Long story short, I was given permission by property owners to take whatever I wanted from a thrashed '85 GT which was abandoned long ago on their property by a previous tenant. I could've taken the whole car, but it would've been a large tow bill as the car was out in the sticks and I just don't have a place to put it anyway. I grabbed what I could.

What I found in the trunk was rather unusual... about 20 driver side airbags from various vehicles. I suspect the owner of the GT was into stolen airbags.

Anyway, I have them now and yes, my story is true and I acquired them legally.

What are these airbags worth and what's the best way to sell them?

not much - legally
shops are NOT allowed to use undocumented airbags. safety & insurance issues.

depends on the quality. The problem is that you don't know anything about them. You could toss them on ebay, but have a warning that you do not know the condition (not that it would hold up in court). I would probably just get a battery and a long wire and set them off for the fun of it.

quote Originally posted by jaskispyder: .... I would probably just get a battery and a long wire and set them off for the fun of it.

that does sound like fun!
put a few under someones car, and see if you can get the wheels off the ground

http://www.google.com/searc...ith+airbags&aq=f&oq=

Heh...
http://www.youtube.com/watc...QSlk&feature=related

[This message has been edited by FieroRumor (edited 04-09-2009).]

I like that idea!

quote Originally posted by Pyrthian: that does sound like fun! put a few under someones car, and see if you can get the wheels off the ground

quote Originally posted by Pyrthian: that does sound like fun! put a few under someones car, and see if you can get the wheels off the ground

Why stop there? I could wire up all twenty under one side of a Smart Car and see if I could flip it!

Seriously though, that would seem to be somewhat of a waste of these things. Not only would I like to make a few bucks off them, but I'd like to see these airbags put to good use instead of them just ending up in a landfill site.

The problem is that you don't know if they are good... nor will the buyer and you won't want to be sued for selling/giving them away. The best course of action would be to destroy them... at least it would be best for your future financial security (ie.... no lawsuits).

...You don't know if they have been exposed to adverse conditions (water, heat, etc....). They may not function correctly.

I had one out of a demolition derby car that I raced. Decided to set it off.
Put it bag side down & connected 50' of speaker cable then touched it off using a battery.
BOOM! it went quite high. I definitely don't want a bag to deploy in my face after seeing that!

------------------
86 GT
87 coupe restoration project.

quote Originally posted by jaskispyder: The problem is that you don't know if they are good... nor will the buyer and you won't want to be sued for selling/giving them away. The best course of action would be to destroy them... at least it would be best for your future financial security (ie.... no lawsuits). ...You don't know if they have been exposed to adverse conditions (water, heat, etc....). They may not function correctly.

There's a reason that insurance companies don't allow used airbags to be used in any cars being repaired. ~ You just don't know the condition of the used airbag, and if it will still work properly when needed. If they allowed one to be used, they'd be open for a lawsuit should something go wrong. Are you sure you want to leave yourself open for those same lawsuits if an airbag you sold someone fails? Sounds like a huge risk to try to make a quick buck....

I agree with others, and would have fun blowing them. I blew the bags in our old STS that I parted out, and I must say that Cadillac's are equipped with some pretty powerful bags!


EDIT: The following applies for shipping airbags in the states. I have no idea what you're laws are like up there.

If you do sell any of these junk bags, remember they must be shipped as a hazardous material item. Failure to do so could be a federal offense. "The Federal branch of the Department Of Transportation which requires UPS to ship Air Bags as a hazardous material item. Under I.D. number UN3268. Class 9". On top of the actual shipping charges, you'll have a $20.00 hazardous fee and must ship them in a burst proof box at a cost of around $7.00.

[This message has been edited by Deabionni (edited 04-09-2009).]

Hmmmm.... maybe I'll just look around for an unattended Smart Car.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: I could wire up all twenty under one side of a Smart Car and see if I could flip it!

You could always put things like GI-Joes on the bag and see how high you can launch them in the air.

quote Originally posted by Pyrthian: that does sound like fun! put a few under someones car, and see if you can get the wheels off the ground

I need both fronts for 2005 ford expedition.
Steering wheel and passenger dash.

yea air bags are a big deal in the states at least. i dont think you could get much for them.

I wonder if you could use them as an alarm system for where you live (like trip wire style). Imagine someone sneaking around and all of the sudden they trip it and set it off.

quote Originally posted by Gecko: I wonder if you could use them as an alarm system for where you live (like trip wire style). Imagine someone sneaking around and all of the sudden they trip it and set it off.

I would have a blast just setting them off.

When I ran a salvage yard, I used to pull them out of all of the cars heading to the crusher and they set them off for fun and for a reward to the employees for busting their ass. We would launch all sorts of things into the air, donut tires are kinda fun, small dumpsters, truck beds. Basically anything and everything, everybody enjoyed it and it made a great friday afternoon.

I vote like everybody else, just blow em up instead of opening yourself up to a liabillity. When you play with airbags you will notice that ones that have been sitting longer do not always go off on the first try, some you will actually have to put and hold power to it to get it to go and some will go the second you arc the wires.

Wire them under your door mat for those pesky salesmen, .
Or inlaws. Friends that are only fair weather friends.

[This message has been edited by cliffw (edited 04-10-2009).]