GM’s decision to sell side-saddle fuel tanks in 10 million trucks between 1973 and 1991 is perhaps the worst crash-fire defect in the history of the US Department of Transportation. More than 1,800 people were killed in fire-crashes in these vehicles between 1973 and 2000. As a result of the Ivey memo, GM management refused to install safety devices that would have saved lives – but would have cost more than $2.20 per vehicle. During a deposition, Ivey was asked if there was a worse location for a gas tank than the side-saddle configuration. He responded, “Well, yes…You could put it on the front bumper.”
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