DAMAGE inflicted after an accident?

Funkengruvin64 · Post by **Funkengruvin64** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 7:39 pm

Dont want to put a damper on things, but I have never seen an article discussing the type of damage suffered by a beetle or it's occupants after a major collision.
I recently watched a trauma team on "the learning channel channel" work on a woman who was involved in a major collision with
a truck..... to put it lightly, it was horrific. I too am a fanatic of VW's and would like to learn from the experiences of
others, both good and bad..... the information you share may save someones life!!

JordanK · Post by **JordanK** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 8:40 pm

I used to have a page bookmarked that had pics of several either actual accidents or crash tests on beetles. I'll see if i can find it again.

funkengruvin64 · Post by **funkengruvin64** » Mon Mar 12, 2001 11:51 pm

Jordan,

I think I know of the one you are reffering to... has sketches with dots showing all points of impact right?

I was hoping people (hopefully still driving
bugs) would reply with their story and what
they would do different after the fact.
Maybe.... rollcages,4 point belts, headrests etc., don't know unless you've been through it. "knock on woood"

BTW... the woman in the E/R WAS wearing a seat belt and had her intestines,stomach cavity etc. pushed completely up under her rib cage from the force. Guess it was just a lap belt....

Thx,
Glenn

vwnate1 · Post by **vwnate1** » Tue Mar 13, 2001 7:27 am

Well , let's see - I rolled my split window , no seatbelts (I'm an idiot) , my wife and I both sustained neck injuries . I've had several front end crashes in pre - '65 Beetles , car gets demolished about 1/2 the time , I was O.K. with a lap belt except the time when I was 14 and slid into the back of a panel truck in the rain in my '60 #117 , I had the lap belt on but still hit the overhead hard enough to dent it with my forehead , left the dent there when I fixed it as a reminder . I now own a 1968 Auto Stick that's pretty badly smashed m it got rear ended by a Chevy. Camaro whilst stopped on the freeway , it bounced forward into a Datsun , totalling the Datsun , the girl in the V.W. was shaken up but not seriously injured , in had '67 style lap belts she was wearing it thankfully - want to see it ? it's in N/W L.A. area , I'll be cutting it up soon .
Factory sunroof Beetles seem to do much better in crashes due to the extra roof bracing . as I work in slavage / reconstruct of aircooled V.W.'s I see more of this than the average enthusiast .hope my rambling helped out .
Oh , yes - be very leery of old split screen busses with rust along the lower front edge - Steve was driving his old '58 panel when a lady lurned left in front of him , now he's missing a leg . he is a good body & fender man but was using the truck as a shop truck instead of fixing it first - oops . it just collapsed instead of buckling like most of them do .

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-Nate
Filth & Greed Imports
(the LAST honest VWshop)

[This message has been edited by vwnate1 (edited 03-13-2001).]

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Tue Mar 13, 2001 10:54 am

I've got a book at home by Keith Seume about the History of the Beetle. At the end, they show a crash test of the Mexican or Brazilian VW which is a basic 68 standard bug. The car is justa as crashworthy as other cars made today. The biggest problem is with old VWs with only lap belts or no seat belts and seats that fly forward.

As with everything else, it depends on what you hit. If hit by a full cement truck - you're screwed no matter what you're driving.

I remember a pic in the newspaper of a green beetle in Newark, NJ that was broadsided on the passenger side by a garbage truck that lost its brakes. The bug rolled a bunch of times being puched along by the truck. It looked like a 2 month old lime - all beat up and withered. The driver (wearing his shoulder belt) walked away dizzy with minor cuts and bruises.

Ya never know...

------------------
Mike

Wilhelm(Willie) - 74 Super Beetle - Stock (Almost)
(Willie get there? - Willie get me back home?)

.. ___
. /___\
(0\_|_/0)
.U===U

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Tue Mar 13, 2001 2:33 pm

I once heard that the shape of the Beetle helps protect the people inside. Is this true?

funkengruven64 · Post by **funkengruven64** » Tue Mar 13, 2001 6:37 pm

Cool,

Pretty positive feedback so far, almost regreted posting that for fear that I might get some grusome responses.

It's understood that anything can take you out at any given time regardless of what precautionary measures one might take.

If one person reads any of these postings
and decides to wear their seat belt or not to drive there VW until those rusted pans are replaced then........ you may have saved a life. Since I had never read anything that covered this subject in the past....." that was the idea"

david perez · Post by **david perez** » Tue Mar 13, 2001 11:53 pm

i drove a tow truck years ago and i've seen and picked up alot of smashed cars. i was always amazed at how well the vw beetle held-up.
i have seen and heard of more people dying in japanese imports the any other type car.
but given the circumstanes any vehicle could be considered unsafe.
vwnate mentioned steve losing a leg,steve is my nephew and the bus was mine.
although steve lost his leg in the accident, i will agin some day own an early bus.
it sucks that he lost his leg but you can't live your life around"what ifs?"
a runaway cement truck could run you over, or you could slip and fall in the tub.
cancer can creep its way into you life, tear your body apart and then leave you without a trace of its vist, then you go back to work and some bozo upset because he did'nt get a raise shoots you. now your dead. your vw inside the garage 0 miles since restored.
if its your time its your time and if its between driving my vw and cancer, hand me my car keys.

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DAVID, AKA HAPPY HOPPY'S CHOP SHOP
i never saw a car i did'nt want to chop

Tristessa · Post by **Tristessa** » Wed Mar 14, 2001 10:15 am

I rear-ended a mid-70s Caddy a few months ago in my '65 bug. No injuries to either party (seatbelts), didn't damage the other guys tank, but messed up my frontend pretty good. Had to replace the hood, front clip and passenger side fender; was amazed at how little damage (relatively) was done.

Also, a friend of mine just bought a '68 bug for a parts car that had been hit in the passenger side by a full-sized Dodge truck that was doing about 40. Pushed in the rear quarter about 8 inches, popped the valvecover off. Still runs and drives though.

vwnate1 · Post by **vwnate1** » Wed Mar 14, 2001 1:13 pm

To answer Jason's question , yes and no - the Beetle is very good at protecting the passenger compartment when it hits something , not so good when something hits into it . it's a good question and I studied it attentively whilst doing salvage reconstruct.
OBTW : the girl in the '68 Auto Stick ? she went right out and bought a 1962 #113 (Deluxe Beetle) that she drives everyday in West Los Angeles traffic .

------------------
-Nate
Filth & Greed Imports
(the LAST honest VWshop)

stevestromberg · Post by **stevestromberg** » Wed Mar 21, 2001 9:07 am

Gen. Patton was kill in a minor fender bender, I've seen Dale E. rollover at 200mph and walk away. On the news here a car was crushed to the size of a frig. they cut the gal out and she had only minor injuries,Gordon Smiley hit the wall at Indy so hard his head ripped off and rolled down the track. When it's your time to go, it's time to go. Steve

stevestromberg · Post by **stevestromberg** » Wed Mar 21, 2001 9:10 am

See a good racing movie with Real Flaming Crashes Check out The Racing Coys Starring Mickey Rooney no SFX here and they Didnt walk away.Steve