Wow how car safety has improved, 1978 SIMCA crash test

[ambulancekidd]

No idea of speed involved in test, but how scary is this?

 

[AJM2]

Surprised a 1978 Simca could get to 80kph

 

[dunnah01]

My 1970 Fiat 500 also had the fuel tank above the twin set so every trip was with eyes out on stalks!

 

[Jamesh]

No idea of speed involved in test, but how scary is this?

Approx 45mph...

 

[Carpmart]

Wow.. as you say, fantastic that things have improved so much. I have to say I still feel somewhat vulnerable in the TOAD when driving… these little city cars are just very tiny tin cans…

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[2GB Racing]

Although 1960s classic cars are potentially cheap to run, and an appreciating asset could still be a death trap

 

[LeonC]

Using my skill and judgement and taking all the environmental conditions into account, and the prevailing weather conditions, I would say that's exactly 50mph or 80kph ... (plus it says so in the intro!! ).

In order to get to that speed in a Simca I suspect they've turned the camera sideways and pushed it off a cliff!

 

[Northernraider]

My dad had a 1972 one of those it was a great wee car .. id love to own one now

 

[Northernraider]

Using my skill and judgement and taking all the environmental conditions into account, and the prevailing weather conditions, I would say that's exactly 50mph or 80kph ... (plus it says so in the intro!! ).

In order to get to that speed in a Simca I suspect they've turned the camera sideways and pushed it off a cliff!

Those simca 1000s were pretty fast to be honest. My dad had one . They used them for rally cars in their day

 

[dunnah01]

Wow.. as you say, fantastic that things have improved so much. I have to say I still feel somewhat vulnerable in the TOAD when driving… these little city cars are just very tiny tin cans…

If it's a tiddly Smart then you'd be surprised how robust they are:

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[Bailey58]

As Rodney said to Uncle Albert in Danger UXD "well don't have an accident then!"

 

[poppycamper]

Simca were trailblazers... every car designed now has what Simca invented.... a crumple zone to keep occupants safe..

 

[dunnah01]

Simca were trailblazers... every car designed now has what Simca invented.... a crumple zone to keep occupants safe..

They even stop at the windscreen nowadays

 

[ambulancekidd]

Using my skill and judgement and taking all the environmental conditions into account, and the prevailing weather conditions, I would say that's exactly 50mph or 80kph ... (plus it says so in the intro!! ).

In order to get to that speed in a Simca I suspect they've turned the camera sideways and pushed it off a cliff!

Sorry mate, I didn't have time to look at the intro, just spotted the test & was shocked.

 

[LeonC]

Yes, that was just me trying to be funny. The bloody thing just disintegrated - frightening.

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[gpat]

Simca were trailblazers... every car designed now has what Simca invented.... a crumple zone to keep occupants safe..

Yes. You can clearly see that the passenger cell is not compromised at all.

 

[gpat]

If it's a tiddly Smart then you'd be surprised how robust they are:

Blimey. And that's a corner it's hit which is much worse than hitting a flat wall. Very impressive.

 

[bigwood]

A couple of my mates when I was stationed in Germany in the seventies had the Simla Rally One. It seemed a well kitted out car for its price and was certainly faster than my Hillman Imp.
My father had a Simca van to replace one of his firms Escort vans. At first it seemed better than the Escort but mechanically it became a nightmare. The gear change was terrible so his drivers were setting off in any gear they could find killing the clutch on a regular basis. The engine rattled from the top end no matter what the garage tried. One of the Anglia vans outlived the Simca.

 

[dunnah01]

Blimey. And that's a corner it's hit which is much worse than hitting a flat wall. Very impressive.

It's part of the reason why I'm not convinced that the current trend for huge cars 'because they're safer' actually stacks up.

eg Smart vs Limo

 

[Landy Andy]

I know which I would prefer to be in.

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[Steve and Denise]

Just because a car is smaller and lighter does not mean it is not safe, the more weight you have to stop the more damage it will sustain, paper is ten times as strong if folded hence tenfold

 

[Landy Andy]

Just because a car is smaller and lighter does not mean it is not safe, the more weight you have to stop the more damage it will sustain, paper is ten times as strong if folded hence tenfold

But the little car is having to stop the weight of the big car.

 

[Ivory55]

A lot of those old cars had crumple zones , called rust. Haha

 

[WESTY66]

The little car might possibly bounce off better

 

[sonar]

I had a simca. But at the time I was a lot lot younger and was invincible now I have to get a sturdy set of steps with a hand rail just to change a light bulb now.

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[dunnah01]

I know which I would prefer to be in.

Yeah me too - neither

 

[Guigsy]

The Smart Car stays structurally intact, but the crumple zones are tiny. The big Merc looks a mess, but it's absorbed all the impact and slowed down the occupants at a much lower rate, so far less risk of injuries. The deceleration in the Smart would rupture your innards! I guess you'd make a nice corpse though.

 

[cyberyacht]

I recall a relative of my first wife suggesting that a 12" spike set in the centre of the steering wheel would do wonders for road safety.

 

[Wannabee]

I had a Simca 1000 as in the video. Extensive rot as standard and the primitive transverse leaf on the front suspension was awful. Mine lost much of it's tension and my then girlfriend's dad helped me replace it. Never had a crash in it but wouldn't want to either, there wouldn't be much left of car or occupants I suspect.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

This just shows if you are a passenger in an old car travel in the boot as it’s much safer

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