Crash test dummies ...1959 Impala vs. 2009 Malibu
 

Head on crash video....

Crash test: '59 Chevy vs. '09 Chevy - Multimedia - MSN Money

Impressive. Here's to crush zones. Even ignoring the '59's lack of seatbelts, the passenger compartment absolutely collapsed on the driver. The Malibu stayed totally intact.

That's pretty amazing. I would not've thought those results. The driver compartment comparison is the tell all. The Malibu absorbed all the energy and left the driver's compartment completely intact. Looks like the steering wheel and/or shaft would've killed the driver of the 59. Along with his head being smashed by the roof. Looks like airbags and shoulder belts have saved a few lives.

Every year, two major studies of new vehicles are released: a crash test rating and a rating of how much a vehicle will cost to repair if in a crash. Most people don't understand that the more damage a vehicle takes, in general, the more energy it absorbs (and therefore doesn't transfer to occupants).

Years ago I had a Mercedes-Benz 300D. I had it in for some work. I was talking to another lady in the lobby that had the same car. She loved it. It was in a rear-end crash and only sustained $300 worth of damage--all that needed to be replaced was the rubber bumper strip. That's right, the 6,000 lb. car hardly took any damage. Then she mentioned in passing that she broke both of her legs in the crash. Yep, the car had absorbed very little energy from the impact and transferred it all right to her.

Wow.