Research Safety Vehicle (RSV)
Destruction of the Research Safety Vehicle (RSV)
Since the successful completion of the Research Safety Vehicle (RSV) Program which saw the building and testing of some 60 vehicles, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has been haunted by the specter of these vehicles which demonstrated that safe, fuel efficient cars could be built. In the 1970’s DOT was committed to demonstrating that fuel economy (CAFE) standards of 40-50 MPG could be met with cars that had 50 MPH crash protection, better than any car on the road today.