Rear seat belts in early Minis - let's see your photos!

[Chris64]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about fitting rear seat belts to my '64 Mk1 for ages now but I've never got round to getting it done. They will be used for adult passengers and at times a child seat (which goes in the front only at the moment).

I've contacted Quickfit SBS and they quoted about £300 for modern inertia reels on the parcel shelf, which seems quite a lot. So, I'm looking for options for fitting them myself using something like the Securon 254 - http://www.securon.co.uk/applications/a ... austin.htm which are only £30 each - but I'm a bit unsure about how/where is best to mount them.

In hindsight, when I was restoring the shell I should have welded in all the brackets etc from a later Mini but now the car is all painted and finished, if possible I want to avoid welding anywhere that will damage the outside paintwork (like C pillars). Obviously I would use proper captive nuts on spreader plates, but I've read lots of forum messages saying it's ok to mount them on the parcel shelf as well as a few saying it's too weak, even with spreader plates etc.

How many of you have rear seat belts fitted in your early Minis? How have you mounted them? It would be great to see some photos of the mounting points you've used please!

Thanks, Chris

[sclemow]

I've been thinking of fitting them in mine, although only for children. I have decided to fit the short 3 point straps fitted into westfields etc and put the kids on a booster cushion.

[Chris64]

Holy Thread Resurection, Batman!

I'm bringing this one back from the dead as I only got one reply originally

I'm still puzzling over how to fit rear inertia reel belts to my Mk1 - any suggestions, tips and preferably photos, much appreciated!

Thanks,

Chris

[Pandora]

I'm sure there have been a few previous threads on this very subject, either in this version of the forum or in the previous 2 incarnations. I started one when I looked at the same issue.

I have a set of rear pillars from a late model Mini from which I was going to cut the upper mounting to spot weld it in between the rear side windows and the rear screen (might need adapted due to the smaller screen on the Mk1). The inertia reel unit can be mounted on the front edge of the rear arch inside the rear bin and the clip part on the base of the rear seat back. I think this is how late model cars were equipped?

the other option was to build a framework in the boot to reinforce the parcel shelf, but it's not really an option as it would fill the boot with tubes!

Yet another unfinished project, and one of the reasons I sold the car as it wasn't considered 'family friendly' and why I still have a pair of red rear pillars under the bench!

[mab01uk]

Somerfield do these rear belts:
http://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/eshop/in ... age&id=137

Spreader plates at the strong base of the rear bulkhead/boot floor junction will be fine if you copy the later Mini mounting design, not being welded will make little difference for the 2 lower lap mounts I think.

Shoulder mount and inertia reels were commonly mounted on the rear parcel shelf in years gone by with spreader plates (largest you can fit if possible) as the rear pillar mounting for the 3-point belts did not appear until later shells.

That is the set up I still have........although personally I have no desire to put myself or anyone else (especially a child) in the back of a classic Mini in this day and age. Although I did so in past years I would no longer be happy with any child of mine in the back of a Mini with an HGV or SUV filling my rear view mirror......nor would I put them in the 'extra' rearmost seats fitted in some modern people carriers as some do!

[Chris64]

That is the set up I still have........although personally I have no desire to put myself or anyone else (especially a child) in the back of a classic Mini in this day and age. Although I did so in past years I would no longer be happy with any child of mine in the back of a Mini with an HGV or SUV filling my rear view mirror......nor would I put them in the 'extra' rearmost seats fitted in some modern people carriers as some do!

Thanks for the info - sometimes I have this dilema now I have a little one but she absolutley loves going in the Mini (in her car seat on the front seat at the moment) and sometimes it would be good to have the rear belts so that we can all go for a weekend ride or a local day out etc as a family. I definately don't like people going in the back without seatbelts - although when I had the Mini at Uni my friends and would all pile in without a second thought!

Trouble is, you can worry yourself silly about safety like that can't you, even if it's just you driving and if you think about the possibility of a serious crash too much you wouldn't go out in a classic car at all! I try and rationalise it a bit - having a 'proper' crash (A road head on, rear-ender on a motorway) in a modern car is still something to be avoided and can easily be fatal despite airbags etc. The vast majority of crashes and bumps are much more minor so it makes sense to have modern seatbelts even if the car is older - and of course you try to drive accordingly, slower, more anticipation and awareness etc.

[mab01uk]

Absolutely right, rear seatbelts in a classic Mini are better than none and are also important for protecting the front seat passengers whenever the rear is occupied. As you say it is a dilema but like motorcyclists we have to accept there is a greater risk and minimise it as much as possible by also driving defensively amongst modern traffic.

[Tim]

I couldn't agree more. These cars aren't as safe as modern ones, but we can mitigate it a bit, and we can choose to live our lives safely sealed inside a Volvo, or we can have a bit of fun.

I let my children ride in the Moke, its as safe as I can make it, and they love it.



Tim

[Tim Harber]

Woof woof