CLASSIC CARS RECOGNIZED FOR SAFETY ADVANCES AVAILABLE AT HEMMINGS

Volvo and Mercedes-Benz are two of the brands pictured when discussing cars recognized for safety advances – think airbags and ABS, for example. But if we dive further back into automotive history, there were other marques who were first to introduce equipment or technologies that made motoring a less hazardous experience for drivers and passengers in the early decades. 

Among the thousands of vehicles listed on Hemmings Marketplace are those that ushered in new developments in occupant and pedestrian safety – mitigating impacts and, later, helping drivers to avoid them altogether. Others helped to popularize new safety tech after pioneers had paved the way. Here are some of our favorites. 

1931 Ford model A

Safety glass had been around since the 1900s but was introduced on a Ford for the first time with the Model A from 1928. Its laminated glass was invented accidentally by Frenchman, Édouard Bénédictus, who subsequently established the Triplex company. Bénédictus worked out that laminating a plastic sheet between two pieces of glass would prevent shattering. The new product was perfect for previously lethal automobile windshields. 

This right-hand-drive 1931 Ford Model A Slant Windshield Town Sedan was restored around five years ago, according to the seller, and “shows very well.” Introduced in mid-1931 to reduce glare, the slant windshield – made from Triplex glass, of course – redirected oncoming headlights down from the driver’s eyes. 

Powered by a 201-cu.in., L-head inline-four, this right-hand-drive Model A has an Aurora Red body, black top and fenders, and a pleated red fabric interior. No known mechanical needs are reported but the front gray carpeting is worn and it displays trim damage. This Model A has been driven and enjoyed. The a-oogah horn works and a new car cover is included with the sale. 

1921 Dodge Touring Sedan

Carriage-style wooden-framed bodies, skinned with wood or metal, were the norm in the early days of motoring. But in time, these were replaced by all-steel bodies that were stronger and more uniform, weighed less, and were quicker to manufacture and paint. Dodge pioneered the switch in materials when it worked with E.G. Budd Manufacturing to launch the Model 30-35 touring car in 1914. 

Currently on Hemmings Marketplace with Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, is this 1921 Dodge Touring sedan owned by its consignor since 1999. It is described as, “an excellent parade car that runs and drives well,” riding high on 32-inch, wooden spoke wheels with four-inch tires. Power comes from a 212-cu.in., L head four-cylinder engine rated at 24 horsepower and fueled by a single-barrel carburetor, paired with a three-speed manual transmission. There are some imperfections in the trim, and patina you’d expect from such an old vehicle that’s traveled further than the indicated mileage of 5,399.

1959 Volvo PV544 Coupe

The three-point seat belt was standard in some markets on the 1959 Volvo PV544 and came to the USA four years later, but perhaps the single most important invention in auto safety struggled to gain traction for several decades after that. Volvo engineer, Nils Bohlin’s combination of a lap belt and a diagonal belt across the body absorbed the impact force across the strong pelvis and chest, but was still easy to use and adjust. 

This Make Offer listing in Holliston, Massachusetts, has an asking price of $22,500. The black PV544 Coupe has had considerable work over the past four years, including a transmission rebuild (syncros, flange pins, shift rails, gaskets, seals and gear oil); new clutch and throw-out bearing; front-disc conversion kit and two new rear-wheel brake cylinders; extensive engine maintenance, upgrades and painting; and some reupholstery and other interior work. Says the owner of this attractive car, “this Volvo PV544 is well sorted and ready for a new admirer.”

1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SE

Mercedes-Benz already had a safety door lock to its name – preventing doors flying open in a crash – before the milestone W111 series arrived in 1959. For the first time, it incorporated the concept of a safety cell and crumple zones, which had been patented by the marque’s head of Advanced Design, Béla Barényi. Another invention from the prolific Barényi was also fitted – a steering wheel with an impact plate and a collapsible column. He was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1994. 

This 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300 SE ‘Fintail’ is a restoration candidate priced at $17,500. Just out of long-term storage, it’s white with a red interior, and said to be a straight car with good panel fit and door gaps. The 300 SE was fast and powerful for its day, with a Bosch fuel-injected, six-cylinder, 170-bhp motor – a detuned version of the 300 SL’s powerplant – under the hood. Only 5,202 had been sold before production ceased in 1965.

1967 Chevrolet Chevelle

US auto makers were quick to adopt energy-absorbing steering columns in the 1960s, partly due to the high-profile campaigning of consumer safety advocate, Ralph Nader. Different collapsible designs achieved the same goal: steel mesh in GM’s two-piece column crumpled under pressure, while others used a pin that sheared under a certain force, or a pyrotechnic-released shortening mechanism. 

A collapsible steering column was standard equipment on A-body 1967 Chevelles like this restored, Marina Blue SS for sale in California. This gorgeous example has a 350-bhp, 396 V-8, the wraparound taillights that were introduced as part of the ’67 facelift, black bucket seats, new chrome and glass, a gauge package, and seven-inch Rally wheels with redline radials. 

1976 Oldsmobile Toronado

Airbags are now ubiquitous, but it took decades of development to perfect this groundbreaking means of reducing occupant injuries before airbags went mainstream in the 1990s. GM was an early adopter, making the Air Cushion Restraint System (ACRS) available as an option on select models from 1974-’76, including the Toronado. The Oldsmobile’s driver airbag was contained in a unique steering wheel, with a knee-blocker beneath the column, while a dash-panel airbag protected the passenger. But ACRS was soon discontinued due to low adoption; it was more than a decade before an Oldsmobile was again available with airbags. 

Gateway in Houston is selling this 85,598-mile, 1976 Toronado Brougham for $12,000. Dark blue with a cream vinyl rear roof and a blue cloth interior, it’s straight out of a 1970s cop show. There’s no ACRS, but this cruiser boasts power steering, windows, seats and locks; air conditioning; and an AM/FM radio.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 450 SEL

The W116 S-Class was the first car to be fitted with the new technology. Offered by DD Classics in London, UK, this fabulous W116 450 SEL has the 6.9-liter, M100 engine that – at the time – made it the world’s fastest production sedan, capable of 149 mph. That performance led to pivotal roles in the movies Ronin and C’était un rendez-vous. 

This 6.9 is an LHD, European-spec machine (lower suspension, smaller bumpers) finished in Thistle Green metallic with a complementary Olive velour interior, complete with the original Blaupunkt radio and car phone. The seller notes that with 78,000 miles on the clock, this beautiful Benz has a much lower mileage than many other survivors, which are often in need of work but tend to go unrestored due to the high cost of work compared with the car’s value.

1988 Porsche 944 Turbo

In 1987, the US-market version of the 944 Turbo became one of the first cars in the world to be fitted with standard driver and passenger airbags. Today, secondhand examples are a bargain compared with the stratospheric values of vintage, rear-engined Porsches, but it’s still a quick car: the 217-bhp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder is good for zero to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. 

This 1988 Guards Red 944 Turbo has a recorded mileage of 93,699 and is for sale on a Classified listing for $26,000. It has a five-speed manual transmission, black leather interior, detachable roof panel, cruise control, and an aftermarket Pioneer audio unit. 

1999 Cadillac Seville STS

Mercedes-Benz and Bosch started developing electronic stability control (ESC) at the end of the 1980s. ESC – also known as ESP, VSC or StabiliTrak – was built on ABS and designed to apply the brakes or cut power to an individual wheel in the event of a skid, thereby avoiding or mitigating an accident. It first appeared on series production cars in 1995. 

StabiliTrak was GM and Delphi’s take on ESC and was introduced on certain Cadillacs in 1997, including the 4.6-liter, Northstar V-8-powered STS (Seville Touring Sedan). The original owner is selling the 37,560-mile STS shown here and says it has always been garaged and never driven in the rain. With adaptive suspension and a Bose sound system, it’s being sold on a Make Offer listing in Palm Springs, California, for an asking price of just $8,250. 

2022 Ferrari Roma Coupe

And finally, even Ferraris have cutting-edge safety systems. ESC started the ball rolling for a suite of collision avoiding or mitigating active-safety technologies that are often collected under the banner of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These typically integrate the brakes, ESC and steering with optical sensors like radar and cameras. 

This 2022 Roma with a dealer in Scottsdale, Arizona, has the ‘ADAS package’, which bundles popular features like automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning (LDW) with traffic sign recognition, and blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert. Perhaps more excitingly, the sub-3,000-mile, Rosso Dino 2+2 also has a 3.9-liter, twin-turbo V-8 with 612 hp. The spec includes 20-inch, forged wheels, MagneRide adaptive suspension, Rosso Scuderia brake calipers and carbon-fiber rear diffuser. Inside, there’s a Nero leather interior with contrasting, off-catalog orange stitching, and Apple CarPlay.

The post Classic Cars Recognized For Safety Advances Available At Hemmings appeared first on The Online Automotive Marketplace.

2026-01-30T10:03:22Z