This was one of the safest cars that NHTSA tested in 1979, at a time when the average new car had about a 45% severe injury risk for driver and passenger, this Magnum was at 11% for driver and 15% for passenger. In practice, it's likely that both occupants would only suffer minor injuries. Structurally, the Magnum's performance was better than average for the time, although still sub-optimal, as evidenced by slight roof buckling and jammed doors. Still, survival space was largely maintained. The restraints are some of the best I've seen on a late 1970s vehicle. I'm not sure if a pre-1978 Charger or Cordoba would do as well, there may have been some running changes to the restraint system. If they did, that's beyond impressive for a 1974 design, especially one from a company that was financially failing at the time. November 19, 2024 11:25 pm
A 35 mph impact speed is significantly more energy than the typical 30 mph impact speed. This was pretty amazing performance for a car of that era. I had a '78 Cordoba and can attest to its tank-like qualities. Unibody with beefy subframes.
I had a 78 magnum. Let a friend use it one night and he rolled it over 3 times. He walked out with a half inch scratch on his shoulder. I miss that car
My father had a "78 Magnum GT with a 400,4 bbl,HD 727......He used it as a winter work car till the unibody rusted away......Then he junked it out...Kept the engine,trans,fender flares and GT specific rims....Still has all the parts to this day....Good vid.
These were safe cars...I got t boned by a Ford F250 and went head on into a telephone pole at 50 mph and only had 2 bruised ribs,no other injuries..F 250 was a 2002 brand new then,the driver broke his wrist and had bloody nose and complained of neck injuries.
They are tanks the demolition derby guys are always trying to find old Chrysler and Dodge cars like this to use in their derbys , it's because their unibody structure is so tough , no GM or Ford product from the era would have held up so well in this crash test .
Wow, I had a '78 Dodge Magnum XE 400, 4 barrel, T-bar roof, triple black, she was a sweet ride til it hiccuped through that Thermoquad Carburetor and caught fire, the distributor wasn't tightened down properly, so the timing was off!!! All the wiring burned up, I had to part the car out!!! Mopar Nate Philadelphia Pennsylvania
In addition to that '78 Magnum XE, I also had 4 Cordobas and one '77 Dodge Charger Daytona, these cars are real Mopars, just swap out the wrong stuff for the right stuff!!! Mopar Nate Philadelphia Pennsylvania
This was one of the safest cars that NHTSA tested in 1979, at a time when the average new car had about a 45% severe injury risk for driver and passenger, this Magnum was at 11% for driver and 15% for passenger. In practice, it's likely that both occupants would only suffer minor injuries. Structurally, the Magnum's performance was better than average for the time, although still sub-optimal, as evidenced by slight roof buckling and jammed doors. Still, survival space was largely maintained. The restraints are some of the best I've seen on a late 1970s vehicle.
I'm not sure if a pre-1978 Charger or Cordoba would do as well, there may have been some running changes to the restraint system. If they did, that's beyond impressive for a 1974 design, especially one from a company that was financially failing at the time.
November 19, 2024 11:25 pm
A 35 mph impact speed is significantly more energy than the typical 30 mph impact speed. This was pretty amazing performance for a car of that era. I had a '78 Cordoba and can attest to its tank-like qualities. Unibody with beefy subframes.
I had two Cordobas i love those cars wish i never sold them!
I had a 78 magnum. Let a friend use it one night and he rolled it over 3 times. He walked out with a half inch scratch on his shoulder. I miss that car
My father had a "78 Magnum GT with a 400,4 bbl,HD 727......He used it as a winter work car till the unibody rusted away......Then he junked it out...Kept the engine,trans,fender flares and GT specific rims....Still has all the parts to this day....Good vid.
NEVER accept a ride when the driver is a dummy. NEVER !
Made that mistake once, never again lol
And drives a Dodge!
Wonder did the crash dummy had a leisure suit on and a mini disco ball hanging on the rear view mirror?..
My first car was a 76 Cordoba, 400-4bbl. I thought it was a massive 4200 pound tank. Little did I know!!!
These were safe cars...I got t boned by a Ford F250 and went head on into a telephone pole at 50 mph and only had 2 bruised ribs,no other injuries..F 250 was a 2002 brand new then,the driver broke his wrist and had bloody nose and complained of neck injuries.
They are tanks the demolition derby guys are always trying to find old Chrysler and Dodge cars like this to use in their derbys , it's because their unibody structure is so tough , no GM or Ford product from the era would have held up so well in this crash test .
Wow, I had a '78 Dodge Magnum XE 400, 4 barrel, T-bar roof, triple black, she was a sweet ride til it hiccuped through that Thermoquad Carburetor and caught fire, the distributor wasn't tightened down properly, so the timing was off!!! All the wiring burned up, I had to part the car out!!! Mopar Nate Philadelphia Pennsylvania
In addition to that '78 Magnum XE, I also had 4 Cordobas and one '77 Dodge Charger Daytona, these cars are real Mopars, just swap out the wrong stuff for the right stuff!!! Mopar Nate Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Did your Cordoba have rich Corinthian leather?
One of my favorite malaise era Mopars, these were a Cordoba with sportier bodywork.
Compared to other cars the same size and class as these cars the Chrysler cars were by far the safest
google says that's a full frame vehicle, but you can see at 5:29 there is no frame under the passenger compartment.
everyone knows that mopars are unibody...except google
Chrysler B bodies were always sub frame,the frame is actually the rocker panels makes it stronger than a frame.
@@MikeekiM-vh5se
At least until they rust out and you either can't open or close the doirs.
Unibody with really large subframes. They were very robust when new.
I was in a highway head on collision in a 1975 fury and walked away not a lot of people can say that
Only made Dodge Magnum for 2 yrs... 1978 and 1979.
No views? Lemme fix that
pass the popcorn
the seats and belts were pretty bad then. but those cars were solid.
Acceptable!
The shoulder belts?! They do nothing!!
They're just restraints so the coroner doesn't have to go pick up pieces....
A violent crash
Great seat belts! Wimpy body structure.
the front isn't even half used and still affecting the cab. due to the motor.
Body is actually strong,they did have crumple zones back then starting in 1970..