JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
That's a shame. Imagine trying to find body/chassis parts for a 1973 New Yorker?
1973 New Yorker is rear-ended by Kia Forte
- Thread starter SumGuy
- Start date
Key point. All, that highly engineered and controlled "beer can" crumpling dissipates a lot of energy as intended.
The Chrysler didn't need crumple zones, he will just use yours.
Driver ; "Honey I think I heard a June bug hit the back bumper, I better get a can of chrome cleaner on the way home."
Driver ; "Honey I think I heard a June bug hit the back bumper, I better get a can of chrome cleaner on the way home."
I think the New Yorker came out a bit too well to be realistic which no scratches on the trunk lid. But the frame is a lot of steel so it could flex within its elastic limit and come out the same. The KIA is designed to blow up the front end to absorb energy as well, so the peak loading on the New Yorker could be quite small relative to its simple heavy and relatively flexible frame. I assume these had a big arch over the rear axle? Also the body isn't attached super rigidly either to the frame, so it all might flex enough to not damage anything?
I know I'd rather be in the KIA more serious accident, but simple heavy 70's cars win for parking lot speed hits.
How did the Kia driver not see that 12 ft wall stopped in front of him?
I think the big mopars back then were Unibody. Chrysler was an early adopter to unibody.
73 had unibody and most mopars from early 60s and on had unibody except for a few years of imperials
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
I was thinking the same thing.
Chrysler started unibody construction in 1960, except for the Imperial cars. Imperials started having unibody construction in 1967.
Unlike the rest of the Chrysler Corporation makes (Chrysler, De Soto, Dodge, and Plymouth) that began unibody construction for 1960, the Imperial retained separate full perimeter frames for rigidity through the 1966 model year. These substantial frames had a box cross-section with strong crossmembers connecting the frame. The convertible had extra strength built into its crossmembers that formed an "X". The driveshaft passed through a hole in the "X" frame. The parking brake gripped the driveshaft and was not connected to the rear drum brakes prior to the 1963 model year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_(automobile)
Unlike the rest of the Chrysler Corporation makes (Chrysler, De Soto, Dodge, and Plymouth) that began unibody construction for 1960, the Imperial retained separate full perimeter frames for rigidity through the 1966 model year. These substantial frames had a box cross-section with strong crossmembers connecting the frame. The convertible had extra strength built into its crossmembers that formed an "X". The driveshaft passed through a hole in the "X" frame. The parking brake gripped the driveshaft and was not connected to the rear drum brakes prior to the 1963 model year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_(automobile)
My dad got rear ended, similar vintage Newport. Huge trunk was crushed practically to the back window. It was less than a mile from his house. He did drive it home. Unfortunately I lost the pictures of the wreck.
Ditto.
Apparently it was staged.
The Kia hit a chevy truck head on that was turning infront of it. The people with the newyorker just baacked up to it.
The Kia hit a chevy truck head on that was turning infront of it. The people with the newyorker just baacked up to it.
A '59 GM B-body was chosen for a reason, It has a X-Frame & the body structure was likely the weakest of all GM X-Framed vehicles. There is literally no protection in a overlap crash like that.
That will buff right out
True for the New Yorker
True for the New Yorker
Because the smart phone comes first.