In the rear-view mirror: certainly groundbreaking
In the 1970s, the car industry became increasingly aware of safety. For example, Opel equipped all vehicles with seat belts as standard from 1973. Compulsory seat belts followed three years later. And in 1974, Opel experimented with the OSV 40 safety vehicle. The near-series study based on the Kadett C survived a frontal collision at 40 miles per hour, i.e. just under 65 km/h, and thus provided important information for the further development of safety.
The impact speed in miles also gave the test vehicle its name: OSV 40, the three letters standing for Opel Safety Vehicle. The findings from the development and testing of the vehicle were soon incorporated directly into the series production of new models.
The car was presented 50 years ago at the international ESV conference (International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles) in London as an example of a safe compact car. Despite the additional equipment, the experimental vehicle weighed only 960 kilograms. After the frontal impact at almost 65 km/h against a fixed barrier, all four doors could still be opened. The front end had absorbed the energy so well that it only shortened by exactly half a meter. The OSV 40 was just as convincing in the frontal 50 km/h crash against a pole as it was in the rear impact, the side impact into a pole and the rollover test at 48 km/h.
In comparison with contemporary sheet metal bumpers, the voluminous bumpers on the OSV 40 are particularly striking. Their absorbent properties were achieved by filling them with polyurethane foam (PU). Foam-filled side members were also used at the front, which deformed in a controlled manner at impact speeds of more than eight kilometers per hour. In frontal collisions below this speed, the foam structure absorbed so much energy that no permanent deformation occurred - thus creating the forerunner of the "self-repairing" bumper. The engineers also filled the cavities in the sills and doors with PU foam to increase safety reserves in the event of a side impact.
Reinforced roof bars and front seat backrests anchored in the roof via a belt construction increased the stability of the passenger compartment without compromising adjustability. At the same time, this design enabled the seats to absorb and dissipate more energy in the event of a collision. In addition, the laminated glass windshield was bonded directly to the body. This also served to increase body rigidity.
In the interior, all surfaces with which the occupants could come into contact in the event of an accident are padded with two centimetres of polyurethane foam. The steering received an additional sliding piece in the lower steering column area to absorb energy even better in the event of a collision.
The central warning system from Hella controlled eleven functions and indicated any faults by illuminating the warning lights in the cockpit. Four additional lights behind the rear window signaled emergency braking and served as hazard warning lights. Their high positioning made them more visible to following road users. In addition, headlights with headlight range adjustment were already used in the safety vehicle to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. The two-part rear-view mirror, the lower part of which reduced the blind spot to a minimum, also ensured optimum visibility in and around the OSV 40.
The front seats were widened so that they form a continuous boundary to the rear. The side supports in the middle prevented the driver and front passenger from colliding in the event of a side impact. This was another idea that was far ahead of its time. The minimalist design of the front seat headrests gave the driver the best possible view to the rear. The belt-based restraint system for the rear passengers' heads also ensured a clear view and safety. In the event of a rear-end collision, the belts covered a large area of the passengers' heads and cushioned them softly. In addition, OSV 40 was equipped with three-point seat belts on all four seats and automatic belt tensioners at the front. (aum)
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Opel OSV 40 from 1974.
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Opel
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Opel OSV 40 from 1974.
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Opel OSV 40 from 1974.
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Opel
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Opel OSV 40 from 1974.
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Opel
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Opel OSV 40 from 1974.
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Opel
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Opel OSV 40 from 1974.
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Opel
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Opel OSV 40 from 1974.
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Advertisement from 1974 for the Opel OSV 40.
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Opel
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