Well this thread is a bit depressing... I'm adding headrests to my seats and 3 point belts, adding disc brakes and upgrading the lamps but that said, if you drive with some sense and maintain your car properly your risk drops to that of any other car. I treat it like riding a motorcycle, keep your head up and your eyes open.
I give up! Why do you say depressing?
Slim
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My '64 1/2 vert. Ordered May '64. D code 4 speed, handling package, caspian blue, accent group, Ford blue manual top.
'68 vert. driver. Owned since '77. C code AT, AC, PS, P disc B, PT lime gold, standard black interior and top. NOS RF fender and left quarter.New top and folding glass.
Ok from what I've read, I shouldn't get a roll cage as it would be unsafe for my head. However, I am still concerned about roll overs and side impacts, so what do you guys think of something like this 8-point?
Ok from what I've read, I shouldn't get a roll cage as it would be unsafe for my head. However, I am still concerned about roll overs and side impacts, so what do you guys think of something like this 8-point?
My point was only that all the talk of the bad that can happen driving these or any car for that matter was a little depressing. While there are safety upgrades that can be made, nothing is absolutely safe.
Ok from what I've read, I shouldn't get a roll cage as it would be unsafe for my head. However, I am still concerned about roll overs and side impacts, so what do you guys think of something like this 8-point?
How do you plan to use the car? Are you going to do any track days, auto cross or drag racing? If you're just enjoying the car on nice weather days driving around town, stay away from the roll cage. You're more likely to cause a major head injury by smacking that roll bar than you are to have a serious injury that would've been avoided if you had one.
I have mixed feelings about 4-point harnesses when a cage is not present - I have a friend who totaled his Pantera (went off the road and rolled at 180 mph) and would have surely died if he had a 4-point harness; the stock 3-point seat belts allowed his body to lean over when the roof was crushed down flush with the top of the doors. And, as others have already stated, a full cage on the street is entirely unnecessary and more dangerous if not wearing a helmet given there's hard object in close proximity to one's head.
Valid point. I would NOT run 3-point belts with a hoop or cage, but I WOULD run them without one. I would NOT run 4 or 5 point belts WITHOUT a hoop or a cage that can provide proper mounting and support for the shoulder straps. The reason is stated above.... if you have a hoop or cage, you want your body GLUED in place so that your head can NOT hit the bars. If you want the flexibility of a 3-point belt system, leave the hoop or cage out.
I wouldn't trust a generic $180 roll cage in my bathtub.
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Titus_RacerX
'66 GT 2+2 Springtime Yellow. 6T09A111858
Parked since 1990. Carport find that I've been watching for 10+ years. Restoration Blog -- Code Name: Daisy Code Name: Daisy Photobucket
Often the path to forgiveness is to realize that the other person is an imbecile.
It will only be for around the town/nice weather. I understand the concern for a roll cage, but why should I be worried about hitting my head on a roll bar if its behind the seat?
It will only be for around the town/nice weather. I understand the concern for a roll cage, but why should I be worried about hitting my head on a roll bar if its behind the seat?
Sorry for the stupid questions, I'm new...
... to driving cars?
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Titus_RacerX
'66 GT 2+2 Springtime Yellow. 6T09A111858
Parked since 1990. Carport find that I've been watching for 10+ years. Restoration Blog -- Code Name: Daisy Code Name: Daisy Photobucket
Often the path to forgiveness is to realize that the other person is an imbecile.
ive bought both my cars 67 and 68 mustangs and i knew they would not be daily drivers or road trip cars. i have always like the vintage cars and i finally decided to buy my cars. just a ride around the city and back the garage. no i still think about the safety features that they offer for the vehicles now, like disk brakes and all.
whatever you do to your car to make you feel comfortable is your decision, the most important thing is to love it and drive it.
yes i am seroius. here i los angeles i see wrecks evey day. my back yard ends next to the 405 freeway, and i live between 2 other freeways. theres wrecks all the time. lots of unlicensed drivers that are in the country illegally. lots of idiots on the road. if i were still in jackson mississippi i probably wouldnt see that many for various reasons. i practically cut a malibu in half recently. i see cars that have ben hit on the side that no one could survive. i see rollover wrecks where the roof is comletely crushed in. most of the rollover wrecks are on fire. its a saying out here , if its not onits roof and on fire its not a wreck. people give the old mustangs a bad rap and they are wrong. if you think a newer car will protect you better you got another thing coming. yeah i'm an old dude 55 and have seen some stuff. there are some old cars i wouldnt want to be in but when it comes to new stuff an f250 or larger is all i will volunteer to be in a wreck in. lots of familys buy big suvs cause they are safer then the passenger car junk of today, yeah , plactic,rubber and thin sheet metal. yeah they brag about those front driver side head on crashes but i get see the roll overs and side impacts and rear enders that happen here and they aint pretty. i'v seen many car cut in half. i saw some herendous wrecks way back when and neve saw a car form the 60's or 70's cut in half. what killed people the most and still does is not wearing seatbelts. lots of people are thrown from the car and thats what is reported on the news out here. if you think the mustang is not safe in a wreck then why do you own one ? i guess its the same reason people fly even thought they are terrified. a meteor fell on russia today and the news said 2 people were killed. so much for being safe.
Just my 2 cents, but if the OP is that concerned about driving in a classic car, maybe it's best to not get one, you'll probably never feel comfortable driving in it, and if it's not fun, you won't enjoy it.
Ok from what I've read, I shouldn't get a roll cage as it would be unsafe for my head. However, I am still concerned about roll overs and side impacts, so what do you guys think of something like this 8-point?
I still don't think you "need" a bar but, that one will make you legal (if propperly installed) to 10.00 or 134 mph (should you ever decide to drag race the car). I would highly suggest that you invest in swing out side bars though. Chris Alston Chassis Works makes a nice set.
Ok from what I've read, I shouldn't get a roll cage as it would be unsafe for my head. However, I am still concerned about roll overs and side impacts, so what do you guys think of something like this 8-point?
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