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From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Had a woman (sorry, "person" for you PC'ers ) back into my DD doing well less than 5mph the other day, and the adjustment came out to just over $1000 for purely cosmetic damage.
Then, again, it's a Caddy, so any time it needs more attention than an oil change it pretty much costs $1000.
i had a car run into the back of my 72 at less than 5 mph and did $1,500 of damage including cracks in the fiberglass.those bumpers are for looks only.
I also had a frontal crash at 45 mph in a c5. Broke the frame in 3 places and the engine cradle so the engine drops down - all just like it is supposed to. I was knocked out and had a cut on my forehead from the airbag. I was back home that afternoon with a headache and a totaled car but not much else. I would have died if i had been in my c3.
I do recall an article, circa 1978, that detailed how the rear spare was indeed part of the rear impact system and its contributuion to safety. I've looked for it a couple of times when this has come up in the past, but haven't had luck finding it. If ever I do I will definitely post.
I've also learned Jim Shea is one of the guys here who knows what he's talking about.
It only took them 15 years to figure out that they did something right.
I would urge us to not forget, your butt is about 10 inches from the pavement. Try rear-ending or a head-on with a Suburban or similar and see who walks away. Height above the other guy is important.
Car vs CAR you are correct, BUT, take a look at the stupid bumper heights of these damn SCHOOL BUSES running around these daze, you can drive ANY car under the back of them and that bumper take the tops and heads off any passengers....not teven a little steel stop bar/brace like they used to mandate on 18 wheelers/similar trucks....
The heights are really very different on just about any truck and suv...here are my two graphically. The ramp is for my older of the two greyhounds to get down instead of jumping down onto older, thin greyhound legbones...cheaper than a vet visit and splints!
Actually fiberglass has excellent energy absorbing abilities as it breaks. Motorcycle/motorsport helmets are made of fiberglass or other plastic material designed to absorb energy as it deforms/breaks. I've never seen a metal motorcycle/motorsports helmet.
In the fifties there were stories going around about Corvettes that disintegrated and burst into flame when in an accident. Mostly they were just urban legends.
Like I said earlier, a side strike in the gills area will put your kick plate against your tranny tunnel. The impact broke my left leg and drove the bone from it into the right lower leg. Not all that much speed, just a little whip action from the back end breaking loose and coming around.