Old Cars vs. New Cars...Which is Safer?

For more than 40 years I have worked on cars and am now the proud owner of RustBlasters, in Chilliwack, BC. I have always believed that the older cars, with their tough, solid metal bodies were much safer in a crash than their newer fiberglass counterparts. But out of curiosity the other day, I investigated…and you may be surprised at what I found.

What I have found out is that while the quality and substance of modern day cars appears to be inferior, they are actually designed to crush or collapse, while transferring the energy around the stronger passenger compartment to protect the passengers from injury.

Many people say about newer cars, “they don’t make them like they used to” and I would have to agree when it comes to looks and style. I have been a huge fan of '58 Chev Impalas all my life and have owned several of them.

But while modern cars appear more damaged in a wreck than their older counterparts, this is because newer cars are designed to take the damage in a collision instead of the people riding inside.

As for me, my heart will always belong the '58 Impala but I now have a new-found respect for the newer generation of automobiles and applaud the designers for making them much safer for our children and our children's children to come.