How safe is a classic car?
Not as safe as its modern equivalent is the norm when it comes to safety. Most classics were penned on the drawing board long before much thought was given to what happens to humans should the unfortunate happen and you find yourself driving into something solid. Airbags, crumple zones, anti lock brakes and all the rest were but a distant dream, as were things such as seatbelts until 30 or so years ago. Volvo kicked off much of the quest for safer cars way back in the 1950s when they launched their 120 Amazon range in 1956, fitted as it was with padded sunvisors, front seatbelts (and mountings for rear belts), padded dashboard top and less dangerous switchgear, coupled with a tank like structure. Therefore driving a classic does require more foreward planning, and braking distances need to be adjusted accordingly, as any modern MPV or whatever will easily outbrake a drum braked classic from decades ago, indeed many very early cars didn’t even have four wheel braking, which could prove
