struck the steering wheel, producing a momentary force of 91 g's. The dashboard was effectively destroyed on impact, with "parts of dash panel instrumentation and ducting lying loose on seats and dummies" after the test. In effect, you'd be alive and probably not seriously injured, but your head would be hurting and you'd be looking at a mangled dash. The HIC of 622 would be 3rd worst if placed in the 2009-2010 driver grouping.
The 1979 Peugeot 504, on the other hand, performed abysmally even by the lowly standards of the time period. Forces on the driver were a 4,611 HIC and 62 Chest G's; on the passenger, 2,535 HIC and 43 Chest G's. Fatality would be virtually assured for the driver and over a 90% chance for the passenger. The occupant compartment was buckled so badly that the dummies had to be removed through the side windows. The A-pillars were pushed back several inches. The driver dummy was pinned to the steering wheel. The dash was bent and twisted. The driver's head struck the steering wheel at 34 mph - crash speed was 35!
A major reason that the Seville's and 504's performance was so different was the time period in which they were designed. The Seville was a brand new design, launched in late 1979, whereas the 504 had launched in 1968. Huge strides in car safety design and technology were made in those 11 years.
The Seville was also American, whereas the 504 was French. At that time, the USA (and Germany and Sweden, for that matter) was far ahead on car safety (see the American vs. Import post). French cars continued to be some of the worst performers in NHTSA testing through the 1980s, for example the 1982 Renault Fuego, a then-new design. which scored the second-worst HIC score ever in NHTSA testing (behind the 504). A far cry from the post-2000 era when French cars have been performing very well in crash tests.
Both vehicles had ample engine compartment space available, and both crushed about the same amount: 24 inches. However, the Seville's front end took most of the damage; it's badly crushed, but the occupant compartment is in much better shape, clearly the work of rudimentary crumple zone design. The Peugeot's front end shows a limited amount of crush; the occupant compartment looks to be damaged worse than the front end!
But in the first few years, the injury risks were all over the place: in the best vehicles, you could probably walk away with minor injuries, whereas the worst would have been a guaranteed fatality. But even the best performers of 1980 would rank near the bottom by 2010 standards.
Remember, "passing" was considered a HIC below 1,000 and Chest G's below 60. Serious injury was considered unlikely if forces fell below these levels.
In 1979-1980, there were 52 vehicles tested.
Driver HICs ranged from 547 to 4,611, averaging 1,288; chest G's from 38 to 101, averaging 57.0.
Passenger HICs ranged from 429 to 2,858, averaging 1,332; chest G's from 33 to 108, averaging 49.9
In 2009-2010, there were 64 vehicles tested.
Driver HICs ranged from 186 to 885, averaging 392; chest G's from 34 to 54, averaging 41.6.
Passenger HICs ranged from 234 to 835, averaging 428; chest G's from 29 to 52, averaging 41.4.
The vehicles' interiors were generally undamaged or suffered minor damage, save for deployed airbags.
Out of the cars tested by NHTSA for the 1979-1980 model year, the best performer was the 1980 Cadillac Seville, which had been redesigned for that model year. Forces on the driver were a 622 HIC and 43 Chest G's, on the passenger 523 HIC and 35 Chest G's; this would have been good for 4 driver stars and 5 passenger stars, and injuries probably would have been minor. The occupant compartment did suffer some intrusion, but maintained ample survival space. The passenger's head did not strike the dashboard.
However, when looked at by modern standards, the Seville's performance falls short. The driver's door was jammed; the front passenger door and rear left door were difficult to open. The driver's head struck the steering wheel, producing a momentary force of 91 g's. The dashboard was effectively destroyed on impact, with "parts of dash panel instrumentation and ducting lying loose on seats and dummies" after the test. In effect, you'd be alive and probably not seriously injured, but your head would be hurting and you'd be looking at a mangled dash. The HIC of 622 would be 3rd worst if placed in the 2009-2010 driver grouping.
The 1979 Peugeot 504, on the other hand, performed abysmally even by the lowly standards of the time period. Forces on the driver were a 4,611 HIC and 62 Chest G's; on the passenger, 2,535 HIC and 43 Chest G's. Fatality would be virtually assured for the driver and over a 90% chance for the passenger. The occupant compartment was buckled so badly that the dummies had to be removed through the side windows. The A-pillars were pushed back several inches. The driver dummy was pinned to the steering wheel. The dash was bent and twisted. The driver's head struck the steering wheel at 34 mph - crash speed was 35!
A major reason that the Seville's and 504's performance was so different was the time period in which they were designed. The Seville was a brand new design, launched in late 1979, whereas the 504 had launched in 1968. Huge strides in car safety design and technology were made in those 11 years.
The Seville was also American, whereas the 504 was French. At that time, the USA (and Germany and Sweden, for that matter) was far ahead on car safety (see the American vs. Import post). French cars continued to be some of the worst performers in NHTSA testing through the 1980s, for example the 1982 Renault Fuego, a then-new design. which scored the second-worst HIC score ever in NHTSA testing (behind the 504). A far cry from the post-2000 era when French cars have been performing very well in crash tests.
Both vehicles had ample engine compartment space available, and both crushed about the same amount: 24 inches. However, the Seville's front end took most of the damage; it's badly crushed, but the occupant compartment is in much better shape, clearly the work of rudimentary crumple zone design. The Peugeot's front end shows a limited amount of crush; the occupant compartment looks to be damaged worse than the front end!
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