Ford Econoline E100 Van | 1978 | Frontal Crash Test by NHTSA | CrashNet1

[@ahorsenamedoaks1377]

So aside from the steering column, are the frames designed poorly? Lack of crumple zones?

[@whattheheck1000]

All full-size vans from the 1970s are death traps. Full-size vans in particular are more difficult to design to do well in this type of crash because they have limited crumple zone space and a lot of weight behind it. Also, before the early 1990s, safety standards for vans (as well as trucks and SUVs) were far below that of passenger cars. The VW Vanagon, which came out in 1979, was the first van where safety was a major consideration in its design, but it wouldn't be until the 1990s that full-size vans could provide adequate protection in a full-frontal crash - adequate meaning that serious injury would be unlikely in a 35mph crash, as measured by at least 3 stars out of 5 for both occupants in that test (severe injury risk under 35%). This van earned a 41% severe injury risk for the driver and 95% for the passenger in this test (Driver: HIC 1,257 / 48 chest G, Passenger: HIC 2,223, 51 chest G). This test was at only 30 mph, and forces on the passenger dummy indicated that there would probably be fatal injuries. A 35 mph test has 36% more kinetic energy and as such the injury measures would probably be significantly worse. February 16, 2023 10:57 pm

[@kinguin7]

​@@whattheheck1000 strange that there's such a discrepancy between the driver and passenger in this test.

[@whattheheck1000]

@@kinguin7 Yeah, and when they tested another 1978 Ford van, the driver actually did worse (severe injury risks of 67% and 39%). These vans were all over the place in injury risk due to poor safety design, sometimes the dummies would get “lucky” and “only” record serious injuries, other times, as with the passenger in this test, it would be fatal. Also, the dummies were far less advanced than today’s, but suffice it to say a real occupant would probably suffer at least serious injury in a crash like this, if not severe or fatal. February 21, 2023 1:09 pm