asterisk wrote:
As long as this has turned to American cars, this fine example was killed by Ralph Nader in a one-man campaign called 'Unsafe At Any Speed'.
And it was. Same with the Pinto.
I like your choice in VWs, though.
That is a very rare Volkswagen, asters.
asterisk wrote:
and safe at most speeds.
If it wasn't for Ralph we'd all be wearing lap belts, having our faces scraped off of metal dashboards and steering columns pulled out of our chests.
Unsafe products and corporate greed fit in nicely with the title of this thread.
A timeline by Bob Stevens
1955- James Dean killed in Porsche 956 Speedster—1997 analysis shows 55 mph was Dean's speed and the other driver caused the accident by crossing the center line on the California road.
1956- Robert McNamara and Ford introduces "Lifegard Design" - This was a marketing failure because people (customers) thought it made cars more unsafe.
1959- Congress calls Detroit "criminally negligent" in the high cost of lives in auto accidents.
1964- Ralph Nader attacks GM and the Corvair in his book Unsafe at any Speed. DOT finds in a series of hearings that Nader's book is flawed and GM instigates private survellence on Nader.
A reader pointed out: “The item fails to note that Ralph Nader successfully sued GM for harassment. Also, a Google search for critiques of Nader was less than successful [despite GM’s spying].” None other than John DeLorean agreed with Ralph Nader’s conclusion as to the Corvair’s safety — caused mainly by GM’s desire for a Porsche-type design without investing Porsche levels of cost — though the Corvair was eventually upgraded and made safe.
1964- Dr John Stapp and the USAF starts "crashing" live rocket powered sleds in the New Mexico desert. He stopped in 1.4 sec from 660mph speed. With seat belts and shoulder harnesses designed by the USAF, he is alive and only stunned at this decelleration level. At the same time Volvo patented the 3 point harness assembly and "gave it" to the industry.
1967- NHTSA came into being by order of President Johnson. The UK drafts the first mandatory belt use law - it lasts 2 months before repeal. 1983 is when it is finally approved.
1974- "Richard Grimshaw vs Ford Motor Company"- the Pinto fuel tank issue. Ford estimated 180 people would burn to death at a cost of $50 million per year to Ford, and the $11-per-vehicle fix would have cost $138 million. Ford made a business decision and got slapped for it.
1974- GM first to install air bags and saved Dr Arnold Arms, the 1st person to survive a crash. GM concerned children would be hurt and killed more with the airbags.
1984- US government stipulates air bags for all government purchases. Ford breaks with GM and Chrysler and starts complying.
1989- Chrysler makes airbags standard in all passenger cars.
1990- First child killed by an air bag - Kyle Lehman. Lawsuits start en masse.
1997- GM in San Diego demonstrates fly by computer-no driver control, the cause of most accidents. 7 Buick Le Sabres travel San Diego's adapted freeway at 95mph, 8 feet separating them.
Baby you can;t drive my car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J17Qgc4a8xY
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