Re: [DML] Change Windows In A DeLorean?

[Bob Brandys <BobB@xxxx>]

Martin,

You bring up a interesting question about side windows breaking. 

Actually, accident statistics show that people would be better off if 
side windows were also safety glass just like in windshield. This is 
because it help keep passengers inside of cars so they are not ejected 
and suffer even greater injury.

The only car manufactured with plastic laminated safety glass in the 
side windows was the Edsel. This was because Ford was the first car 
company to try and put some safety features into cars. In 56 Fords they 
put in seat belts, padded dash and other safety features. The started 
advertising the "safety" package.

Unfortunately, the ignorant public wrote to Ford and said "Your cars 
must be unsafe if you need to sell this safety package, so I am not 
going to buy a Ford." Needless to say, Ford killed the package, in its 
Ford line but included all the features in the Edsel. Since it was 
standard equipment the public never knew.

Jack Martins, the safety engineer who consulted for Delorean (now 
deceased from a brain aneurysm) also was concerned about the question of 
passenger ejection from the Delorean. He felt that small size window 
actually reinforced the side glass and made it more difficult for a 
passenger to be ejected. However, this also raised an insure of the 
ability to get out of the car if it flipped over. One could not open the 
door in this case.
The metal frame from the small window is quite strong and makes window 
opening much smaller.

Being a safety engineer, I also pondered this dilemma. First, all race 
cars have lexan windshield for safety reasons. Second, Lexan is coated 
with a silicone layer that hardness the surface and makes it scratch 
resistant. This is opposed to common poly carbonate which is not 
coated. Third, the size full plastic window is designed where one can 
pop out the plastic window with less force than it takes to break the 
glass window,

Bob