Crash testing is a normal part of modern automotive engineering. Sensors, wires, high speed cameras and all manner of complicated testing widgets are used to make sure new cars are as safe as possible. Back in the late 1950’s crash testing was just starting to resemble what we know it as today. 

The funny part is that the technology used for these tests is very crude by today’s standards. The car to be cashed was towed into a parked car. The car that was being towed was wired into a testing truck that drove in parallel with it. That truck had an umbilical cord of wires attached to the car beside it and a couple of guys in the back to record data.

We’ve come a long way since these days!