38 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

The original BMC Crash Test video newsreel film 1961-65 showing the effects on the Mini crashing into a concrete block at 25, 30 and 38 miles an hour.........
Link:
http://www.britishpa...rd.php?id=72595

[mab01uk]

and issigonis was criticised but said that the minis superior handling and brakes meant that it was less likely to crash ...allegedly

I think that was in this TV clip below on the early Mini taken from a 1999 CH4 Documentary on Car Safety. It also shows why the door latch/locks were changed for safety reasons on the Mk3 onwards, the large cut-outs put into the metal parcel shelf and the front seat catches added......
TEbmPsukEHI

[clovus]

Great links! Anything over 30 miles and it looks like serious thoracic damage. Being the sole bread winner with little ones to support means I am concerned about safety. Luckily, I drive a new car with a 5 star safety rating and the mini is my fun car (once I finish it). It was interesting to note the few people saying just be a better driver will make you safer. Sure, if the accident is your fault. Well, that works if you are the only driver on the road. There seems to be a sudden spate of stories about mini's being rear ended on here lately and a few about being T boned in the Aussie forums. I don't know how being a better driver will help in that situation.

In Australia my classic low seats are called back breakers for a good reason. A good hit from the back and........ I shudder to think. That's why I will be going with full seats with neck support, even though I need engineering approval.

[minidaves]

reason for the post was not to say a mini was ever going to be safe, but to try and get people to maintain and repair as good as possible, to help make it safer than a bad repair

[alexcrosse]

minis arent safe & never will be, no matter how many rollcages, door bars, bucket seats etc people put in

Hmmm, I think my full roll centre MSA approved cage made of complete CDS, magnum fibreglass FIA approved buck seats mounted to the roll cage and securon 3" FIA approved harnesses bolted to the roll cage would prove differently...

as would mini93's setup...

Ask bill richards if his mini was safe when he had his recent crash and why... and i think he would agree with me

[mini93]

just to add to Mr Crosses' point...my cars been rolled a few times before and its still straight including all geometry, its also had a full roof change and O/S a piller but the rollcage was just peachy

[joe90gt]

Great links! Anything over 30 miles and it looks like serious thoracic damage. Being the sole bread winner with little ones to support means I am concerned about safety. Luckily, I drive a new car with a 5 star safety rating and the mini is my fun car (once I finish it). It was interesting to note the few people saying just be a better driver will make you safer. Sure, if the accident is your fault. Well, that works if you are the only driver on the road. There seems to be a sudden spate of stories about mini's being rear ended on here lately and a few about being T boned in the Aussie forums. I don't know how being a better driver will help in that situation.

In Australia my classic low seats are called back breakers for a good reason. A good hit from the back and........ I shudder to think. That's why I will be going with full seats with neck support, even though I need engineering approval.

you have to do a "defensive driving course" to understand how even in those situations you can reduce the chance of it happening or reduce the damage to yourself - its all about anticipation and reading the road ahead and behind, its was a real eye opener for me and well worth doing especially when driving a mini. If you want to reduce accidents someone suggested cars shoud be made of glass or have big spikes sticking out of the steering wheel, i think that would work!
Getting back to daves point tho , your mini should be maintained well as the safety aids are not up to modern day standard and brakes etc should be maintained properly, roll cages may be an idea if you really think (or drive like) you are going to die but I tend to think I'll reach journeys end safely and drive accordingly

[alexcrosse]

roll cages may be an idea if you really think (or drive like) you are going to die but I tend to think I'll reach journeys end safely and drive accordingly

famous last words... most accident are unavoidable unless you have burnards watch.

[crazycoleman118]

i'd like to add i do walk around with holes in my shoes.... because i'd rather spend my money maintaining the mini

[Ethel]

A TMF post, sorry I can't remember whose, was an epiphany I haven't yet tired of sharing:

Along the lines of falling out of an aeroplane isn't dangerous, it's the sudden stop when you reach the ground - Minis are smaller & lighter than most other things on the road, if you collide with something else it's you that will do most of the sudden stopping. Even if your Min is so well braced the only thing you hit is your harness straps it could still cause you nasty damage.

In a way Issigonis was right: not having the accident in the first place should be even more prescient if you're in a Mini.

[liirge]

Well...you think you have something to worry about...
try a car with: No roof, No sides, a fuel tank next to the passenger seat and a windscreen that's only held on by bolts.

its called a:



















Mini! (Moke though!)

[R1mini]

Hmmm, I think my full roll centre MSA approved cage made of complete CDS, magnum fibreglass FIA approved buck seats mounted to the roll cage and securon 3" FIA approved harnesses bolted to the roll cage would prove differently...

as would mini93's setup...

Ask bill richards if his mini was safe when he had his recent crash and why... and i think he would agree with me

The problem is with a mini the engine/gearbox coming to meet you inside the car, what your sitting in or secured by won't help, you need to stop the engine coming through the bulkhead, so unless you have a very substantial rollcage supporting the front bulkhead area, a normal six point rollcage wll not help in this respect.

One of the things that always amazes me given how long the mini was in production for is, at no point did they put a collapsable column in, surely easy enough for a major manufacturer to implement. When you have a hard impact on the front end of a mini the steering column it fires upwards into the chest/face area, killing you or badly injuring you.

Cheers
David

[alexcrosse]

yer, the fact that the roll cage goes right through to the towers and then also onto the lower subframe mounts... and has a floor bar setup, a dash bar, and a bulkhead bar, all triangulated to 2 sill bars and and 4 door bars... dont think the engine will be coming through somehow.

[joe90gt]

roll cages may be an idea if you really think (or drive like) you are going to die but I tend to think I'll reach journeys end safely and drive accordingly

famous last words... most accident are unavoidable unless you have burnards watch.

eh? - i think you mean most accidents are avoidable - unless you drive like a dick of course!,

[mini93]

well theres certainly times where accidents are unavoidable on your part, such as another driver skipping a red and plowing right into you/into your path etc