The gas tank tests on the 70's/80's generation pickup trucks were rigged; the
news show that did that test later admitted that and apologized though they
never quite said that they thought they were wrong in doing what they did as
they were trying to "dramatize their issue." I'm sure it cost GM plenty to
get them to the point of apology. Actually that gen of Chevy pickup has been
shown by insurance companies to have a very low accident and fatality rate,
much more so than the general population of vehicles. My has served me well.
Fudging tests is not an uncommon practice; the tests that were done in the
60's to "prove" that the early generation Chevy Corvair was "unsafe at any
speed" were also rigged. This is now well known. It was later determined in
examination of video that the driver was intentionally forcing the car out of
control for "effect". I guess I won't complain too much though as it
prompted GM to go to full independent suspension on the 65 Corvair giving it
great Eurostyle handling.
Mark Noakes
58/56 Suburban
86 Silverado pickup with saddlebag tanks.
66 Corvair Monza (still waiting for it to turn over in the driveway)
86 Corvette Indy. . .who knows what they'll come up with on this one.
Knoxville, TN
In a message dated 6/24/99 11:26:38 PM, you wrote:
<<Actually, burning Pintos (minus the passengers of course) is not a bad
idea. If there is anything better, throw a few Vegas on the fire as well!
...Did I say that?
I remember a TV show on the saddle tank safety on '70s Chevy trucks. They
show film footage of a staged collision where a passenger car T-bones a
Chevy P/U causing the tank to rupture. I thought (been a few years) that
there was an issue with an incorrect test method or test results, and that
it cost GM a lot in law suits.
Anyone remember this?
Tom B. '57 Stepside 3200>>
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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