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The airbag in a classic car - and long live it!

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Created on January 26, 2014

Reading time 10min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

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Archiv Daimler AG

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General Motors (1974) - in den Siebzigerjahren stark umstritten, der Air-Bag

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VW Käfer (1970) - beim Test eines frühen Airbags bei Volkswagen

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Mercedes-Benz (1971) - frühe Erkenntnisse der Airbag-Forschung in der Werbung von Mercedes-Benz

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Olin (1970) - Olin-Airbag für Kopfstütze

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General Motors (1974) - Funktionsweise des Beifahrer-Airbags

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Mercedes Benz ESF 22 (1973) - auf Basis der Baureihe W 116 (S-Klasse 1971), präsentiert auf der 4. ESV-Konferenz 1973 in Kyoto - ausgerüstet mit Fahrer-Airbag

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Mercedes Benz ESF 22 (1973) - während links eine S-Klasse beim Unfall beobachtet wird, wartet das Sicherheitsfahrzeug mit Airbag auf seinen Einsatz

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Mercedes Benz ESF 22 (1973) - Sicherheitsfahrzeug mit Fahrer-Airbag an der IAA in Frankfurt

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Buick Electra (1974) - Interieur, mit Airbag, aber ohne Sicherheitsgurten

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Nissan (1974) - Nissan-Versuchsfahrzeug mit Airbags für alle vier Sitze

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Airbag im Jahr 1973 - Demonstration bei Bayern Chemie

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Ford (1974) - kein Airbag, sondern ein Prallkissen mit verbesserter Aufpolsterung

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Ford (1974) - verbessertes Gurtsystem als Alternative zum Airbag

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Britax (1974) - Alternative zum Airgab, Rückhaltesystem mit Stützarm

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Airbags im Anschnallgurt um das Jahr 1973 - hat sich nicht durchgesetzt

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Mercedes-Benz - Mercedes hat den Airbag zur Serienreife gebracht

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Mercedes Benz (1978) - Präsentation eines geöffneten Airbags

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Früher Airbag im Jahr 1973 - schematisch dargestellt - man beachte den Sensor in der Lenksäule

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Mercedes Benz S-Klasse (1981) - Funktionsweise des Airbags

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Mercedes Benz S-Klasse (1981) - Erklärung des Zusammenspiels von Sicherheitsgurt, Gurtstraffer und Airbag

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Mercedes Benz S-Klasse (1981) - Phasenfoto - Funktionsweise des Lenkrad-Airbags in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Gurtstraffer

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Mercedes Benz S-Klasse (1981) - Phasenfoto - Funktionsweise des Lenkrad-Airbags in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Gurtstraffer

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Mercedes Benz (1981) - aufgeblasener Luftsack (Airbag)

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Im Mercedes SEC-Coupé konnte bereits 1981 der Fahrer-Airbag gegen Aufpreis verlangt werden

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Mercedes Benz E-Klasse (1992) - Unfallforschung, Airbag

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BMW 750i (1990) - mit Airbag für Fahrer und Beifahrer

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Mercedes Benz C-Klasse DTM (1998) - selbst Wettbewerbsfahrzeuge werden Crash-Tests unterzogen, Airbags sind allerdings nicht an Bord

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Mercedes Benz (2011) - Entfaltung des Airbags in fünf Bildern - Bild 1

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Mercedes Benz (2011) - Entfaltung des Airbags in fünf Bildern - Bild 2

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Mercedes Benz (2011) - Entfaltung des Airbags in fünf Bildern - Bild 3

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Mercedes Benz (2011) - Entfaltung des Airbags in fünf Bildern - Bild 4

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Mercedes Benz (2011) - Entfaltung des Airbags in fünf Bildern - Bild 5

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Mercedes Benz S-Klasse (1981) - Wirkungsweise des Fahrerairbags - von oben gesehen

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Mercedes Benz E-Klasse Coupé (2005) - Passive Sicherheit mit sieben Airbags beim E-Klasse Coupé

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Mercedes Benz E-Klasse Coupé (2005) - passive Sicherheit mit sieben Airbags, Gurtstraffern, Gurtkraftbegrenzern, Neck-Pro-Kopfstützen, etc.

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Summary

It was invented in 1951, sold in America in 1973 and in Europe in 1981 in standard cars - the airbag. So it has already achieved classic car status. But what does this mean for maintenance and safety when decades have already passed? This article takes a look at the development history of the airbag, interviews the major vehicle manufacturers and takes a look at the future of the airbag systems installed to date.

This article contains the following chapters

Invented several times
First successful tests in the sixties
Pressure from politicians
Complex and lengthy development
In series production for the first time
The problems are solved
The year 1980 and the introduction of the standard airbag in the S-Class
Rapid spread
Ten-year shelf life
But more durable than initially expected
Minimal maintenance/monitoring required
Not for the do-it-yourself mechanic
Spare parts situation good to very good
Increasingly complex
An uncertain future?
Further information

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The airbag has quietly and silently become a classic car. For a few years now, but increasingly in the future, cars with airbags fitted as standard or at extra cost are coming of age as classic cars. What does this actually mean for the owner? Are these old airbags (30 years and more) still safe? Does the airbag pose any additional danger to the driver/passenger? How is the airbag properly maintained? Are spare parts still available for all the airbag systems used? What happens if maintenance is neglected? And how was the airbag developed in the first place? Two men invented the airbag, which was initially also called an airbag in German-speaking countries, in the 1950s. In Germany, engineer Walter Linderer applied for a patent in 1951, which was granted to him on November 12, 1953. At around the same time, John W. Hetrick, an industrial designer in the service of the US Navy, was also granted a patent for the airbag.

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