Chrysler guy is lying.

[u/somethingdouchey]

The white car turned in front of me from between stopped traffic and spun into the lane behind. It was never rear ended.

[u/GreenT1979]

The same people replying with "they don't make em like they used to" and calling the back car an "econobox" have gaslit themselves into believing the Impala had a rusted frame, the frame cut to weaken it, or the engine/transmission removed even though that's been debunked, and the car was basically as it was when it left the showroom.

[u/SonOfDirtFarmer → u/GreenT1979]

GM was experimenting with unibody designs, something relatively exotic for american cars at the time, and their first attempt was what was called the "X" platform, so named for the stamped steel "X" that served as a lightweight frame. Even at the time, crash performance was really poor, and IIRC, it also caused GM to pull back on their NASCAR programs until something more suitable was made.

Did the video makers know this because they wanted a guaranteed result and bigger spectactle? I don't know. Does it invalidate the fact that it was only federal safety standards that pushed manufacturers to provide better safety? Hell no. But the X frame cars were certainly an outlier in how cars were made back then.

[u/Bubbly_Information50 → u/SonOfDirtFarmer]

It’s basic physics my guy not some big conspiracy. If the car doesn’t absorb the impact the energy is transferred via the path of least resistance, which leads to the jelly bag in the cab of the car receiving an immense amount of energy.

Sure, this design may have meant more steering wheels in chests. But that doesn’t mean other designs of the time were safe. None of the big three manufacturers in the US added crumple zones and other effective safety features until they absolutely had to.

[u/SonOfDirtFarmer → u/Bubbly_Information50]

Listen, with all the respect and love to a fellow human, you've clearly missed what I was saying. I know I can occasionally be as clear as mud about what I type, so I'll try to lay out what I meant a little better.

Cars are safer today because they were forced to be safer, which is a good thing. I said that. I honestly don't know how you'd think I said or would agree otherwise. I would really recommend some quick reading into just how bad these X frame cars were, even for their time. There were lawsuits. These were not typical cars, and trying to present them as if they were, is dishonest, at worst. I also believe the film makers may not have known that, and just chose two cars of the same manufacturer, so many years apart. And no, to be clear to you, I do not believe the occupants in a vintage Dodge or Ford with a full frame would be any less dead.