1980s vs 2026 American Car Safety Evolution | Shocking Crash Tests

Описание: How safe were American cars in the 1970s–1980s — and how much has changed by 2026?

In this documentary-style crash test comparison, we place classic American cars from the 1970s and 1980s side-by-side with their modern counterparts from 2026 — using real crash test footage from official safety organizations, universities, and certified test centers.

This video shows the evolution of American car safety across more than 40 years — from heavy, powerful, rigid vehicles built for strength and performance to modern American cars engineered to absorb impact energy and protect occupants.

You will see how muscle cars, full-size sedans, luxury vehicles, SUVs, and pickup trucks from iconic American brands evolved in terms of:
• structural design
• crumple zones
• safety cages
• airbags
• seat belts
• crash energy management

Brands featured include Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep, Cadillac, Lincoln, Chrysler, and others — from legendary American muscle cars to modern electric trucks and SUVs.

All crashes shown in this video are real, documented tests conducted by recognized safety organizations and independent certified laboratories.

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🧪 TEST INFORMATION

• Test types: Full-width frontal barrier, rigid wall impacts, offset / overlap frontal tests
• Speeds: ~50–64 km/h (31–40 mph), depending on test protocol
• Overlap: 100% full-width frontal and partial overlap (up to 40%)
• Dummies: Instrumented crash test dummies (driver & passengers)

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⚠️ IMPORTANT — HOW TO READ THIS VIDEO

This video does NOT compare specific car models directly.
Vehicles may belong to different classes (muscle cars, sedans, SUVs, trucks) within the same brand.

The goal is to show the evolution of American vehicle safety philosophy —
from powerful, heavy cars built for performance and presence
to modern American vehicles designed to protect human life first.

All modern crash tests shown represent the latest real tests available for each brand as of early 2026.
Test years may vary (e.g. 2015–2025) because manufacturers are tested only when models are updated or officially retested.

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⏱️ TIMELINE — CARS & TEST DETAILS

00:00 — INTRO

00:18 — СHEVROLET Blazer (1978) Crash Test
00:26 — СHEVROLET Blazer EV (2024) Crash Test

00:37 — FORD LTD (1979) Crash Test
00:47 — FORD Fusion (2017-2020) Crash Test

00:57 — DODGE Challenger (1978) Crash Test
01:07 — DODGE Challenger (2015-2023) Crash Test

01:16 — CHEVROLET Impala (1973) Crash Test
01:21 — CHEVROLET Impala (1982) Crash Test
01:26 — CHEVROLET Impala (2013-2020) Crash Test

01:36 — CHEVROLET Corvette (1973) Crash Test
01:45 — CHEVROLET Corvette (2024-2025) Crash Test

01:56 — BUICK LeSabre (1978) Crash Test
02:06 — BUICK Envista (2024) Crash Test

02:17 — LINCOLN Continental (1979) Crash Test
02:26 — LINCOLN Continental (2016-2020) Crash Test

02:36 — CADILLAC Seville SLS (2000) Crash Test
02:47 — CADILLAC CT5 (2025) Crash Test

02:56 — FORD F350 (1979) Crash Test
03:06 — FORD F-150 Lightning (2025) Crash Test

03:17 — CHEVROLET Camaro (1982) Crash Test
03:27 — CHEVROLET Camaro (2018-2023) Crash Test

03:37 — CHRYSLER LeBaron (1979) Crash Test
03:48 — CHRYSLER 200 (2017) Crash Test

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🏛️ TESTING ORGANIZATIONS FEATURED

• NHTSA (USA)
• IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
• Universities & automotive research institutes
• Independent certified crash laboratories

📚 ARCHIVAL CRASH TEST FOOTAGE

• Periscope Film LLC Archive (USA)
Historic archival crash test footage used for educational and documentary analysis.

Includes brief excerpts from early experimental safety research conducted in the United States in the early 1970s, illustrating the development of occupant protection technologies prior to modern safety standards.

Some tests shown were research experiments, not consumer safety ratings.

Archival source:
www.periscopefilm.com

Footage used in transformed form for historical and educational purposes.
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🎬 WHY THIS MATTERS

Classic American cars were known for power, size, and strength, but not for advanced occupant protection.
Modern American vehicles — including muscle cars, SUVs, and trucks — are engineered to manage crash energy, preserve cabin integrity, and reduce fatal injuries.

This video visually explains why modern American safety standards save lives, even in vehicles built for performance and power.

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▶️ WHAT’S NEXT?

This is Part Three of our global crash test evolution series.

Upcoming episodes may include:
• 🇰🇷 Korean car safety evolution
• 🇨🇳 Chinese car safety evolution
• 🇷🇺 Soviet / Eastern Bloc vehicles

👇 Comment below which one should be next.