How does a clone hold up in front end crashes?

[oldcarnut]

I haven't seen any crash pics of where clones with all fiberglass parts held up after some front end impact.  I wondered since some of the original metal bumpers, braces etc. are removed and replaced with weak fiberglass pieces, zbraces etc.  Wouldn't expect things to go too well in a crash especially after seeing how the Vette I once had broke up from someone just backing into it.  Come to think about it, how did the real Daytonas and Birds hold up in front? Anyone got any experiences to share? Seeing the Duster and some others recently posted got me thinking about it.

[Ghoste]

I haven't seen any pics either but like you, I can't imagine a fiberglass nose would hold up in any sort of frontal impact.

[nascarxx29]

Probably worse than this

http://www.wreckedexotics.com/viper/

[Troy]

Uh, not well? The original noses were just sheet metal without a whole lot of bracing - certainly nothing like a bumper with thick metal supports. Of course, the bumpers on these old cars just transferred the impact to the rest of the car (bending frame rails, inner fenders, cowls, etc.) whereas newer cars have crumple zones. Perhaps 18" of fiberglass or steel will protect the front end of the car? Unfortunately, that stuff is usually the most expensive! None of these cars (even stock) would have fared any better than that Duster.

Troy

[62 Max]

I doubt anyone is going to smash one up to compare.

[nascarxx29]

On a unrelated note.I salvaged a original set of Z brackets that surived from a front wreckoriginal 69 daytona.They didnt take on to much damage being the originals.The rad support and 1 straight channel was wiped out
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,46821.0.html

[pettybird]

I doubt anyone is going to smash one up to compare.

I would also recommend the "don't try it with either setup" plan. 

[moparstuart]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,52395.msg586331.html#msg586331

  from this thread hear is how a real one didnt fare to well

[moparstuart]

but happy ending he beat it out pretty well

[bruce kepley]

Not too good...happened to me in January, 1988, on the way to buy spark plugs in Charlotte, NC...but you should have seen the rear end, it held up worse...cost the guy who hit me ten grand to fix it...bruce kepley

[moparstuart]

waynes first deer hit back in the late 80's

[moparstuart]

waynes second deer hit  this year     http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,58652.0.html

[nascarxx29]

Not too good...happened to me in January, 1988, on the way to buy spark plugs in Charlotte, NC...but you should have seen the rear end, it held up worse...cost the guy who hit me ten grand to fix it...bruce kepley

but you should have seen the rear end, it held up worse

Trust me .I know first hand how a rear end of a superbird holds up after being rear ended by a truck in the 80-s.My old car 19K mile 6 pack 4 speed RM23VOA179697

[Daytona Guy]

I was in Bartlesville OK in 1985 driving on River Lake Road to church one night. I was driving about 45 MPH and all I saw was the silhouette of this big buck from the lights of oncoming traffic. All I could do is slam on my breaks. I hit the dear head on. I knocked the legs out from under it and the dear flew over the roof of the car leaving deep long antler scratches the length of the roof. I pulled over and my nose cone was fine, although it had dear hair imbedded in my paint with only my headlight doors bashed in and the front of the hood dinged in from what must have been from the knee of the dear. The dear landed behind my car and got up and limped off. I will never forget seeing that dear fly over my head.

The nose cone saved my car. Slamming on the brakes lowered my nose and knocked the legs out from under the dear. My speed and fact that the dear must have jumped at the same time I hit it sent the dear over my car. The nose cone after further investigation had collapsed in and bounced back, because the paint had long flex cracks in it.

This is the nose after the hit... no body work needed. If this was a steal nose it would have been mashed... Also, I don't use Z brackets in any of my clones; this allowed for flexibility.