The Volvo Experimental Safety Car
The frowning driver in this photo must be seething that he has to model with such a fugly car. But what this Volvo Experimental Safety Car (VESC) lacks in looks, it makes up for in driver protection.
How did anyone survive the 1960’s?
After seeing this video, I have no idea how anyone survived driving in the 1960s. When you combine ridiculous amounts of power with minimal seat belts, no child safety seats and inadequate chassis rigidity, it’s no wonder accident survival rates were so low.
I love my headrest!
Via How We Drive.
Jalopnik Hearts Bricks
In their Question of the Day “What Car Makes you Feel Safe?” Jalopnik shows the love for the 240:
For an almost 25-year-old wagon it’s quite nimble and we feel maneuverability is just as important as anything else because you’re best advantage in a possible crash is avoiding it.
50 years of crash test dummies
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety celebrated their 50th anniversary by playing chicken with a 1959 and a 2009 Chevrolet. Neither car blinked and now they’re dead. If I had a choice, I’d go with the 2009 Malibu… and my life.
This is the extended footage, which includes scary interior footage from the Bel Air.
Safe for 1974
A 1974 244 runs into a wall at 45 MPH and all the impact is absorbed by the front end, with the passenger compartment barely affected. Nice.
Ye Olde Volvo Crash Tests
This ad has been posted and pulled from YouTube before, so we’ll see how long it lasts. 45 seconds of crash-porn, showing old bricks being thrown, crushed and rolled to test for safety. The twist is that this is supposed to show how BAD those cars were, because drivers needed to push the brake pedal themselves. With “City Safety” your car will stop for you. Meh.
Great Jumping Bricks
Tons of Volvo hoonage on YouTube. I think this is what young dudes in Sweden do for fun. Most are 240s, but I threw in a couple 740s. All of them drive away.
Don’t Buy Chinese Trucks
It’s hard to tell from the video if this truck is hitting a wall, or a pillow; the front end is so crushed it just disappears. I think the manufacturer only cared to save the CARGO, not the occupants.
The Best Car to Die In?
The Jalopnik blog rated the Volvo 240 as the 5th best car to die in because it’d be so damn hard to.
…if you manage to die in one of these — the automotive answer to “Why don’t they just make the whole airplane the same way they make the black box?” — you’re really trying. We believe effort should count for something in today’s shoddy, lackadaisical world.
Sweet black brick they have for an image.
