Core77

With companies like Volvo and Nissan so far ahead on the safety features curve, it's hard to believe there was a time when U.S. designers were pushing safety innovations. But they tried, most notably in the '30s through the '50s. (Above is a photo of the Sir Vival, a car broken up into two sections, with the idea being the engine compartment would absorb the brunt of an impact, leaving the passenger compartment undamaged.)

The Times has a great article listing some (occasionally hysterical) safety features that never made it, including seats that pivot 180 during an impact, protecting your precious mug, and a padded "safety chamber" that occupants can dive into before a collision, which probably worked great if you had your own psychic who could tell you when an accident was coming. They've also got a link to a video from the '30s of Chrysler trying to show consumers how strong their cars are, by rolling them off cliffs and the like.

via ny times