Joe Curry wrote:
>
> Patrick,
> Does this mean I remove your "Black Beauty" from the database?
>
> As for the safety issue, The likelihood of the Indy or F1 cars hitting
> the wall or another car at that kind of speed is far greater than in a
> passenger car. What galls me is it seems that there is an intentional
> effort by automakers to see how much damage can be caused in a low speed
> collision. Safety when it matters is really the important issue. Your
> Spit didn't have crumple zones, but apparently was well enough designed
> to protect its occupants. But to have a highly over-priced car fold up
> like a cheap envelope is to me completely unnecessary.
>
> Case in point: A few years back I was involved in a 3-car rear end
> collision. It was my fault, but I ran up the rear of a new Honda Civic
> that in turn hit an older Civic. Both civics were total losses. The
> one I hit (about 25 mph) couldn't even get the doors open. My Chrysler
> LeBaron GTS (also a small car) received about $2000 front end damage.
> The only people who won were the body shops and new car dealers who
> could move another hunk of expensive metal. I can't imagine that the
> insurance companies let the auto manufacturers get away with this.
>
> Joe
>
> P.S. Let me know if you are gonna revive the Spit.
>
> Patrick Barber wrote:
> >
> > GatesDavid@aol.com wrote:
> > >
> > > A "modern" car is actually designed to be destroyed in an accident. The
>front
> > > and rear of the car are intended to smash in and act as a giant shock
>absorber
> > > thus sacrificing the car and saving the people. This is called the
>crumple
> > > zone for obvious reasons. Older cars were built with the idea that the
>more
> > > rigid the car is, the safer it would be. Hey, if the car survived, so
>would
> > > the people. In fact what happens is the car comes to a very sudden stop
>(no
> > > shock absorption) and the passengers fly forward. The car may survive
>with
> > > minimal damage but the passengers could suffer far worse injuries than the
> > > newer car that is now totaled.
> > >
> > > David Gates
> > > '73 Spitfire 1500 (rigid, but love it anyway)
> > > Hawaii
> > >
> > > In a message dated 98-07-31 21:10:07 EDT, you write:
> > >
> > > > This whole safety issue hit home yesterday when I was driving home. As
> > > > I started around a bend in the road, I noticed all sorts of flares
> > > > burning on both sides of the road. As I rounded the bend, I saw the
> > > > rear of a chrome bumper MGB on one side and the front of some
> > > > nondescript modern car on the other. The modern car's bumper and grill
> > > > were well caved-in. As I passed the MGB, I noticed that very little
> > > > damage had occurred to it even though the accident was obviously a
> > > > head-on.
> > > >
> > > > So, I must conclude that although safety standards have been updated in
> > > > recent years, the cars are not necessarily any stronger because of it.
> > I am glad to see that this thread has been started. Last Wednesday
> > 7/29, I totaled out my 74 Spit in an crash at a local intersection (only
> > 5 days since I was at VTR in Hudson). Both vehicles involved in the
> > crash were in pretty bad shape. The Frame and Bonnet on the Spit were
> > completely destroyed. I believe that if the accident involved a heaver,
> > stiffer framed vehicle (such as my 98 F150) the Other vehicle would most
> > certainly have sustained much greater damage. As it turns out, nobody
> > was injured in the slightest way. I will greatly sacrifice any
> > automobile for the safety and security of me or my passengers.
> >
> > BTW, I have seen crash videos from the 60's and 70's. I truly believe
> > that car and trucks are much safer due to crumple zones and energy
> > absorbing designs. Just watch a CART Indy car hit the wall at over 200
> > MPH and tell me that if the car had remained in 1 piece that the driver
> > would have as well...
> > --
> > Patrick Barber
> > 74 Spitfire 1500 (FM14774U)
> > "Go Red Wings" ... 1998 Stanley Cup Champions!!!
>
> --
> "If you can't excel with talent, triumph with effort."
>
> -- Dave Weinbaum in National Enquirer
Joe, Keep it in the database. I still haven't decided what to do with
it. I may rebuild it, I may part it out. All of my money is in the
Engine and Suspension which I can still salvage. The Body Tub is still
good. Both doors still open and close. The block does not seem to be
affected. I think the engine will still run for a short period of time
(due to the lack of coolant). Not all hope is lost...
--
Patrick Barber
74 Spitfire 1500 (FM14774U)
"Go Red Wings" ... 1998 Stanley Cup Champions!!!
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