Adding 3 point belts to 60's cars
Discussion
Hi guys
I'm seriously starting to get swayed by classic mustangs. A car I've (like many) always lusted after. I'm looking at 60's coupe and the odd 'vert cars in the £15k bracket, but the crucial thing is, this is to be a fun classic I could use on sunny days and those largely happen at family time.
I've got 2 kids, one is 4 and the other 4 months. They both have car seats that require a 3 point belt. I'm guessing this wasn't a concern to the designers of the 60's.
So, being a total newbie here, can anyone tell me if it's possible to safely retrofit 3 point belts in the rear?
I'm seriously starting to get swayed by classic mustangs. A car I've (like many) always lusted after. I'm looking at 60's coupe and the odd 'vert cars in the £15k bracket, but the crucial thing is, this is to be a fun classic I could use on sunny days and those largely happen at family time.
I've got 2 kids, one is 4 and the other 4 months. They both have car seats that require a 3 point belt. I'm guessing this wasn't a concern to the designers of the 60's.
So, being a total newbie here, can anyone tell me if it's possible to safely retrofit 3 point belts in the rear?
This was a concern when I bought my '67 Fastback - I have young children and wanted to be able to carry them in safety. These cars were typically not equipped with seatbelts as standard when new, and hence you don't necessarily need them to pass an MoT, but many owners now choose to retro-fit them.
Three-point seatbelts are available for both front and rear seats of coupes, fastbacks and convertibles, but will require a bit of work to install them correctly, and arguably can look a bit ungainly once fitted. I just had simple lap belts fitted in my '67 when I was having it restored and, to be honest, I'm slightly disappointed with the results: they are clearly designed for people of "ample girth" and hence have to be tightened considerably for adults of normal waistlines, and for kids in the back there's a lot of slack even at maximum adjustment. Sadly, all this means that I'm not entirely happy transporting my young kids in the back of the Mustang, and hence I don't use the car for family days out as much as I had intended. Short journeys are fine, and the kids seem happy enough sliding around in the back, but with hindsight I wish I'd had those three-point belts fitted!
Three-point seatbelts are available for both front and rear seats of coupes, fastbacks and convertibles, but will require a bit of work to install them correctly, and arguably can look a bit ungainly once fitted. I just had simple lap belts fitted in my '67 when I was having it restored and, to be honest, I'm slightly disappointed with the results: they are clearly designed for people of "ample girth" and hence have to be tightened considerably for adults of normal waistlines, and for kids in the back there's a lot of slack even at maximum adjustment. Sadly, all this means that I'm not entirely happy transporting my young kids in the back of the Mustang, and hence I don't use the car for family days out as much as I had intended. Short journeys are fine, and the kids seem happy enough sliding around in the back, but with hindsight I wish I'd had those three-point belts fitted!
I'm in the process of having a 1968 fastback restored and refurbished. I'm having three point belts fitted as I have a son who will need to travel in the rear. I don't want to not be able to use the car. Whilst not original, I'd rather be safer than sorry and I want to be able to enjoy the car.
I have 68 coupe which has standard lap belts front and back. I looked around for a bit and found a car seat that only requires a lap belt. It's for a 9 month old up to 4 years so would just about work?
Its fits really well and seems secure only problem I have is if you leave it fitted it puts indents in the seat so I always loosen the belt off when I'm not using the car.
http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/eclipse/
Its fits really well and seems secure only problem I have is if you leave it fitted it puts indents in the seat so I always loosen the belt off when I'm not using the car.
http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/eclipse/
All Mustangs will have fixings for seat belts. Lap belts only in '65-'67 but in '68 the points for 3-point belts were added - from '68 if there's only lap belts the third point is already fitted behind the headlining. If you have the early cars then Scott Drake make a mounting for the 3rd point to go on the b-post, and rears are generally fitted to the rear shelf after a strengthening plate.
I have a '65 which has lap belts on all 4 seats. I got my daughter a seat that only required lap belts (Britax) and it works fine front or back (seems more stable that the ISOFIX seat my wife uses in her modern car!). I am thinking of fitting the 3-points though, especially as she is getting older (she's now nearly 3) and heavier.
EDIT - Just clicked on the link in the previous post and I think that's the same seat I have, but that £135 is way over the top as I got ours for £65ish when Halfords had a sale on.
I have a '65 which has lap belts on all 4 seats. I got my daughter a seat that only required lap belts (Britax) and it works fine front or back (seems more stable that the ISOFIX seat my wife uses in her modern car!). I am thinking of fitting the 3-points though, especially as she is getting older (she's now nearly 3) and heavier.
EDIT - Just clicked on the link in the previous post and I think that's the same seat I have, but that £135 is way over the top as I got ours for £65ish when Halfords had a sale on.
Edited by stang65 on Friday 24th February 14:13
Gassing Station | Mustangs | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff