My husband recently slid into an ancient VW bug going about 5 mph tops (he was pulling out of a stop sign and the car in front of him suddenly stopped in the intersection)in our tiny Renault Twingo. Now the driver is claiming the frame on his car was bent by the accident, which I cannot imagine. So …

From http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/Cars/Problems/studies/Bumper/Index.html On April 9, 1971, the agency issued its first passenger car bumper standard – Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 215, “Exterior Protection,” which became effective on September 1, 1972. This standard called for passeng…

Hit properly at the proper angle by 2,000 pounds of steel it takes very little speed to bend a frame. It’s about the density of the energy (in finite elements) and the time involved in the dissipation of the energy (amplitude and duration). And the ability of the particular struck spot to dissipate …

You have to remember that the ancient VW was built using the “latest” 1930s technology. In other words, its construction cannot compare to more modern vehicles in either structural rigidity or passenger protection. Then, you have to factor in likely rust damage that may have weakened the structure…

Neither car HAS a “frame”…They are both just sheet-metal structures, like a beer can…When they get a little rust in them, they fold up very easily. You have insurance, right? Use it!

Granted, but the floor pan was still referred to as a frame by many vw people, to which axle assemblies were attached as well as body shell. Depends on your what your definition of is, is. It wasn’t a box frame in the traditional sense, that’s for sure.

I was not a box frame, but if it bent, the wheels would not track properly and that is a hard problem to fix, esp. on such a retarded construction as that old Vdub. Get an independent evalutation, and send you hubby to driving school. He doesn’t have to put the peddle to the metal when pulling awa…

It is also possible that the damage existed before your husband hit it. The insurance adjuster can determine all the damage done and whether there was existing damage. Your insurance only has to pay for damage due the this accident, not preexisting damage. Since you drive a Renault, you don’t liv…

Yeah, they had a cool setup. The floor pan and “frame” were one formed sheetmetal assemblage and the body mounted on it. But I wonder if “ancient” can be assumed to mean “air cooled”. OP?

If the claimant stated this at the scene then he is jumping to conclusions. If he was shown at a body shop I would want to see the estimate. Sometimes people hear or see what they want to.

Speed required to bend a frame?

General Discussion

dagosa January 30, 2010, 3:03pm 5

There is nothing magic about a framed vehicle that makes it inherently stronger than a uni body. In many cases, non framed vehicles may be stronger. Entirely possible especially with one that “ancient”. Just the age of the vehicle makes it more susceptible to damage. Older cars can bend frames hitting potholes.

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Speed required to bend a frame?

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