<VV> Head Restraints

[Dave Keillor]

My relatively early '69 had the "straight" headrests and my brother's
later '69 had the ones that were angled forward.  I have no idea where
the switchover happened.

When our '69 was about 6 weeks old we were rear ended at a stop light.
We were sitting still and the guy that hit us was going 50+.  My seat
ended up almost flat on the backseat (bent the hinges) and I was fine.
The kids were asleep in the back -- one on the seat and one on the floor
and they were fine.  My wife was turned slightly looking at the kids in
the back.  Her head hit the window and then the head rest.  She had a
sore neck for 3-4 weeks.  I'd give the Corvair a 5 star crash rating.

Interestingly, there was a standing wave of diminishing amplitude
running from the rear to leading edge of the quarter (just behind the
door) on both sides.  It was almost perfect sinusoid.  Btw, the car was
repaired (all new sheet metal from the doors back) and we still have it.

Dave Keillor
 
-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Mr Lew Rishel
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 1:31 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> Head Restraints

The recent thread about 'head rests' prompts me to respond.

On or about 1 Jan '69,  as stated, the Us govmint, in its infinite
wisdom, 
decreed that all vehicles sold here  would be equipped with "head 
restriants".  The purpose is/was to reduce the incidence of 'whiplash' 
accidents due to rear end collisions.  These 'restraints' were to be 
positioned  thus;  the center of the restraint is to be at the same
height 
as the center of the bcak of drivers (or passengers) head, and about 1
to 
1/12 inches away. If the head moves no further than that from a rear end

collision, little or no damage to the neck  will result.   The
restraintrs 
on my 69 were of the straight kind, and were about 4 inches to the rear
of 
my head.   Too far to be effective in event of an accident.  Moving my
head 
rearward to contact the restraint resulted in an awkward and
uncomfortable 
position,  ergo, it is not a 'headrest'.   I think I recall seeing
later 69 
vairs ( and some Camaros) with a bent (slanted)  restraint, that placed
it 
closer to the head.
Any of yew engeneers want to argyfy this. How 'bout yew, Hnaky-poo,
whuts 
yer take on this ?

Lew 

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