can't save 1916 on cck date field

Problem continues, years before 1970 are fine, only 1970 don't validate.
Don't know if it is an issue with the module or something to check on php or mysql.

As far as i grep the string of the actual error only appears here:

date/date_elements.inc
function date_combo_validate
line 507

      // Test a roundtrip back to the original timezone to catch
      // invalid dates, like 2AM on the day that spring daylight savings
      // time begins in the US.
      date_timezone_set($from_date, timezone_open($timezone));
      date_timezone_set($to_date, timezone_open($timezone));
      if ($test_from != date_format($from_date, 'r')) {
        $errors[] = t('The From date is invalid.');
      }
      if ($test_to != date_format($to_date, 'r')) {
        $errors[] = t('The To date is invalid.');
      }

And this compares $from_date before and after date_timezone_set.

Using date 6.x-2.7 and php 5.3.6

Any ideas o pointers?
Thanks