On modern cars the bonnet and engine bay area and boot area are very weak, containing the crumple zones and plastic energy absorbing bumpers etc. So crashing one will almost definatly write it off. But the basic shell where passengers sit is extremely strong, usually to the point where even in a serious crash there will be no distortion to its shape. Because of the materials used and the shape its fabricated into it doesnt matter if the bonnets small or big like it would on an old car.
On an old car the whole thing is usually strong, so hitting something will bend and distort it in all sorts of places. The cars are sometimes even still drivable after the impact, wheras on a modern car its dead!
Ive seen some old crash tests from the states in the 50s and 60s using dead bodies as dummies, the cars were usually ok afterwards but the insides of the bodies were totally mangled. Apparantly where the organs keep moving inside as the car rapidly decelerates.
You can see this when cars are banger raced, old cars will usually take alot of damage and be in a very sorry state before they die altogether but more modern stuff doesnt often last as long as the front and rear collapses so easily but the passenger area wont often distort much at all.
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Jan 5th, 2008, 19:59
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