Researchers Crash-Test 3 Iconic American Muscle Cars
After one test, researchers had to dismantle a dummy to extract it from the car.
— -- One group of researchers think American muscle cars need some bulking up.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released new crash test videos this morning showing the results of three iconic American muscle cars -- none earned the research organization's sought-after Top Safety Pick award.
The institute -– well-known for crash-testing cars to evaluate their ability to protect occupants in a collision –- does not normally crash-test sports cars due to their small share of the market, but researchers decided to test these V-8 engine models due to their popularity and consumer intrigue. They ran the 2016 models of the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang through their gamut of crashworthiness evaluations.
The footage shows one small overlap front-end collision, a test meant to replicate clipping a pole or tree, where the Dodge Challenger's front driver-side wheel was pushed into the driver's compartment, causing a collapse on the dummy's leg. The dummy's foot had to be separated from its body in order to extract it from the car.
Of the iconic trio, Ford's Mustang earned the best safety ratings, followed by the Chevrolet Camaro. IIHS says the Dodge Challenger was most in need of improvement.
Insurance data indicates a higher than usual crash rate for sports cars, according to the research group.
"Given that sports cars have high crash rates, it's especially important that they offer the best occupant protection possible in a crash," says Adrian Lund, IIHS president.
The Camaro, Challenger and Mustang earned good ratings for occupant protection in a moderate overlap front crash, as well as a side impact.
According to the researchers, to qualify to be a Top Safety Pick, vehicles must earn good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint evaluations, and have a basic-rated front crash prevention system.
A Ford spokesperson told ABC News, "The 2016 Mustang is our safest Mustang ever. In addition to coming close to earning a Top Safety Pick from IIHS, the 2016 Mustang has also earned the federal government’s highest 5-star overall safety rating."
ABC News reached out to Chevrolet and Dodge for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.