Expert: Vern Bullock - 1/3/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello.

Are you an expert on 62 Cadillacs?

Julian

ANSWER: No, not an expect on any old car, but knowledgeable about most.
In my opinion, an EXPECT is someone that works on nothing but
Cadillacs and have many years working on 62 Cadillacs specifically.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again.

That is great because I am interested in buying a 62 Cadillac. But after watching a video about a crash test between a  2009 Chevrolet Malibu vs a 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air, the footage left me disturbed and now I'm having second thoughts.

You can see the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joMK1WZjP7g

It appears that cars with crumble zones are indeed safer than the classic cars.

1. Curious, could the 62 Caddy can be retrofitted with crumble zones?

2. Or would it have to be built from scratch, that is, building a replica utilizing a combination of raw materials that are just as strong as the classic cars but with modern safety equipment such as air bags, ABS, and crumble zones?

Julian

ANSWER: Hi Julian:
You can NOT retrofit crumble zones, because much of the crumble technology is in the manufacturering process of the fenders and bumpers with many modification made also to the frame. It would be like building a new car from the ground up at great a expense.

Classic cars are not meant to be driven on a regular basis. Only on Saturday or Sunday to car shows and occasional outings. This keeps the risk of accidents down. You can add seat belts, but beyond that, it wouldn't be practical.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Vern.

I have a few more questions on the subject.

1. If it's not possible to retrofit crumble zones onto a classic car like the 62 Caddy, would it be possible to build a replica with new raw materials in combination with crumble zones and modern safety technology? If so, how much would that cost?

2. Just how safe are modern cars compared to classic cars?

And lastly, years ago I was in a car accident with my Nissan 200 sx and the airbags activated, injuring my arm which swelled up like a balloon. Thank goodness I'm tall or I would have been decapitated. Anyway, that experience with airbags has made me feel very nervous and unsafe. I understand that "smart" airbags have come a long way since then and are not as deadly. Still, I don't like the idea of an object exploding in front of me at 200 mph.

3. What is your opinion of air bags in terms of safety?


Julian

Answer
There is no replica kit available for the '62 Cadillac. Even if there was, kit cars and replicas do not have to follow crash safety standards because they are not production cars. You could get a car restoration company to restore a '62 Cadillac from the frame up and work with them to add any safety feature you or they could come up with, but you are talking $100,000 to $150,000 depending on what is actually added to the car for safety. And yes, air bag technology has improved, but is not perfect and you really don't want to be driving at speeds of 200 mph in any automobile.