Price for seat belts!

[360gts]

OK...was looking at the various cars I have here with the different mounts for the belts.
The US car has a bracket that always made me wonder as to what it was used for. It is mounted with two bolts through the tunnel.
This part is also fitted to some other export cars e.g. France etc.
It is listed in the AKD manual as being fitted up to body # 60815...probably around the time they went over from the dual mounting brackets to the single mount.....perhaps early 66!
Here is a picture of the bracket on my 65 US S.

[dklawson]

That is very interesting. My '64 was an export to Switzerland. Its Kangol belts are bolted directly to the tunnel without brackets.

[dodge44]

I think someone's making them.

I have always assumed that Pete Copestick (The seller) made his sets up from bits & bobs.

M

He certainly hoovered up all the Triumph seat belts from a vehicle restorer in this area.

[dodge44]

If they are being newly made, I presume they have been tested to the relevant safety standards

Seat belts aren't there just to look 'correct' and pretty, are they ?

Had to take my original set out to pass the MOT as they had a slight fray on the edge near the buckle. Which was fair enough, but it's a quirk of the law that no seat belts are deemed better than a slightly degraded set. That said, there is of an argument that virtually any seatbelt is stronger than the car itself sometimes... 1967 'E' reg. Ooops (Can't remember where I got it from but no-one hurt and not me)

[dodge44]

OK...was looking at the various cars I have here with the different mounts for the belts.
The US car has a bracket that always made me wonder as to what it was used for. It is mounted with two bolts through the tunnel.
This part is also fitted to some other export cars e.g. France etc.
It is listed in the AKD manual as being fitted up to body # 60815...probably around the time they went over from the dual mounting brackets to the single mount.....perhaps early 66!
Here is a picture of the bracket on my 65 US S.

Thanks for posting. This type of mount is in the parts book of course but interesting to finally see a close up photo of it. Although there is no indication of how it was to be used always suspected it was to either to take a belt loop or more likely use a catch like this Triumph Britax belt from the same era. Any thoughts?

[dodge44]

Someone sure cashed in this morning......just plain silly prices now!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191773962034? ... 1435.l2649

He has another set listed :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MINI-COOPER-S ... SwwE5WUf8q

Be interesting to see what they go for this time....

[mk1]

That seller has sold hundreds of sets of "NOS" seatbelts over the years.

M

[rich@minispares.com]

If they are being newly made, I presume they have been tested to the relevant safety standards

Seat belts aren't there just to look 'correct' and pretty, are they ?

Had to take my original set out to pass the MOT as they had a slight fray on the edge near the buckle. Which was fair enough, but it's a quirk of the law that no seat belts are deemed better than a slightly degraded set. That said, there is of an argument that virtually any seatbelt is stronger than the car itself sometimes... 1967 'E' reg. Ooops (Can't remember where I got it from but no-one hurt and not me)

I like the way that the back bumper is grimly hanging on for dear life in its original place

[dodge44]

That seller has sold hundreds of sets of "NOS" seatbelts over the years.

M

Agreed there but issue here is the stratospheric increase in the apparent value of late. An interesting barometer is actually given by following a link posted earlier in this thread by mab01uk where you eventually get some idea of pricing for a new set of 'Period' belts. Vis on this page:

http://www.quickfitsbs.com/seat_belts.php

...which realistically means any NOS set is easily worth upwards of the £130 it would cost to buy what looks like a pretty decent new 'retro' set. Lets face it the alternative Securon belts look pretty nasty in a Mk1, but the £820 that other Britax set went for does seem a tad extravagent for originality. Each to their own I guess.

[dodge44]

If they are being newly made, I presume they have been tested to the relevant safety standards

Seat belts aren't there just to look 'correct' and pretty, are they ?

Had to take my original set out to pass the MOT as they had a slight fray on the edge near the buckle. Which was fair enough, but it's a quirk of the law that no seat belts are deemed better than a slightly degraded set. That said, there is of an argument that virtually any seatbelt is stronger than the car itself sometimes... 1967 'E' reg. Ooops (Can't remember where I got it from but no-one hurt and not me)

I like the way that the back bumper is grimly hanging on for dear life in its original place

Rear view - Don't think the socket set will be much use though Rich not unless it's to salvage the tow bar...

[mk1]

stratospheric increase in the apparent value of late

That's not an increase in the value but in the PRICE people are prepared to pay.

As has already been pointed out, some people are so stupid, lazy & apparently rich that they can just push the tit on any daft ebay price where as if there were prepared to trawl about a bit they could get an original set re webbed or get good quality NEW options at a very reasonable price indeed.

This is the biggest downfall & strength of ebay, people see something and just have to have it at any cost, leaving any sort of common sense at home.

M

[1071 S]

So, if I had a set of 60s belts, (no factory fit/standard belts in those days still in the OEM plastic bag/cardboard box, which had been dry stored in a cupboard for as long as I've had them (about 40 years).... do you think they would still be any good (ie useful/fit for purpose??)

Cheers, Ian

[mk1]

No, I don't. I think it would be very dangerous to fit them & I think that the sensible course of action would be for you to send them to me for safe disposal

[Nick W]

I've never tested any, but always assumed that nylon lasts a long long time,
ie 100s of years
I Personally would use them

Nick

[mk1]

I am of course absolutely 100% certain that they will be perfectly safe to use.

(But I can still dispose of them safely if you aren't sure )

M

[Ernie]

Is the reason why Britax are more expensive than Kangol because they have chrome fittings?

[mk1]

Britax were by far the most common original factory fit belts, so I guess that's why they seem to command a premium. Personally I have always preferred the Alloy buckle Kangol ones myself.

M

[dklawson]

I like the unique nature of the magnetic latch Kangols in my car. I liked them enough to re-web them rather than fit modern replacements. I even liked them enough to buy an additional set for eventual installation in the back seat.

I am sure those who own them feel there is equal charm with Britax belts. For both belt types I am sure the market is largely driven by the desire to keep the early cars "original". However, I personally would never pay the auction prices for NOS belts.

As for those 40+ year old NOS belts Ian has, if they really were kept out of sunlight in a cool, dry place, then they will be fine. Sunlight, heat, and humidity combined can make nylon brittle with age. That said, if you have any doubts about the integrity of the webbing, have them re-webbed. You'll still have NOS latch mechanisms and then you'll be 100% certain that the belts are safe. Sound webbing should be supple and smooth without coarse textures or stiffness.

[tsumini]

I agree that the webbing should be Ok but the stitching would be suspect, I recently had a some tiedowns that had good webbing but the stitching disintegrated when I tightened the strap. Could retain the webbing and re-stitch.

[Ernie]

Tks for info on Kangol belts. Slightly off the subject I looked up the history of Kangol. It's fascinating especially their involvement in safety helmets etc. Still going strong with caps etc, but they appear to be based in the USA and not manufactured in the UK anymore.