<VV> Corvair Myths and Facts -- Pintos, no Corvair

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

Locally, a number of years ago, we had a bad accident in front of a 
shopping center, with a Pinto wagon, fire, and fatalities -- it was very 
bad.

Just a few weeks later, I was working an accident scene not far from my 
house in the same local area with a State Trooper.  A Pinto wagon that 
had slowed for the accident was rear-ended and knocked down and off the 
roadway.  I've never seen a Stater move so fast, actually running, to 
get to that Pinto and get the folks out quickly.  There was no fire, 
although the scenario was correct, and similar to the the previous 
accident cited.

My conclusion is that not *all* Pintos burn when rear ended. 

Fires happen at accident scenes and the risk should not be lightly, 
whether it is a Pinto, Corvair, GM saddle tank pick-up, Corvette, Fiero, 
or anything else, but my experience is they do not happen at the rate 
shown on TV, or in the movies, or in popular imagination.  Check your 
local wrecking yard -- how many burn jobs in there were the result of an 
accident?

May you never see a fatal vehicle fire,

Bill Strickland