Hooniverse Asks- What's the Most Alarming Crash Test Video?

Robert Emslie

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[youtube width=”720″ height=”514″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk5cp93zefk[/youtube]

You know, there’s one aspect of our automobiles and trucks that all of us never like to consider, but which still remains in the backs of all of or minds, and this is how our vehicle might hold up in a significant crash. Fortunately there are people – notably the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS – who not only take these aspects of auto operation into account, they are also cool enough to slo-mo video the work that they do.

Now, I will admit to being hypnotized by these 40-mph off-set crash tests. The flying mirrors, shock waves rippling through steel bodies, and complex crash test dummies ping-ponging around the interiors at 500 frames per second are strangely mesmerizing. Despite the deconstructive art inherent in these car vs concrete battles, there are still ones that simply make you catch your breath as some vehicle meets its end in a particularly ignominious and alarming manner. 

One thing’s for certain, no matter what the car or truck, I would never want to trade places with one of those crash test dummies. Still, while most cars and trucks these days perform admirably, there are those that do call into question their engineers’ dedication, and or sobriety. Those are the ones that I’m interested in today, the really scary ones. Have you ever seen a crash test video that really scared the crap out of you and possibly made you think twice about ever setting foot inside that particular model? What’s the most alarming crash test video you’ve ever seen?

Lede video source: YouTube

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Robert Emslie

Robert Emslie

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78 responses to “Hooniverse Asks- What's the Most Alarming Crash Test Video?”

  1. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    This Army Jeep crash test with the flying arm. [youtube tI__i6Exzw0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI__i6Exzw0 youtube]

    Reply
    1. quattrovalvole Avatar
      quattrovalvole

      Flying arms galore
      [youtube XHFsmsGPDVc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHFsmsGPDVc youtube]

      Reply
      1. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
        Irishzombieman☆

        Is it hilarious or horrific?
        It's both. Was going to post this one. I cringe and laugh every time I see it, with two different parts of my brain.

        Reply
        1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
          FuzzyPlushroom

          Likewise, on both counts, actually.

          Reply
      2. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
        Scandinavian Flick ★

        I'm curious what they were aiming to prove by not buckling any of them in…

        Reply
        1. LEROOOY Avatar
          LEROOOY

          We still, in 2013 no less, need ammunition against that boob that thinks they'd rather be thrown clear than trapped in the wreckage.

          Reply
          1. jeepjeff Avatar
            jeepjeff

            [youtube tWe4pC-zbMw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWe4pC-zbMw youtube]
            No kidding.

          2. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
            ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

            Is he… reaching down to pick-up his hat?

    2. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
      C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

      However…landed on the wheels…can it finish the stage?

      Reply
      1. $kaycog Avatar
        $kaycog

         <DIV> <DIV>Landing on its wheels is amazing.</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>/good morning!</DIV> <DIV style=”FONT: 10pt arial”>

        Reply
  2. pj134 Avatar
    pj134

    [youtube INsrUGV3rww http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INsrUGV3rww youtube]
    Geely

    Reply
    1. JayP2112 Avatar
      JayP2112

      Exactly the one I thought of when I read the headline.

      Reply
    2. Scandinavian Flick ★ Avatar
      Scandinavian Flick ★

      On every Geely, weaponized crumple zones are a built-in feature!

      Reply
  3. Gavin Avatar
    Gavin

    Volkswagen Vanagon Crew Cab:
    http://youtu.be/TPpU5azjCB8

    Reply
    1. Pixel Avatar
      Pixel

      Not a real crash test. They were testing the machine that does the crash test. This was an old used truck with a large concrete block in the back, being run at twice the normal test speed.

      Reply
      1. LTDScott Avatar
        LTDScott

        Huh, I didn't know that. Certainly adds some perspective to things, but it's still an impressive video.

        Reply
      2. Gavin Avatar
        Gavin

        Kind of glad to hear that as I've always liked these. Just have to make sure I'm not carrying concrete blocks if I get one.

        Reply
        1. pj134 Avatar
          pj134

          Also, avoid driving 80 mph into solid concrete walls.

          Reply
          1. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
            ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

            All it really needed was to have the spare mounted to the front, for that extra safety.

          2. Vairship Avatar
            Vairship

            And don't forget the squished remains of insects layered all over the front: http://www.cartalk.com/content/volkswagen-bus

  4. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    I wish I could find it now, but it's a 1961 Chevy hitting a light pole. The Chevy hits the pole head-on, and the pole goes about 3/4 of the way through the car. Unreal.

    Reply
  5. LTDScott Avatar
    LTDScott

    [youtube fPF4fBGNK0U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPF4fBGNK0U youtube]
    This is pretty eye opening for those who think big old boat cars were safer because there's a ton of metal in them.

    Reply
    1. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      I really think that all they accomplished was proving that the x frame wasn't the greatest idea, especially in an offset collision.
      I would like to see the same test with the traditional 4 pretty much straight frame rail car. Not saying it would be great, but I don't think it would fold in the middle like the Bel Air did.

      Reply
      1. Mad_Hungarian Avatar
        Mad_Hungarian

        I agree. I would like to see a post crash shot of the underside of the Bel Air, if it exists. I have the impression that the offset crash nailed the left front frame rail, and the momentum of the rest of the car caused the frame to bend around the X. It would explain how the floor buckles under the driver, pushing the driver towards the roof, while on the passenger side of the car the front fender is pulled away from the door and the gap widens between the doors at the B pillar.

        Reply
        1. pj134 Avatar
          pj134

          Plus how hard the passenger side front wheel turns after impact. The steering wheel didn't really seem to turn, but that wheel jerked hard. I would think the impact would have broken the linkage but I'm just guessing.

          Reply
    2. Sky_Render Avatar
      Sky_Render

      Wow. I used to be one of those who thought older cars were safer. Not anymore. Did you see how much damage was in the cabin of the Bel Air vs the new Malibu?!

      Reply
    3. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Watch the video closely, and you can see the air cleaner fly out of the '59. It's a six-banger three-on-the-tree car. Oh, and fuzzy dice FTW. After I saw that test, I wanted some better still photos, so I emailed IIHS, and they sent me a link to download some excellent hi-res photos.

      Reply
      1. LTDScott Avatar
        LTDScott

        Yeah, there would have been a huge outcry if they used a V8 2 door.
        And somehow I missed the fuzzy dice until you pointed them out.

        Reply
    4. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      This was the first one that popped into my mind, too.

      Reply
  6. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    What a truck does to cars at the back of a tailback at 70 km/h…
    [youtube eG-mbHtLjiQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG-mbHtLjiQ youtube]

    Reply
    1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
      smalleyxb122

      I’ve driven several vehicles that would fare poorly in a crash test. Crash test videos really only serve as an illustration of vulnerability even when driving a cage. The car I drove in high school was a ’76 Triumph Spitfire, and on multiple occasions people had said to me that I was certain to die in that car. My response was invariably “Only if I hit something.” The crash test videos that scare me are the ones showing semis disintegrating passenger vehicles. Those are the ones that are illustrating my vulnerability to what other drivers do.

      Reply
  7. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    [youtube OIjTJXK1PU4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIjTJXK1PU4 youtube]

    Reply
  8. bhtooefr Avatar
    bhtooefr

    [youtube f7rrk3ZjN-I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7rrk3ZjN-I youtube]
    The Chery Amulet, a clone of the SEAT Toledo, based on tooling that Chery bought from SEAT/VW, but not actually licensed. It's an oddball to say the least.
    For comparison, here's the 1984 Mk2 Golf, which is the same structure (although US-spec Mk2s had a better crash structure, that was added to European Mk2s circa 1989, IIRC, and actual Toledos always had it). You can see the similarities in HOW the structure deforms, but the Chery deforms far, far more:
    [youtube CyzCswJ_tkk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyzCswJ_tkk youtube]

    Reply
    1. Stu_Rock Avatar
      Stu_Rock

      Two videos in a single comment doesn't work. You might want to put the second video in a reply.

      Reply
      1. bhtooefr Avatar
        bhtooefr

        Well, damn.
        Second video here:
        [youtube CyzCswJ_tkk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyzCswJ_tkk youtube]

        Reply
    2. Mad_Hungarian Avatar
      Mad_Hungarian

      That isn't really any better than the '59 Bel Air.

      Reply
    3. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
      C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

      That Chery Amulet is disturbing.

      Reply
  9. quattrovalvole Avatar
    quattrovalvole

    [youtube qBDyeWofcLY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBDyeWofcLY youtube]
    It's nice to see how a modern small car can hold up in a crash against a much bigger car, but it's really alarming to see how the big Volvo performed in this test.
    This video made me think that bigger is not always better.

    Reply
    1. FuzzyPlushroom Avatar
      FuzzyPlushroom

      Honestly, I'm still confident about the Volvo. The way it was struck, it was hit offset – in a straight on hit, because of how the crush zones were designed, I'd bet on everyone walking away, or at least limping. Still, old technology.
      Not to say an offset hit is exactly uncommon, mind. What that really illustrated to me, the first time I saw it, was that newer French shitboxes were safer than they look!

      Reply
    2. Wiremaster Avatar
      Wiremaster

      The Volvo has no engine? How is that a fair test?

      Reply
      1. topdeadcentre Avatar
        topdeadcentre

        The Volvo does have its engine. The front end of the car would be positioned much higher off the ground if the engine were missing, unless they also spent a while restoring ride height to make up for the missing weight of the engine.
        A whole bunch of commenters repeating "but but but NO ENGINE IN IT!!" doesn't make conjecture into fact.

        Reply
  10. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
    Irishzombieman☆

    Not very horrific, unless you're a Volvo marketing executive. Then it really, really terrible.
    [youtube aNi17YLnZpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNi17YLnZpg youtube]

    Reply
    1. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
      ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

      To be fair, it did stop.

      Reply
      1. mdharrell Avatar
        mdharrell

        It minimized brake wear, too.

        Reply
    2. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Eh, seems easy enough to spin – "as effective as our technology is is reducing collisions, it's no substitute for an observant driver," or something to that effect.

      Reply
  11. K5ING Avatar
    K5ING

    Here are some of the worst ones all wrapped up in one video. Check out the ones starting at around the 2:30 mark.
    [youtube kuOj-Ssf4y8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuOj-Ssf4y8 youtube]

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Nice collection!

      Reply
    2. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
      C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

      Some of these make riding a motorcycle, naked, look safe.

      Reply
  12. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
    Irishzombieman☆

    Batshitbox? You there for this one?
    [youtube aSVfYwdGSsQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSVfYwdGSsQ youtube]

    Reply
    1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
      Peter Tanshanomi

      You can always count on Mythbusters to go a giant leap beyond. But I can't call this alarming in the least; it's just pure, delicious awe.

      Reply
  13. wisc47 Avatar
    wisc47

    Perhaps a Smart car isn't always the smartest option…
    [youtube IIsP8ulBwfg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIsP8ulBwfg youtube]

    Reply
    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      Well yeah, but it's so small, you practically have to be deliberately aiming for the other car.

      Reply
  14. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Well, everything Soviet. The German-engineered cardboard car Trabant doesn't look as bad as expected:
    [youtube oF4phDLfGF4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF4phDLfGF4 youtube]
    The Lada Niva on the other hand…worse. Find UAZ, GAZ and the whole pride of Soviet engineering and it is some scary entertainment.
    [youtube WN2HkXKmi5Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN2HkXKmi5Q youtube]

    Reply
    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Oi, the second one was supposed to be this:
      [youtube WN2HkXKmi5Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN2HkXKmi5Q youtube]
      Doesn't change even if code is changed. Odd.

      Reply
      1. mdharrell Avatar
        mdharrell

        IntenseDebate doesn't work well with more than one video in a comment. Editing a comment which contains a video usually also produces unintended results even if everything looks okay before posting, so it's best to avoid both practices.

        Reply
        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          There seems to be a lot that doesn't work with intensedebate – how do they survive in a competitive environment!?

          Reply
  15. BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ Avatar
    BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ

    [youtube Ukq-UUQAcZs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukq-UUQAcZs youtube]
    The one of the VW T3 always impressed me

    Reply
    1. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      Looks like the same as above, might not be the best example.

      Reply
  16. Devin Avatar
    Devin

    I'm at work and can't find videos because my work computer chokes on flash.
    So I'll just say that the IIHS test of the '98 F-150 has always been my go-to reply to people who tell me I should drive a truck instead of a smallish car because it's sooooooooo much safer. And those people exist, I live in SK, they're very annoying.

    Reply
    1. Sky_Render Avatar
      Sky_Render

      Here ya go:
      [youtube _i5EmJBaGeQ youtube] [youtube _i5EmJBaGeQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i5EmJBaGeQ youtube] youtube]

      Reply
  17. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
    ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

    [youtube bNnh7mttmwQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNnh7mttmwQ youtube]
    I'm sorry, what was the question again?

    Reply
  18. quijoteMike Avatar
    quijoteMike

    Of course the dash cam pictures from Russia are way more horrifying.
    Try searching for ДТП – both images and video.
    Its the cryllic for RTA

    Reply
  19. cris Avatar
    cris

    This. Because it's my car. And obviously i saw this video after buying it !
    [youtube M3FdnWU5ecg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3FdnWU5ecg youtube]

    Reply
    1. B72 Avatar
      B72

      Salvage titles are never a good idea.

      Reply
  20. mdharrell Avatar
    mdharrell

    I've never seen crash-test results for anything I own, so presumably everything's fine.

    Reply
    1. Devin Avatar
      Devin

      Seems to hold up pretty well, surprisingly enough.
      [youtube gMF_23ddXyc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMF_23ddXyc youtube]

      Reply
    2. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
      ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

      [youtube ovMyHfvFYKQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovMyHfvFYKQ youtube]
      I'd ask you not to look, but I'm curious if it's a later Metro with the beefed up safety structures that still did poorest of the class in eurocnap or the earlier model years. If you ask me, I think they judged it harshly.

      Reply
  21. M44Power Avatar
    M44Power

    [youtube _ULm6QrC428 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ULm6QrC428 youtube]

    Reply
    1. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
      C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

      Brilliant!
      Wait…no it's not….

      Reply
  22. Tomsk Avatar
    Tomsk

    [youtube bT3G-kcKN70 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT3G-kcKN70 youtube]
    It's a lot easier to buy the farm like Jayne Mansfield did than you think.

    Reply
    1. ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
      ˏ♂ˊ mzs zsm msz esq

      Wow that's the worst, would the charges in the shoulder belt spool pull you up even if you had the presence of mind to duck to the side?

      Reply
    2. BobWellington Avatar
      BobWellington

      That's why I don't crash under semi trailers.

      Reply
  23. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    From another aspect… mailboxes on a wooden post (~1:25) are scary.
    [youtube _XXJqEY-sXk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XXJqEY-sXk youtube]

    Reply
  24. BlackIce_GTS Avatar
    BlackIce_GTS

    I don't think this is the one I was thinking of, but the effect is the same:
    [youtube 2gvuGeRNHMU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gvuGeRNHMU youtube]
    The driver's compartment is completely flattened on initial impact.

    Reply
    1. pj134 Avatar
      pj134

      Instant penance.

      Reply
    2. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
      C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

      This is an amazing amount of mass to stop without using proper brakes.
      Plus, most of the nose is glass.

      Reply
  25. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    These have/will always fascinate me due to the forces involved and how man attempts to control physics.
    We're only slightly successful.
    I am quite surprised at how many RHD vehicles IIHS tests…
    &gt;&gt;_&gt;&gt;
    &lt;&lt;_&lt;&lt;
    This said, I'd MUCH rather be in any vehicle I've owned in the last decade versus the FC 1967 Dodge A-108 passenger van which was my much beloved first vehicle.
    I can say, however, in a side impact, that Dodge more than held its own.
    This said, SRS systems are downright amazing when one examines the speed with which they deploy.

    Reply
  26. macko Avatar
    macko

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qptuCDaX1wc%5Byoutub… qptuCDaX1wc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qptuCDaX1wc youtube]

    Reply