Morris Minor Owners Club

Chevrolets, that is.
Very graphic demonstration of how far things have come in crash proofing.
If the 50s car is anything like the one I rode in while in Cuba, each door seems to contain enough metal to make a small Japanese hatchback.
http://www.autobild.de/autobild-tv/?clip_id=1640

Sorry about the advert .

Sorry about the advert

It's certainly a good advert for seatbelts!
Watching from the interior, the steering column on the 59 nearly decapitates the dummy.

On a minor the driving position is relatively a bit higher, and the steering column is aimed at your chest
For those who prefer not to fit seatbelts in their classics - this may raise goosebumps.

The Minor steering column is designed to buckle the wheel forwards and away from the driver in a severe frontal. This was a design feature Issi carried on into the Mini. However - there is no doubt that seat belts have saved many many severe injuries and deaths - yet I still read weekly of accidents where passengers are killed by being thrown out of the vehicle - obviously they were not belted in.

In this case discussion about seatbelts is a bit academic as the dashboard moves so far towards the drivers seat.

A bit of research shows the Chevrolet Bel Air has 300-400-lb weight advantage and the test was done at 40 mph by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Vehicle safety has come on a long way. Look at this video of a Ford Sierra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-eFHwcjUr4 Notice how the A pillar buckles and the "fuel" coming out of the fuel filler.

Here is a the Mini http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tLE6gd-8AM

And a Saab http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2Q0Yam9X7o

Wearing seatbelts saves lifes. Modern safety systems are tuned so that the seat belt tensions, then actually releases and lets the airbag and steering column absorb energy.

Is there an engine in that 59?

Having done some more research I think it has a straight six like this:http://image.streetrodderweb.com/f/9144 ... engine.jpg

The modern car probably has a transverse engine.
That would explain why the 59 comes of so badly.

I was wrong about seatbelts being academic in this situation.
It would be preferable to be held in place rather than be moving forwards to meet the dash.

my 61 saloon hasnt got any seat belts fitted
after seeing this video i think i will be buying some

Wasn't there a story a few years back that Tamill Tigers were stripping the steering column out of moggies to adapt as rifle barrels?
Gives you a rough idea of the damage it would do to your chest! Don't forget the dash is not soft plastic either.
Originality is great for shows, but for everyday driving, seat belts are a must

I think there was something like this on the Practical Classics forum a while ago.

I would point out that whilst modern cars have all these safety features, I sometimes feel that they lull their drivers into a delusion of immortality and a false sense of security. Also modern cars can cocoon drivers, who lose the impression of excess speed. Some are not so forgiving as a Minor and so when you overcook it, you're in for a big off, with little warning.

Aside from that, for me, working on a ******* modern would be more likely to bring on a coronary, so I'll take my chances thank you .

To get people to drive better a spike on the steering wheel would work much better than an air bag.

Nice story about the Tamil Tigers, the steel is probably good enough quality but I doubt that it would be accurately bored out or rifled.

It was one of the rules in pre 57 racing that a collapsible steering column had to be fitted, I believe.

Someone, who lived in Sri Lanka for a while, told me that if you want someone murdered out there, about £25 was the going rate . So he said, it was a sideline for off duty Police officers .

The Minor steering column is designed to buckle the wheel forwards and away from the driver in a severe frontal.

I'm not sure where you got that idea from, but it's certainly not designed to buckle and there is nothing to move the wheel away from the driver.
the steering wheel is designed to buckle, which then leaves the column as a spear - seatbelts are definately the way to go in a Minor.

Wasn't there a story a few years back that Tamill Tigers were stripping the steering column out of moggies to adapt as rifle barrels?

Having just come back from there its not really needed as the driving standard would keep the population down on its own.

this jeep is better

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N309xX66 ... re=related

If you want truly scary try searching on Chinese crash test.
How about this?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOFIt9iw1Fs
I'd take my chances in a Minor over a Chinese car .

looks like the boot is the safest place to be in that car

after seeing this US crash testing from the 60s you can see how a few things have developed, antiburst doors & seatbelts for example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siT-SIfO ... re=related

Good grief, that film makes a compelling case for seat belts.