Were the All Steel Cars of the 50’s and 60’s Better? Well that’s up to your own opinion but we do know that they were not as safe. Here is a video from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal crash test between a 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air and a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. Pay close attention to the passenger compartment between both vehicles. It is also of interest the size between the two vehicle.