Crash Chronicles (Wrecks of the 1940s -1950s) [Colorized]

Vintage cars from the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s are beautiful, but have you ever wondered what happened when they got into accidents? In this video, we've gathered a new collection of old photos that show what it was like when these classic cars crashed.
Back in those days, cars didn't have all the safety features we have today, like crumple zones, seat belts, and airbags. In addition, there were few safety barriers on the roads. When people drove those old cars down those old roads, they took their safety into their own hands.
These pictures reveal banged-up cars, flipped cars, and cars that ended up wrapped around poles. There are also some unexpected accidents where nothing was hurt but pride.
Thanks for watching The History Lounge!
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Music: Intractable by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
#nostalgia #classiccars #lifeinamerica

[@corvettesforever4619]

As a side note, obesity appears to have been non-existent way back when.

[@AdamWaffen]

Obesity in the United States grew exponentially in the 2000’s. Coincidently the social media era. Too much internet, too little real world.

[@jchapman8248]

@@AdamWaffen Oh, and garbage additives in our unhealthy, overly processed foods!

[@rogerrendzak8055]

Thanks to the nonexistence of McDonald's, people starving, and no welfare, to help us out. You know; the good ol' days😆!!! ----NOT

[@outkast187]

@@rogerrendzak8055 welfare does nothing but holds people in poverty. It was designed by democrats in office to hold black population in the lowest class possible. Plan is still working for them today!

[@LITTLE1994]

Much different era

[@davidgates1122]

Posing for a picture with a wrecked vehicle must have been a national pastime back then.

[@peterburry2014]

The other national pastimes were masturbation and nose-picking.

[@joelpineda2042]

It's not the cars that memorize me. It's the people. I pause every photo and just look at them individually and wonder if they had a good life and if they r still alive today. Such beautiful photos.

[@kennydemartini2169]

That's what I do in all of these videos. I know most, if not all of them have passed on, but I get to share a moment of their lives.

[@richardrice8076]

Mesmerize, memorize is learning something, like lines in a play.

[@MrEricmopar]

What isn't mentioned is that without crumple zones a lot of the drivers and passengers in vehicles in those pictures, were actually severely injured or killed, even though the vehicle doesn't look that bad in some cases. Also, back then there were no seat-belts, which is why a lot of the cars have holes in the drivers side front windshield. IE people literally went through the windshield and died back then.

[@selfdo]

To be fair, it was a 50 mph world back then. Cars by the 1930s were starting to get more powerful, and the first freeways and/or expressways were being built. The "need for speed" brought on the need to examine safety, which did run counter to automotive marketing...i.e. few people actually BOUGHT into "safety", and car makers were concerned that emphasizing it implied that cars were inherently UNSAFE. Yes, folks often were badly injured and/or maimed, or KILLED, in situations where today it's more common for the crash victims to suffer only minor injuries, if any at all. Think of General Patton, who did in a 15 mph collision with an Army truck, and he was riding in the back seat of a 1939 Cadillac Model 75, one of the sturdiest cars on the road at that time! He fell forward and his head hit the ceiling light, and the freakish conditions caused his neck to be broken. His 15th Army Chief of Staff, MG Hobart Gay, was not injured at all, neither was his driver, PFC Woodring.

[@drpoundsign]

@@selfdo some say he was murdered

[@Novusod]

Cars made before the mid 1970s were basically total death traps. The 70s was when the industry started to take safety seriously and put in modern features such as 3 point seat belts, safety glass, and air bags. Crash testing started then as well. The crash test dummies became mascots of automobile safety. This led to a drastic improvement in safety in the 80s and 90s.

[@donsailing1356]

Yes…… the video on line of the ‘59 Chevy hitting the offset front end of the 2000’s Chevy Malibu is a brutal display of how fragile the older cars were…….

[@randykelso4079]

"The 70s was when the industry started to take safety seriously...". Must have been a little earlier than that. My brand new '67 Malibu had a collapsible steering column... which caused some problem later.

[@FLnative13thGen]

It wasn't the 70s, it was the 90s. In the 70s and 80s they put gas tanks in cars that if hit, would explode, there were very little if any safety measures LOL

[@Novusod]

@@FLnative13thGen That was just the Ford Pinto. That car was relatively safe compared to the death traps that came before. The 70s was the transition decade when a lot of safety features were invented. At the start of the decade most cars could be categorized as "unsafe at any speed." People died from little 15mph fender benders back then. By the end of the decade safety was massively improved.

[@drpoundsign]

@@donsailing1356 ...and, look at how much Heavier that '59 model was. ...and, yet the Dummy in the '09 would have fared Much BETTER.

[@donsailing1356]

Had a ‘60 Chevy Bel Air for 15 years…… 283 with 3sp manual with overdrive…… great machine….. I would cruise I 70 across Kansas in early 70’s at 110+…… car was a dream to drive. I always thought that tank was almost indestructible. I never wrecked it….. knowing what I know now, after a lifetime of working in collision repair, it was a death trap….. solid frame, yes…but mere sheetmetal above the frame…. no structural rigidity…crumple zones….. no seat belts…. no safety glass…. and a steering column that would take your head off. Ah….. but it was a beauty….👍

[@johnfranklin5277]

My 58 cadillac is a tank. I wouldn't want to get in a severe accident with it not only because my parents bought it in 1960, but because old cars do not fare well in a crash. However, I'd say a modern new car crashing into my 58 head on at say 60 mph, would fare much worse off, than hitting another new car at the same speed.

[@joeyjamison5772]

Aah, the good ol' days when you could knock the windshield out of a car with your face. And then when you ran into something, you were impaled on the steering column as it crushed your chest! Along with jagged glass flying all over the place. Seat belts weren't even offered as an option back then.

[@FrankJCarver]

2:32 Great looking wheels on that old truck.

[@rudert56]

These were the grandparents of the people that can’t drive today.

[@LITTLE1994]

More like great-grandparents

[@olentangy74]

It lot of these crashes look like ones that no one walked away from.

[@dewkeating]

No one overweight and no cell phones.

[@sirtrently77]

Nope, just a lot of wrecked, vintage cars. Rather sad.

[@ptizim]

Quality of pictures is impressive.

[@Snookynibbles]

There are many grizzly-gruesome injuries & deaths that occurred during that era. The photos don’t begin to represent side of it.

[@TheHistoryLounge]

Very true. I tried to avoid the gore, and stick more to showing what happened to the cars. There were a number of photos I couldn't include.

[@MegaMemerRichard]

@@TheHistoryLounge I grew up during this period & remember having 'highway of death' videos shown as part of driver's ed; however, it was not an inordinate amount of vehicles that were totaled, any more so than in today's wrecks. There are a myriad of channels that show current CCTV & dashcam accidents & today's cars look just as mangled as these old timers. New or Old, two cars crashing into each other at 60-70mph is going to be nasty. All that heavy metal does have a degree of comfort to it & the responsiveness & braking of newer models have their own degree of comfort, but neither are guaranteed 'saviors'.

[@redtra236]

@@MegaMemerRichard In the 50s and 60s the deaths went up a lot because the cars still didn't have hardly any crash mitigation features but with better roads and more powerful engines people started driving a lot faster.

[@fila6243]

any bus accident is still the same. tinfoil on a frame.

[@JayYoung-ro3vu]

True, they don't. The press knew not to take such photographs. The only exemption that readily comes to mind is the Bonnie & Clyde death car? Police could and still do for evidence & forensics.

[@derekarrowsmith140]

Difference is a minor crash could be repaired, these days a minor crash is more often than not a write off.

[@dot7107]

That is just bs. In murica cars are totaled so easily because of your stupid legal system, everyone can sue everything and eveyone and get millions so insurance companies just buy the wrecked car away and sell it forward rather than pay the repair.

[@slapshotjack9806]

I’d rather lose my car in an accident than my life or a limb

[@textech4056]

The most common in the " Old days " were people killed by being impaled on a steering column and thrown completely through a windshield.

[@Quasimodo1957]

Ahhh...the glorious days of steel dashboards, no safety glass and no seatbelts.

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

There's been safety glass since 1918 mr ah yes. Does it hurt you to ever stop being condescending or does it make your romantic personality blossom?

[@DavidWilliams-so2dy]

Certainly triggered you, bruh. 🤣

[@Quasimodo1957]

@@WitchKing-Of-Angmar Panties in a twist today?

[@WitchKing-Of-Angmar]

@@Quasimodo1957 I'm sure yours are everyday.

[@JSchrumm]

Automobile accidents were a spectator sport back in the day.

[@perry92964]

i used to work in a body shop and one day a retired police photographer came in and gave us some old photos of car crashes from the 50's the only difference was that the ones he gave us still had the bodies in them. cars today are infinitely more survivable in a crash. the guy was the father of a friend of the owner of the shop and thought we might be interested in having them.

[@Crazytoys.]

I have restored a 1949 Oldsmobile, I have to say WOW! That Oldsmobile- look like you got wrapped around a pole or cut in half

[@davidrivero7943]

Riding as a kid in Dads 4dr Chevy Fleetmaster in early 60's after the collapse just S. of Key West , I felt like riding in a Tank. Im 65 now , theres no other Import small car that i have felt safe in , since. Keep your power windows & bring the ventalation windows back to our side windows .

[@MG-pv4uq]

Two things to note: 1. People (especially women) were elegantly dressed 2. People were always smiling and casual no matter what lol - From India 🇮🇳 with Love ❤️

[@heywhatsthatsmell]

They had fewer miscreants to deal with . Everyone was generally in a better state of mine. Most kids had both , moms and dads that tried to raise them to be good citizens .

[@turdferguson4124]

So many of these crashed vehicles had bald tires and the conditions in the photo look wet.

[@monkeywrench2800]

Based on these pictures, automobile accidents were very popular! Lots of smiling people hanging out! Nice choice on the music. Calm, relaxing... and yet somehow tauntingly pensive at the same time. Just what one would expect for the aftermath of an automobile accident! :)

[@TheHistoryLounge]

Thanks for your comments, @monkeywrench2800. I'm glad you liked the music. To me it adds a sort of odd and eerie feeling to these old photos. Definitely not period-appropriate, but I too think its a good match for the scenes.

[@glennso47]

I remember when I was a kid and listening to the radio from Chicago. During drive time the traffic reports always talked about “gapers blocks “ on the expressways after car collisions. They interfered with emergency personnel who were trying to get to the scene of the accident.

[@BlueSteel331]

It takes a lot of kinetic energy for a vehicle to end up on its roof or wrapped around a lamp post, and that's almost always caused by excessive speed.

[@TheHistoryLounge]

I'm certain you're right. Excessive speed undoubtedly played a role in a lot of these accidents.

[@user-ti7yt9vj2f]

I like seeing the old cars and people as well, the added color shows more detail, thanks

[@skeletor9121]

Reminds me of my old Drivers Ed class in high school without the dead bodies.

[@TheHistoryLounge]

Me too. (I tried to stay away from the truly gruesome photos for this collection.)

[@josephgaviota]

Yea, we saw some gruesome vids back in the early '70s.

[@johndemeen5575]

Most of these cars and trucks have very poor tires. St.Paul,Minnesota.

[@AdamWaffen]

They still do. Not only are Firestone tires still killing people, so are the cheap $$@ Chinese Costco and Walmart tires killing people too. States with safety inspections are reporting 4 out of 5 vehicles with incorrect tire pressures and defects due to lack of maintenance and proper care.

[@FreeSpeechisMyRight10]

I remember as a kid we lived near a busy highway and there were always head-on crashes. We would always ride our bikes up and check 'em out. Some were pretty gruesome, as I remember.

[@kevellin]

A lot of the pictures are from Massachusetts around Boston and Worcester. What's scary is I recognize some of the streets and buildings some haven't changed much.

[@SporkFish42]

I made the same observation and came here to see if anyone else noticed.

[@aussie8114]

Sad thing is that everyone in these photos are now dead.

[@bradenrider5526]

Not all of them

[@kennethlowe6337]

They sure don't make poles like that anymore.

[@DoomRoomRecords]

People having great time on crash sites since 1901!

[@rotorheadv8]

Right off the bat, the first accident shown with the “Newton Motors” truck, front tires as bald as a boiled egg.

[@dot7107]

It was monday and he just forgot to change those weekend track tyres to normal ones🤭

[@dave161141]

Weren't these solid rubber?

[@danowar7819]

A lot of crowds around the crashes, guess that was some type of entertainment back then

[@KarlH1980]

back then?

[@zenithseven]

It's so fun to see these photos in color. It makes them feel more alive, or more connected to us. Selecting colors can be research and some guesswork. Based on most of these photos, the person or persons doing this must have liked purple hues. Many of these vehicles and clothes would actually be black in real life but purple was selected for some reason. That's not a dig, just an observation. I love these photos and appreciate the work that went into them.

[@randykelso4079]

Well, let's take a ride in my modern iron: 1. Remove fob from pocket 2. Press the unlock button 3. Open door 4. Be seated. 5. Secure seat belt 6. Mash brake pedal 7. Press start button 8. Adjust entertainment system 9. Release parking brake 10. Adjust climate system 11. Program navigation system 12. Select "R" (for Race?) 13. Back out of garage while monitoring backup camera 14. Steer onto street 15. Select "D" (for Drive) 16. Check for traffic 17. Drive away Back home again, let's take a ride in my classic automobile: 1. Remove key from pocket 2. Unlock door 3. Open door 4. Be seated. 5. Hold in clutch 6. Rotate ignition switch to start engine 7. Turn on radio 8. Release parking brake 9. Roll down windows 10. Adjust wing windows 11. Place gearshift in the reverse position 12. Simultaneously gently press accelerator while easing up on clutch and monitoring rear view mirrors 13. Steer onto street 14. Depress clutch 15. Place gearshift in low gear position 16. Check for traffic 17. Drive away. 18. Wave back at everybody who honks or gives you a "thumbs up"

[@Unus_Annus_]

Amateur hour compared to driving a model T or A

[@drpoundsign]

Nowadays, it's the middle finger instead of the thumb. That can get you into Trouble, though.

[@majorwedgie8166]

Definitely a worthwhile study. Cars have changed so much that the question of safety is like comparing apples to oranges. What is plainly obvious is that some of these wrecks are high velocity collisions between very heavy masses. Crumple zones, airbags and ABS were significantly improving the survivability along with seat belts, safety glass, steering and suspension improvements have made a much better, faster and safer automobile.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

As someone who crashed in an older more "solid" car, breaking my jaw, my nose both of my arms and a femur in the process, I prefer the newer cars and their crumble zones. ( the older car was a 1973 oldsmobile ninty eight)

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

Those old cars were more repairable after accidents, though, and they had mass working for them if they ran into something lighter. In 1990, I was hit by a woman in a 1980s Country Squire wagon who wasn't even wearing seat belts. My little 1988 Chevy Sprint was totaled and I almost passed out from not being able to breathe. Even after totaling my car and running into a pine tree, her and her car were completely unscathed. Her bumper absorbed everything.

[@tweetiethebudgie3729]

hey at least your car has soft leather to cushion your own face and eventually having airbags I get none of that, except power steering

[@selfdo]

Were you wearing a seat belt? That was the big factor in whether or not one was either killed or sustained serious injuries.

[@tweetiethebudgie3729]

@@selfdo only a lap belt

[@randykelso4079]

@@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL I had a similar experience while stopped, waiting in line for a light change on a wet road in my Datsun wagon. A woman in a large old Chevy topped the hill behind me, obviously going too fast. I saw her coming and fortunately had some space between me and the car ahead of me. I was wearing a belt. In preparation for impact, I turned my wheels to the right to aim them at the ditch on the side of the two-lane street. The cop later said that she must have impacted my car at about 25 mph, but, like you, it seriously knocked the wind out of me. I couldn't get a decent lungful of air for a couple of minutes. The Datsun was now hump-backed and the Chevy was unharmed. The woman was also unharmed. I was out a couple thousand dollars (liability insurance only) and she was out the cost of a ticket, if she even got one.

[@Lyrics_Everywhere]

So... Is nobody going to talk about how clean did they dress? 😁

[@alexandrstudio6963]

Тогда всё было чистым и без фальши без корысти всё было по честному. Люди были совершенно другие!!!!

[@josephgaviota]

It is fun to look at the scenes ... the stores, the people, etc.

[@TheHistoryLounge]

Hey, @josephgaviota - I totally agree. Much of the interest in these photos has to do the with street scenes and what people are doing in the background.

[@bglasgow3435]

If you like history go to chronicalling America. News papers from the U.S. from the late 1600's and up.

[@josephgaviota]

@@TheHistoryLounge 👍

[@SSN515]

Kinda weird that the only car accidents back in those days were in Massachusetts.

[@victorm.photovic9983]

Back then accidents were a formal affair. Jacket and tie required.

[@jazzygaming420]

new cars are for sure safer, but old ones look way better. Even when theyre folded around a lightpost they have more style than modern cars lol.

[@-_J_-]

Die in style y'know?🕴️

[@stonerman15]

Agreed

[@johnfranklin5277]

I have my parents 58 cadillac they bought in 1960. I was 1 year old..its in great shape, and on the road. I also buy new cars about every 5 years. I like both. I'd take my new car in a heart beat for comfort, ease of driving, and knowing I could drive it from California to the east coast with no problems, ive done it 3 times. The cadillac is for fun, Sentimental memories, around town errands and car shows. When I was little we used to drive it from Cali to Missouri to visit relatives. But those days of long road trips are over for this 65 year old girl. I will say, I feel quite safe in the cadillac. Also have my 68 Mustang I bought in 1977, she's a beaut, absolutely stock, 289, factory AC, ps, automatic. This one came WITH SEATBELTS ! LOL.

[@Crustymarine]

Signal 30 1959 film was a driver's education class staple when I was in high school.

[@jeffl1460]

Back when everyone was well groomed & well dressed. Even the poor. Proud Americans.

[@drivenmad7676]

Before the pinko's and dual citizens took over our capital.

[@Canleaf08]

@@drivenmad7676German Americans? Lol.

[@pleasedontwatchthese9593]

Now only if these where images of America

[@slapshotjack9806]

Poor? What are you talking about? People weren’t poor back then because you could get a minimum wage job and be able to afford a decent house some cars have 3 kids and still be able to retire at 60 nowadays im working for twice the minimum wage and I can barely afford to put food on my table in the cheapest apartment in my area all while not having to pay for car insurance healthcare or my phone bill

[@drivenmad7676]

@@slapshotjack9806 Indeed.

[@glennso47]

My dad had a boss whose daughter died in a car accident in the early 50s . One of her passengers is a cousin of mine and she survived the accident only because she was in the back seat.

[@chargerdave2046]

3:35 probably gave someone the idea to chop a roof for the first time

[@MN_Engineer]

If you want your car to survive, solid cars from the past are better. If YOU want to survive, modern cars with crumple zones that disintegrate in collisions are superior

[@MrOiram46]

Buy a tank; you and the tank will survive against anything short of a fully-loaded semi truck

[@gabesmath105]

Except the ones here aren't at all solid

[@carlosriambau4598]

No fat people...

[@deanhotter6054]

Pretty amazing to see some of the same accidents with similar results as the ones I see these days with dash cam videos. Like this 1936 heavy steel sedan considerably bent when T- boned by a pole.

[@mosburgz]

amazing how technology is able to bring out such vivid imagery from old photographs.

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

In what way do you mean superior? If you mean safety new. If you mean repairable old. But if you're injured or dead I guess it really wouldn't matter.

[@epice6463]

0:23 so sad to see this one, it’s a 1948 Buick, same car that I own.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

This is a 50 Olds.

[@davidhaney2338]

Ahh the good old days in America! Not one fat person to be found lol 😂

[@inthendwealldie]

I think disability checks for being severely obese, welfare checks and EBT made plenty Americans these days out there fat, cuz now they can just go to Walmart instead and buy all the sodas they want while on that automatic wheelchair, and don’t gotta work since the Government will take care of them 🤔 😂

[@jacklund9366]

Yeah, it couldn't possibly be all the chemicals and additives in the processed foods today. It just HAS to be welfare and Walmart 🙄

[@inthendwealldie]

@@jacklund9366 I know an unemployed obese guy, he's extremely lazy and an absolute drunk, last job he had, he only went once a week, so when I looked at his check, he only made like $150 bi-weekly before he got fired So, this guy he doesn't like to work, rather get drunk, his ankles are terrible, he strains his ankles often while walking, limps often and walks slow like tortoise, extremely slow, he also walks kinda like a Penguin, and he gets government checks in the mail, so he pretty much legit doesn't have to work, does whatever he wants, gets free Obama government phones, he already broke a ton of Obama phones, he can easily get another one, tho he does live in poverty, he has never has owned a car, still no driver's license either, walks, takes the bus or bums a ride as a grown adult Plus, EBT Snap gives him like $300 per month, and during Covid era when I heard the Government was giving extra money -- some people had a 10k+ balance on their EBT card for free food, $10,000 USD of free free, that's insane, so what I'm saying is... the government will literally take care of them

[@inthendwealldie]

@@jacklund9366 Plus like you said all that processed food, fast food, high fructose corn syrup, but IMHO too much government assistance had made some people pretty lazy, they can live off the government and don't want to get off of it. Like I heard somebody could've gotten a new job that pays much better, but that would've taken them outta poverty and ended their EBT, any other government assistance, so they couldn't do it That's just what I think, and I know a bit of pretty obese people, and they keep eating and eating while getting them government assistance checks in and EBT topped up every month

[@michaeltb1358]

In India a few years ago I saw an Ambassador (basically a 1950s Morris) with the passenger compartment crushed but both ends relatively undamaged. Designs took no account of safety.

[@jchapman8248]

That's until they were compelled by law to integrate safety into their automotive design! (Thanks Tucker! ) When it comes to profit, those greedy corporations (especially those in the auto industry) could give two shits about their customers' safety and well being if they're left to their own devices.

[@Kuson2]

This AI loves the color purple lol still looks really good though!

[@mpravica]

"The roof holds" but the head and neck probably didn't. What's amazing here is the number of who smile for a photo that pertains to an accident that likely resulted in the loss of life in an era where people didn't have or wear seat belts.

[@tablesizeproductions4360]

No different than people taking selfies with a wildfire in the background or in front of some chalk lines. Some things seemingly never change.

[@medicalhuskymedical4606]

My great grandfather was an emt in the 70’s and I worked with some emt’s from the 80’s and early 90’s, back in the day it was either you where pulling a sheet over a doa, or the person walked away unharmed. Madera advancements have definitely saved lives.

[@alfx5432]

Those old cars did not hold up well in crashes

[@Cemi_Mhikku]

And anyone who tells you otherwise is delusional. Safety didn't exist as anything other than an advertising buzzword until it was legally mandated to.

[@kennethlowe6337]

I wonder how fast they were going on them maypop tires.

[@daveweed2765]

Held up a lot better than cars today.

[@baraxor]

If you were in a car crash driving a classic car, unless it was just a fender bender your chances of survival were none too good...no seatbelts, ordinary glass for windshields that would turn into razor sharp daggers from the slightest blow, and if you did manage to get out with serious injuries there were no paramedics and ambulance services for accident victims were confined to the big cities with big hospitals.

[@efandmk3382]

Vehicles, ALL vehicles, were absolute death traps until well into the 1980s. Many accidents that people get out and walk away from now, would have been fatal in the 50s and 60s.

[@cashtalks6253]

Those GPS systems weren’t all that good back then.😂

[@user-jo6ew3pz3s]

Look at the Poor state of the tyres in many of these photos...SLICKS!!!

[@lukemontgomery9683]

Gotta love some old bias ply’s

[@ler3968]

I remember seeing my first old car crushed near my house around 1955. With no seat belts or safety glass windows, all steel & iron body works & drumb brakes all around. It never occured to us what the impact dynamics would be to a human body. Years later at classic car shows I laughted a little seeing the designs of some steering wheels with a large bullet like fixture in the center at chest level, and the metal dashboards with pointed dials and handles perfect for severe puncures. Ah the good old days at their best!!

[@MEdGrant]

Remember too, that not one of the vehicles shown had seatbelts. The occupants were loose to “pinball” inside (or outside!) of them. Then there’s the benefits of airbags….

[@happycommentator6773]

The bend on the firemans helmet @7:03 was damn impressive.

[@420funny6]

No fattys anywhere

[@FrancisVoignierMusic]

Hardly any fat people.

[@tollbar5468]

And smartly dressed.

[@stevesmodelbuilds5473]

They're all at the Waffle House...

[@jogmas12]

I’m not fat and I’m smartly dressed, don’t know what you talking about

[@TuneStunnaMusic]

Its because the country was always going through wars and recessions, and most people had too many kids. and not enough money to feed everyone,

[@terranceaddison4599]

​@@TuneStunnaMusictwo world wars and a depression

[@johnwood551]

All the safety features we have today came about because of these wrecks. Solid steering wheels that crushed chests or rammed through bodies, No seatbelts that allowed people to hit the steel dashboard or windshield destroying heads and faces. Suspensions ,steering , abs brake systems help now with stability. I’m so old I remember towns setting out wrecks like this at the outskirts of town or city squares or schools to encourage people to drive slow and safely.

[@shadowopsairman1583]

Abs only allows you to steer clear of a sudden stop.

[@SuperErikRoss]

ABS just pumps the brakes before there was ABS we just pumped the brakes real fast stops the wheels from locking up. 🙂

[@TomTom-qm4mq]

I have a 67 gto with no seat belts. They were a option. Not mandatory till 68. Car manufacturer didn't want safety features because they thought customers will think the car had to have it because the car was unsafe.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

That indeed is how we used to think.

[@SuperErikRoss]

@@TomTom-qm4mq Actually it's more likely they were too cheap and didnt give a shit also most people were stupid and didnt give a shit either also not so litigation happy. Some people didnt like wearing seat belts because they were afraid they would get trapped in a burning car or some thing like that.

[@eugenemurphy2505]

I cant believe the smiles on the faces

[@W7DSY]

I can't speak officially to car safety, but I can say that the spectators had a lot more enjoyment last century than today.

[@outkast187]

It was a rare new thing back then. No magazines...internet to browse the stuff.

[@jeffreygoldstein6808]

I like this little Jazz tune you are playing.

[@TheHistoryLounge]

I'm glad you liked the tune - the song is called, "Intractable," by Kevin Macleod.

[@williamstraughan2949]

people shore dressed nice back then even to a wreck

[@peterburry2014]

*Sure

[@DrakionClaw]

Funny how there is always a large crowd gathered around most of the wrecks

[@KB-ke3fi]

There wasn't much else going on.

[@gsprof9788]

Many if not all of these pics came from a long term photographer’s collection who worked for newspaper the Boston Herald Traveler, now known as the Boston Herald, his name escapes me right now, but he was well known taking many crime scene photos also. I think his family released his collection from his career which lasted decades after his passing about 10-15 years ago. I have about 20 m/v accident photos of his. A few I have are displayed are here but there were some new ones plus ones I have that aren’t not shown. Different times definitely.

[@JanKowalski-vj9py]

Almost all crashed cars have very worn tyres.

[@edgarherrera5085]

One thing for sure hasn't changed, the nosey people wanting to see. Lol😂

[@Cimmerian415]

Looky loo's

[@MrFrog_]

My dads mum crashed in an old car at 10mph, no seatbelts and the pointed steering wheel pierced her heart - she died before anyone could get to her.

[@drpoundsign]

I'm So SORRY. It was important, however, that you posted this.

[@legend_abel_5764]

@@drpoundsignpls shut up

[@macdaniel6029]

To be completely fair: Most people died on the road at this time because they were drunk.

[@randykelso4079]

Or another driver was...

[@watchdogs295]

The good ole days

[@killerdinamo08]

Apparently crowds liked a good crash photo opportunity...

[@delano62]

Back when wrecks were social events

[@tonyhudson8698]

All power poles/ lighting poles still standing even with vehicles wrapped around them... Great stuff........

[@esssexboy]

A world with no airbags or abs and metal dashboards 😢

[@Faygo2215]

I love getting impaled by the steering column when im involved in a 45 mph+ accident

[@davidhoffman1278]

Brake fluids that evaporated when brake temperatures got high, drum brakes,

[@jeb1273]

A few of them got scissored by poles. The poles never budged.

[@SporkFish42]

Therefore the cars should be made out of poles, perhaps?

[@rogerrendzak8055]

@@SporkFish42 Gotta love logic, huh???

[@drats1279]

A couple of thoughts. With enough kinetic energy, all of the safety features in any car could be defeated. Most of the people in these photographs are dead. I did not see one fat person or a hyphenated American in any of the photos. Everyone in these photos knew exactly which bathroom to use.

[@jchapman8248]

America...pre-WOKE! 🤔

[@rogerrendzak8055]

So, what you're saying is that, they're all thin heterosexuals, heading towards, the correct bathroom🤔⁉️ Careful, your Christian republican, is showing through…………

[@camaro69green31]

Purple, Purple, Purple..... such a Happy color!!

[@pure_awareness]

1:52 time traveller guy

[@AAB6432]

That was a dark scary side of the automotive industry. Most of probably were killed. Also before DUI laws

[@jdollinter]

Imagine, their cars were capable of 80 mph but they had rudimentary suspensions and brakes.

[@treydogg77]

The elevator music is so relaxing for the carnage

[@drivenmad7676]

The vehicles were beautiful, as were my well dressed ancestors.

[@DsFk80s]

Yet nothing changes. People are still dying in an accident even today.

[@TheVolvo89]

Everyone is dressed nice.

[@allenantrim3676]

Totaled my 2019 pickup in January, don't even remember the pressure of the seat belt and not a scratch. I can't imagine how bad that would have been in my 1949 Ford f3 pickup.

[@mikedx2706]

Looks like a compilation of the Darwin Award's Greatest Hits

[@TDWCMAZ95]

Incredible pictures !

[@TylerVogel]

I love the style of the old cars if only we built them still just with our modern saftey

[@ANYHOO0]

Makes me want to go out and hug my safety glass.

[@midcenturymodern9330]

The quality and resolution of these images is impressive!

[@canitrader2423]

do you see how jagged and dangerous that glass is and in an era with no seatbelts? ...like being thrown into a meat slicing machine...