Yeah, it's almost like technology, safety, and the engineering/manufacturing process has improved dramatically in the ~50 years since these cars were built. From an occupant safety standpoint, there's no comparing a modern car to one of these classics. Accidents that would easily kill you in a classic are things you walk away unhurt from in a modern car. The Traverse is totaled too, but all that engineering did its job.
Although I would also like to point out that the article does say “You could see my torsion bar through the passenger side floor.” So while it may have looked nice, there was structural compromise in that car before the accident. I'm not saying that they weren't at an extreme disadvantage to begin with or that having solid floors would have changed the outcome much, but every little bit helps. The fact that they all survived getting t-boned at 55 mph by a larger modern vehicle is pretty incredible.
Also why I add modern style, 3 point retractable seat belts to my cars. It's a small change, but it makes a huge difference in an accident. No, you're not going to make your classic comparable to a new car by adding a 3 point belt, but if it keeps you from taking a bite out of the steering wheel (or your kneecap, in this case) then its well worth the effort.
