How do you get out of an inverted Lambo?
Discussion
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml... (Fifth paragraph)
As already posted, Valentino kicked the windscreen out of the Countach that overturned after an encounter with a Lorry as he was joining the 'Freeway'.
I have also heard that the gear lever on the manual Murcielagos can be unscrewed and used as a hammer to smash the windscreen should the car get overturned, not sure what you're meant to do if you have an e-gear though...
I have also heard that the gear lever on the manual Murcielagos can be unscrewed and used as a hammer to smash the windscreen should the car get overturned, not sure what you're meant to do if you have an e-gear though...
People often cite this as a criticism of Lambos, but I wonder how many doors on ordinary cars would still be in a fit state to be opened if a crash was bad enough to put a car on it's roof?
I imagine most would suffer enough deformation of the roof or other bits which would render it extremely difficult or even impossible to open the door of any car that ended up on it's roof.
I imagine most would suffer enough deformation of the roof or other bits which would render it extremely difficult or even impossible to open the door of any car that ended up on it's roof.
from memory... I think that the accident that VB was in that resulted in the Countach he was driving being a) on fire and b) upside down was 'resolved' when he used his fire extinguisher to batter his way out by breaking the side window frames and crawling out through that small space and then using the fire extinguisher as it was intended to some effect.
AFAIK, VB never travels without an extinguisher, whether testing or just going to the shops.
A friend was driving his Countach QV in France almost exactly 10 years ago to the day.
I'd been intending to travel with him but he called me a few days before the weekend to tell me he'd met a girl and would be taking her to France instead of me; can't say that I blamed him, I smoked like a chimney back then...
He was travelling alone for a while as his girlfriend was riding in a Miura to see what that was like. They and some other LCUK Members had attended an event in Alsace which had been organised by Lamborghini Club France and were heading west and for home.
My friend overtook the Miura at one point but in doing so, swerved violently, inexplicably and the car rode up the side of the road before crashing back down onto the tarmac and onto its roof.
He was a very tall, lumpy kind-of guy and had to drive his Countach with his head hunched forward and sideways to fit the car at all.
It's unlikely that he was conscious for long after the car stopped sliding and he'd not have been able to batter his way out of the car anyway if he was at all awake or aware by that time.
He died before any ambulance could arrive.
He was only 33 years old and those of us that knew him at all have only the slight consolation of knowing that he died doing something he loved to do in a car he adored, absolutely and without the least question.
It's no answer to the OP's question except perhaps as a note of caution. I agree with DIW35, the chances of surviving any upside-down-incident in any car are slim at best and especially so in a car as utterly involving as a Lamborghini.
An epilogue:
According to French law, my friend's parents were the only people entitled to know the results of his autopsy and of the engineering report after the accident.
They showed great grace and calmness when they decided they didn't wish to be informed. Nothing was going to bring their son back to them and they didn't want to apportion any blame at all. We might all hope to be as noble and as dignified as they were in similar circumstances.
AFAIK, VB never travels without an extinguisher, whether testing or just going to the shops.
A friend was driving his Countach QV in France almost exactly 10 years ago to the day.
I'd been intending to travel with him but he called me a few days before the weekend to tell me he'd met a girl and would be taking her to France instead of me; can't say that I blamed him, I smoked like a chimney back then...
He was travelling alone for a while as his girlfriend was riding in a Miura to see what that was like. They and some other LCUK Members had attended an event in Alsace which had been organised by Lamborghini Club France and were heading west and for home.
My friend overtook the Miura at one point but in doing so, swerved violently, inexplicably and the car rode up the side of the road before crashing back down onto the tarmac and onto its roof.
He was a very tall, lumpy kind-of guy and had to drive his Countach with his head hunched forward and sideways to fit the car at all.
It's unlikely that he was conscious for long after the car stopped sliding and he'd not have been able to batter his way out of the car anyway if he was at all awake or aware by that time.
He died before any ambulance could arrive.
He was only 33 years old and those of us that knew him at all have only the slight consolation of knowing that he died doing something he loved to do in a car he adored, absolutely and without the least question.
It's no answer to the OP's question except perhaps as a note of caution. I agree with DIW35, the chances of surviving any upside-down-incident in any car are slim at best and especially so in a car as utterly involving as a Lamborghini.
An epilogue:
According to French law, my friend's parents were the only people entitled to know the results of his autopsy and of the engineering report after the accident.
They showed great grace and calmness when they decided they didn't wish to be informed. Nothing was going to bring their son back to them and they didn't want to apportion any blame at all. We might all hope to be as noble and as dignified as they were in similar circumstances.
DIW35 said:
People often cite this as a criticism of Lambos, but I wonder how many doors on ordinary cars would still be in a fit state to be opened if a crash was bad enough to put a car on it's roof?
I imagine most would suffer enough deformation of the roof or other bits which would render it extremely difficult or even impossible to open the door of any car that ended up on it's roof.
It really does depend on the nature of the impact.I imagine most would suffer enough deformation of the roof or other bits which would render it extremely difficult or even impossible to open the door of any car that ended up on it's roof.
Theres alot of clips on youtube of people rolling cars at low speed and the A pillar holding up fine.
Its evident that manufacturers putting roll over protection in their convertables shows they are designed to with stand rolling over however whether the car remains on its roof is again down to the impact however if it does stay on its roof in a scissor door setup, your clearly at a disadvantage to get out.
Two people were trapped in this inverted Murci and subsequently burnt alive:
www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
Mosi said:
Two people were trapped in this inverted Murci and subsequently burnt alive:
www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
Thats what happens if you show off! Or when your bank balance exceeds your talent!www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
Mosi said:
Two people were trapped in this inverted Murci and subsequently burnt alive:
www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
I have always thought that site to be in stunningly bad taste. Some macabre fetish for looking at crashed cars where people have often died or been badly injured in them.www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
plasticpig said:
Mosi said:
Two people were trapped in this inverted Murci and subsequently burnt alive:
www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
I have always thought that site to be in stunningly bad taste. Some macabre fetish for looking at crashed cars where people have often died or been badly injured in them.www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
I know it is not the same level car by any stretch of the imagination, but my old DeLorean had gullwings.
I had a glass hammer installed and was told of the Countach "legs up and push windscreen" out method.
If you are really worried, I would get a plumbed in engine bay fire extinguisher. Never really bothered me as there was limited chance of flipping over in central London ;-)
I had a glass hammer installed and was told of the Countach "legs up and push windscreen" out method.
If you are really worried, I would get a plumbed in engine bay fire extinguisher. Never really bothered me as there was limited chance of flipping over in central London ;-)
absolutely said:
plasticpig said:
Mosi said:
Two people were trapped in this inverted Murci and subsequently burnt alive:
www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
I have always thought that site to be in stunningly bad taste. Some macabre fetish for looking at crashed cars where people have often died or been badly injured in them.www.wreckedexotics.com/murcielago/murcielago_20060...
I always assumed that site only showed non fatal accidents.
Not cool at all.
Dear All,
I thought I would reply to this thread for two reason's.....
1/ I own a Countach
2/ I have studied crash protection in depth as part of my masters.
OK, here we go (again), Scissor or gull wing doors can be some what restrictive if you are unfortunate enough to find your self upside down!!!
Yes you can use the kick the windscreen or side windows out with relative ease - or so I am told!!! (please excuse me if I don't do this to my car just for test purposes!!)
And yes we can probably all find examples on the internet where people have crashed and burned, and have sadly died through no fault of their own - or not knowing where their skill set ends when it comes to putting a supercar through it's paces!
PLEASE PLEASE bare in mind there are many types of accidents and sooooooo many variables involved, I have heard that those poor souls who perished in the inverted Murci were out cold prior to it catching fire - so the doors opening "upwards" was/is irrespective the THEIR short coming. Nearly all Lambo's are/were built on a space frame, so if you did end up upside down, the chances were that the roof would not collapse in on you. But once again, this is all dependant on impact speed and the forces applied to the car whilst coming to rest.
If you are that worried about crashing and burning - there is only one answer, don't drive!
Are you more at risk if you drive a Lambo? - NO!
Yes you are at a disadvantage if the unthinkable happens. However, due to the very Low Centre Of Gravity and the space frame protection, it makes it less likely to happen (as is the case on any L.C.O.G vehicle), and if it does, you have some added protection to try deal with it.
I hope this helps and answers some of the questions raised here.
Regards
Ian
Edited by ianqv on Wednesday 21st May 18:56
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