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corvette crash test.

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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 02:20 PM
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Default corvette crash test.

anyone ever seen one? like the ones they tv shows, like dateline, or 20/20. when i purchsed my vette about 4 mos. ago, i popped the hood for a look. there doesn't appear to be much protection if a front end collision occured. anyone ever been involved in one, with a vette. it looks like the front end would just break up upon impact. where can you get info on this subject.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 02:22 PM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

That's the idea- make the car smash, not you. I hear c4's had excellent front impact ratings.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 02:23 PM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

Why do you think there are no bumpers on the vettes? :lol: I'm guessing that it would just be totalled if it were in a front end collision of moderate speed or faster.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 02:29 PM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

i know the more enrgy the car can absorb on impact and disipate, the better off the occupants would be. if just seems, even in a low speed impact, say 40-50mph, that motor and all, would end up in the car with you.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 02:32 PM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

The bumper is embedded inthe front nose.
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 02:36 PM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (Smash)

I saw a lot of candidate’s up @ Carlisle :D :D :D
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 02:37 PM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

i found it. this off the nhtsa web site..1984---c4 Chevrolet Corvette--- 2Dr-- 3680 (**** ) (*****). the four stars are what it received in a front end collision. the five stars are for side impact.
4 stars=les than 20% of serious injury
5 stars=less than 10% of serious injury
5 stars being the highest .
try this link: http://www.crashtest.com/explanations/archive/crash.htm

[Modified by mikes84vette, 12:46 PM 8/28/2001]


[Modified by mikes84vette, 12:51 PM 8/28/2001]
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 08:18 PM
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Default 40-50 a low speed accident?

The crash tests are done with the equivalent of a car going 40 hitting a non moving car or 2 cars colliding head on at 20 mph.

Imagine 2 cars going 60...
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 09:41 PM
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Default Re: 40-50 a low speed accident? (PylonBoy)

you are missing the point.

ever watch formula 1, CART or professional sports cars (ALMS)?? those cars break apart on impact, leaving the cockpit in one piece.

That my friends, is the basic idea here.

The C4 corvettes use a backbone space frame design. pioneered by Lotus in the mid 70s. Take another look under the hood. You will find the bumper, and right behind the radiator is a cross member.

The other strength comes from the side rails. Take a peek at the size of the chassis' frame rails. they are very stout.

Also, the fibreglass materials used have properties not unlike carbon fibre. Fibreglass is not as strong, mind you, but does crumple the same sorta way.

the entire idea here is for the car to accept the energy of the impact before the occupants get the energy.

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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 09:52 PM
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Default Re: 40-50 a low speed accident? (bogus)

I know that's how automotive safety is supposed to work, just people don't realize the violence of a collision at a "low" speed. Some people I run into tend to thing those take place with 2 cars going 55 or 60, not 20.


[Modified by PylonBoy, 7:53 PM 8/28/2001]
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Old Aug 28, 2001 | 11:42 PM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

anyone ever seen one? like the ones they tv shows, like dateline, or 20/20. when i purchsed my vette about 4 mos. ago, i popped the hood for a look. there doesn't appear to be much protection if a front end collision occured. anyone ever been involved in one, with a vette. it looks like the front end would just break up upon impact. where can you get info on this subject.









:smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:
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Old Aug 29, 2001 | 01:21 AM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

Pls don't show those horrible pictures again... poor car :cry
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Old Aug 29, 2001 | 11:47 AM
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Default Re: 40-50 a low speed accident? (PylonBoy)

PylonBoy,

Some people I run into...
:eek:

probably just a coincidental choice of terms eh? :p:

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Old Aug 29, 2001 | 02:04 PM
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Default Re: 40-50 a low speed accident? (SLEV89)

This is great as long as the vehicle that your crashing with does not climb the hood and take your head off. i have seen a few pics where the other car or truck climbed right over it and into the windshield. :eek:
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Old Aug 29, 2001 | 04:10 PM
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Default Re: 40-50 a low speed accident? (ConeKLR)

THAT is the weakness... Jerome Brown, defensive lineman for the Eagles was killed a number of years back when his ZR1 flipped... He was also a HUGE dude...

I suspect, tho, he was not wearing seatbelts. don't remember for sure.
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Old Aug 30, 2001 | 01:02 AM
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Default Re: 40-50 a low speed accident? (SLEV89)

ok, some poeple I coincidently meet...

I hit pylons on racetracks, that's all.
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Old Aug 30, 2001 | 09:53 AM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

Haven't seen the crash test ~ did my own ... see my sig :(

All things considered ~ the Vette feels pretty safe in a crash

The front end did what it was supposed to do ... absorb all the energy, leaving me with virtually no injuries.

Also, the great handling & stability of the car was the main difference of me being able to avoid a head on (compliments of an errant driver)

It's definitely no fun playing bumper cars with your own Vette, but at least I will feel a lot safer when I get her back on the road after repairs.
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Old Aug 30, 2001 | 10:01 AM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

to me, the point of having a car that can handle, is to be able to AVOID being in that position. but it is great to know that the car will absorb the forces well.
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Old Aug 30, 2001 | 12:50 PM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

anyone see the movie about, the band, def leppard. anyway, the drummer, wrecked his vette, i belived he rolled it. i saw a actual picture of the car some where, but can't find it now. anyway, he lost his arm, but i belive his girlfriend walked away with minimal injuries. after checking around, on the web, the vette seems to be overall a good solid car when it comes to crashes. i don't think they went cheap on anything when putting this car together.
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Old Aug 30, 2001 | 05:27 PM
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Default Re: corvette crash test. (mikes84vette)

I saw a late bodied C4 crash on one of those police chase videos. It crashed (more like bounced off) sideways into the the back of a slow moving semi. Parts of the car were strewn all over the place. The car thief who had stolen the car only sustained minor injuries (maybe not even that). The passenger compartment was still in one piece and saved the scumbag :smash: - unfortunately. :(
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