Vintage Cars: Question on headrests, whiplash injuries, violent impact

Question
Hello Ron.

I am interested in purchasing a 1962 Cadillac, but I feel somewhat conflicted with one major safety issue: the car has no headrests.

1. If I get into an accident with a car like that, what are my chances of getting a severe case of whiplash or a broken neck?

2. Can the car be retrofitted with seats that come with headrests?

3. Also, how much damage could a violent impact have on a 62 Cadillac?


Best regards,

Julian

Answer
Please understand these are my thoughts on the question, no scientific basis behind any of it (lol)

these are intersting questions, the fact is that a 62 caddy will demolish most cars on the road if you were to hit them, and the amount of metal in the caddy would most likely be able to withstand a hit from say an Accord or similar.
That said you can retrofit headrests ,or you can get get seat inserts that offer neck support ,  but quite frankly I would not worry about it .  If you look at the percentage of whiplash injuries pre headrests to post headrest era , the decrease would be minimal, of course we have become a much more litigous society so who really knows.
If you look , most headrests are not posistioned properly, so even when present they are , for the most part , doing very little