The Mystery of the RSV Safety Vehicle - What Happened?

Snide's Remarks; While going through our archives one of our editors found and brought this story to the front burner as we say in publishing, and I thought that although it is an old story it is worth dusting off and bringing to your attention....maybe we can get some real answers about the RSV.

In the mid 1970's the U.S. Department of Transportation funded a $30 million dollar project to design and create an "ultra-safe" and fuel efficient (32 Mpg) demonstration car for the masses in the era of the Ford Pinto and other death traps. The RSV was the result and it met or exceeded its requirements, apparantly it was too good and without a champion got stuck in a bureaucratic and corporate quagmire.

Here is the really strange part, in the early 1990's the 30 or so that were built and tested were destroyed...and today none exist.

Here are two video pieces that tell the story of the RSV’s rise and fall .

CLICK HERE to watch a Video with Lorne Greene (yes that one) introducing the RSV in this early 1980's 60 second TV Public Service Announcement video.

CLICK HERE to watch Ralph Nader describe the mystery behind the RSV destruction. This video includes interviews with the RSV's designer and crash footage.

Read the story from Ralph Nader’s Center for Automotive Safety

After you watch let me know what you think msnide@theautochannel.com