How Safe Are You and Your Passenger in a C4 Corvette?

Recent C4 Corvette crash highlights advances in vehicle safety.

Go to any Saturday-night car meet in America, and you’ll be certain to find an older gentleman proudly displaying his classic car. Strike up a conversation, and it’s likely he will, at some point, lovingly pat the fender and say, “They don’t build ’em like they used to.” They sure don’t … and that’s a good thing.

The oldest C4 Corvettes are now 33 years old. In the world of automotive engineering, that’s an eternity. Every aspect of vehicle design and safety has moved forward, and every detail has been rethought and reinvented. From tire tread design to cup holder placement, every detail has been re-engineered in countless ways to make our cars better.

CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About C4 Safety

One of the leading benefits of this constant development is safety. In this recent Corvette crash, an early C4 was rear-ended by a newer Cadillac at surface-street speeds. The C4’s rear hatch glass was shattered, and the car’s right rear corner shows plenty of damage, but the car looked like it fared well overall.

However, one of the Corvette’s occupants was sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the offending Cadillac was fine. While soft-tissue injuries are common in rear-end collisions, this instance highlights the need to be extra vigilant when driving classic cars.

With the ever-expanding size, weight and safety of new cars, things are looking grim should a modern vehicle meet a vintage automobile in a traffic accident. Think of driving your classic as you’d think of riding a motorcycle: everyone else on the road is trying to kill you.

In a sea of distracted, unskilled and downright dangerous drivers, you must always be alert, and always remain vigilant. Stay safe out there!

Any accident or close-call stories in your Corvette? How did it change your driving style? Share your story on our forum.