Crash test '69 Charger R/T #475

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

This was posted over on Moparts....cool video of the actual test where the Charger gets obliterated.....has Hemi torque boxes & resonators on it as well 

http://www.youtube.com/v/DvuGlVXwwPc

[Ghoste]

Oh wow Chris!  Thanks man, that is a fascinating addition to the collection.

[Fred]

OMG!  Houston we have lift off! I'm going to make sure I never have a head on in mine.

[fy469rtse]

I don't think airbags would save you either in this sort of hit , the g forces alone would kill you, let alone getting in to you own sardine tin ready to be peeled snap fresh lol

[Ghoste]

It also has a trunk mounted antenna like a GL.

[Charger-Bodie]

It also has a trunk mounted antenna like a GL.

Maybe its one of the factory hemi general Lee edition Charger R/T's? 

[Fred]

I don't think airbags would save you either  lol

That's good because I don't have any.  

[Ghoste]

I wonder how fast the test collision was?  I think there must be some speed where the airbags wouldn't help you much.

[Mike DC]

           
The airbags will help you until the cabin collapses around you. 


Technically the G-force alone won't kill you until you're going pretty damn fast.  Like NASCAR fast.  The human body can survive an absolutely stupefying amount of peak G-force if the head & torso is totally restrained.  But there are limitations to what everyday passenger traffic is willing to wear in terms of restraints. 

That's why the concept of airbags worked so well.  They don't do anything that race car harnesses/seats/etc cannot do just as well.  But they do it without interfering with the passengers' comfort the rest of the time. 

 

[tracpack440]

There are other threads about this test. I remember the speed was 60 mph or possibly 90 mph. I think most any car at that speed will look like that

[1974dodgecharger]

If it does not sell i will just put in a test and crush it......

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Does not look like there was a driveshaft in it either....Im sure it was cable towed.   Wonder if there was an engine or trans in it....

Looking at the before pic & the video, it does seem a bit high in the front.  If there was an engine would it crumple like a tin can like it did?

[Ghoste]

I thought I saw a driveshaft??

[Homerr]

Elsewhere in another thread it was noted that the driveshaft is bent, it can be seen between the mufflers as the car rises.  Hemi resonators and torque boxes.  I don't know the whole history, but this was thought to be the hemi XP car...a prototype?

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

I thought I saw a driveshaft??

IDK....look close before the car folds up.....the yoke is spinning free with nothing attached to it...the tube you see flying off looks like the left side pipe of the H-pipe to me 

[Ghoste]

I don't recall the alleged Hemi XP car having a bumblebee stripe.   Also there is no Hemi badge on the door.

[Ghoste]

I don't know Chris, the bent tube looks to me like it has a u-joint on the end of it?

[Dino]

You can see the driveshaft being ripped off the pumpkin, which in turn dumps its oil.  Nasty.

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

You can see the driveshaft being ripped off the pumpkin, which in turn dumps its oil.  Nasty.

Yes looking again I think you're right...where the hell did the engine & trans go??

[Dino]

You can see the driveshaft being ripped off the pumpkin, which in turn dumps its oil.  Nasty.

Yes looking again I think you're right...where the hell did the engine & trans go??

Probably on the front seat! 

[Mike DC]

 
Yeah, it doesn't take NASCAR speeds just to fold a car up like that.  I don't know if 50mph would do it but 100 sure as hell would.  (Think about your typical slo-mo 30mph crash test video - the car is invariably getting destroyed.  And 30 isn't a lot of force compared to 60 or 100.)

There is a huge difference between hitting another vehicle versus hitting an immovable object like a concrete wall.  Think about hitting a tree trunk.  Trees DO NOT MOVE and it doesn't take much speed at all to really mess up a car.



 
A crash test without an engine is too far removed from the stock vehicle to be informative.  The factory would have known that.

The factory normally set the torsion bars up higher than anyone does today.  Even most 100% stock restorations don't have them set high enough to be truly dealership-accurate.
 

[tan top]

,

Elsewhere in another thread it was noted that the driveshaft is bent, it can be seen between the mufflers as the car rises.  Hemi resonators and torque boxes.  I don't know the whole history, but this was thought to be the hemi XP car...a prototype?

took these  pictures while   pausing  the video with a digital camera  

    

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,102098.0.html

[nascarxx29]

Havent seen it in a while .But seen it before what a crash

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php?topic=545.0
http://www.streetlegaltv.com/news/vintage-pic-depicts-flattened-69-charger-in-head-on-crash-test/

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

,

Elsewhere in another thread it was noted that the driveshaft is bent, it can be seen between the mufflers as the car rises.  Hemi resonators and torque boxes.  I don't know the whole history, but this was thought to be the hemi XP car...a prototype?

took these  pictures while   pausing  the video with a digital camera 

  http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,102098.0.html

Missed that thread completely!