In 1959, U.S. auto-insurers established the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit organization that works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, the occurrence of injuries, and the amount of property damage.
For its 50th anniversary the Institute decided to conduct a little experiment. With so many folks that believe that vintage cars were made better, they wanted to put the myth to the test.
Could a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air withstand a head-on collision with a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu? Which car would prove to be safer?
"It was night and day, the difference in occupant protection," said Institute president Adrian Lund. "What this test shows is that automakers don't build cars like they used to. They build them better."
The Bel Air did not have many of the modern features of cars today: For example, seat belts and airbags were entirely absent. If there had been a real person in the crash, they'd likely be dead or seriously injured.
With the institutes shift toward scientific research and evidence the cars of today and of the future continue to be more effective at preventing injury and car crashes.
"On this golden anniversary of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, we celebrate this organization's accomplishments toward safer drivers, vehicles, and roadways," said Institute chairman Gregory Ostergren.
"We salute the vision of the Institute's founders and proudly continue their commitment to highway safety."
Watch the actual crash in the video below and SHARE if this shocked you.
