Many accused the IIHS of using a rusted out hulk with no engine.
The vehicle was purchased in Indiana, was in driving condition, original engine (235ci i6), solid frame and panels.
Vehicle weight is listed as 3603lb.
For comparison- the listed curb weight of the 2009 Malibu is, depending on trim level, 3415lb-3649lb
Mechanics note - this is why we've had to use higher load lifts over the last decades to accommodate vehicles that, while dimensionally smaller, have been increasing in weight.
Thanks for the information. I agree with the comment about the straight 6. That leaves a huge gap under the hood. A V8 would have spread the energy around the driver.
That lines up with my surprise initially.
Knowing how many plastic boxes are in the frame of modern cars makes sense on the energy distribution verses the right angle framing of legacy vehicles.
The x-frame in that 59 being even more rigid than average probably didn't help with the massive energy transfer into the body, either.
If you can clear away enough stuff under the hood of most modern, unibody vehicles, you can see the dimpling on the structural frame horns that attach to the front bumper. Those are a good example of crush zones that have proven to absorb energy quite well.
