v_therussian

Much to my surprise, actually GM had a car that not only offered driver's and passenger-side airbags in 1973, but it also features a dual stage (dual-pressure) airbag for the passenger side - and we have to bail this company out now?! How's that even remotely logical? We're living in the middle of one of the greatest scams in the American history - believe or not, that's what I think - and we're all just going along for this one... GM is really a great company with lots of talent and assets, just too bad we've let other people dictate what we think, feel, do and are... but I'm ranting - this was really intended to be a fun post, so Hit this link to see the 1973 Chevy Impala with airbags

radzM

GM FTW!

craigm1841

wow. i had no clue.

v_therussian

Yep, was a total surprise to me as well - I always thought that MB came up with the airbag in the mid 1980's. Apparently, they didn't even come close to being on the heels of US Auto industry. And here we all sit and think "poor old GM has lost its edge" - its not the GM that lost it's edge, only the people that are running it got too greedy, so now, we're about to witness them taking the company apart at a bargain price only for private gain. We owe it to history to not let this happen, but then again, who ever listens to the truth... these days, if you feel like people ignore you a lot, its prolly because you're right too often... eeeehhh, I have to cut myself off, otherwise I'll be goin on and on about this forever.

ImolaRedM

I knew about the airbag and if I recall, Ford and Chrysler had their firsts in ABS for automobiles during the 60's and 70's. In either case, I don't think the problem with the big three is with the lack of good ideas but rather piss poor management that fails to take risks and lead the market. When you're only going after a greater than 10% market share you are committing yourself to mediocracy and being a follower.

Rudy

Didn't Ralph Nader get involved in the whole airbag safety issue back in the '70s and cause their deployment (pun intended) to be delayed for a decade or so?

I think he raised the issue that some people were being killed by the airbag itself, etc. and further testing proved that it was true...

Some of the older guys...help me out here!

littlemouse

I remember Lisa Simpson quoting that too, in an episode of the Simpsons... So it must be true

"Seat belts, pff! They kill more people than they save!"
"That's not true, you're thinking of airbags!
- Homer and Lisa Simpson