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Old Aug 5, 2024 | 05:39 PM
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Default Seat Belts

My '71 Convertible has standard lap belts, in decent shape, but I'd like to replace with new ones. My car does not have shoulder belts. 20 years ago I owned a '72 Olds Cutlass which had the friendliest front lap belts I ever had on a car. Retractor on the floor by the door, and stiffened female receptor clip on the inner/console side of the seats. Has anyone ever done a similar modification to a '71-ish Vette? I can find what I think I'd like on an Olds Cutlass repro parts site. NOT CHEAP!! But nothing even close on the corvette sites.
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Old Aug 5, 2024 | 05:57 PM
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Why does your car not have shoulder belts?
Could be wrong but I thought they were standard at some point early on. Sometime in late 69ish? Maybe a convertible thing.

Regardless you can have your originals redone. Seat Belt Sity ( charlie santori)…if he is still around.

Last edited by avalonjohn; Aug 5, 2024 at 06:05 PM.
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Old Aug 5, 2024 | 06:04 PM
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Not shure why, but my 75 only has lap belts.
.
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Old Aug 5, 2024 | 06:07 PM
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Originally Posted by 60 SHARK
Not shure why, but my 75 only has lap belts.
.
Hmm I thought they were mandated at a certain point. I know on my 69 only coupes were standard and still trying to figure out why a coupe was more unsafe than a convertible.
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Old Aug 5, 2024 | 06:36 PM
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Odd as it seems, the shoulder belts were standard for coupes, at least in '72, and optional for convertibles. Seems completely backwards to me but I guess there was a sales reason for it.

1972 also introduced spring-retractors under the seats but I don't think earlier years have the floor depression for them.
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Old Aug 5, 2024 | 07:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Nsarge
My '71 Convertible has standard lap belts, in decent shape, but I'd like to replace with new ones. My car does not have shoulder belts. 20 years ago I owned a '72 Olds Cutlass which had the friendliest front lap belts I ever had on a car. Retractor on the floor by the door, and stiffened female receptor clip on the inner/console side of the seats. Has anyone ever done a similar modification to a '71-ish Vette? I can find what I think I'd like on an Olds Cutlass repro parts site. NOT CHEAP!! But nothing even close on the corvette sites.
The 72 had the outside retract and the inside stiff, maybe go with a set of those, should bolt right in
M
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Old Aug 5, 2024 | 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Mooser
The 72 had the outside retract and the inside stiff, maybe go with a set of those, should bolt right in
M
That's what's in my '75 convertible,,
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Old Aug 5, 2024 | 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by 67:72
Odd as it seems, the shoulder belts were standard for coupes, at least in '72, and optional for convertibles. Seems completely backwards to me but I guess there was a sales reason for it.

1972 also introduced spring-retractors under the seats but I don't think earlier years have the floor depression for them.
odd but early 68s had the retractors for the lap belts under the seat.
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Old Aug 6, 2024 | 09:02 PM
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68 Coupes had shoulder belts standard, but it was an option for the convertibles. Lou.
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