[Chrysler300] Seat belt stories & hint

["Richard Barber" <c300@xxxxxxx>]

Helpful hint when installing seat belts where there is no welded-in nut to
fasten to:

In the early to mid-60's our Omaha Jaycee club conducted
fund-raising/community service seat belt clinics where we installed a pair
of seatbelts for $20.  We used tapered punches to make the hole for the
attaching bolt.  After locating a safe and accessible location by viewing
underneath the car while up on ramps, we positioned a tapered punch, gave it
a couple of smacks with a small sledge hammer and ran the bolt through the
end tab of the belt and through the new hole in the floor.  A reinforcing
plate, lockwasher and nut were installed and tightened and out the door in
about 15 minutes.  I used the same old punch and sledge to install a pair of
black web belts with plain chrome latches in our '55 C300.  The interior
being tan, black and tan, these look and work great.
She-from-whom-the-receipts-must-be-hidden would not ride in the car until I
did this.  Good call on her part.

Even we wimpy Jaycee white collar types could install belts quickly and
effectively.  Not as effective as 3-point factory belts, but I'm sure we
saved some injuries and lives.  Including maybe mine.  I had to lock up the
binders on my new '61 Valiant one time with a passenger in the car.  Kept us
out of the windshield, I think.  The installation project went well for a
couple of years until new belts became standard, after which the market
pretty much dried up.  Those that had them were happy and those that didn't
apparently chose not to have or use them.

An early writer doing a story on 1955 C-300's said the car cornered better
than the driver due to the slick leather seats.  Our clubs do not penalize
cars in judging if they have seat belts added that are period correct or
unobtrusive.  I hope no club would penalize a car for having seat belts
added.

I recall that Ford offered seat belts and several other safety features in
1956 and they bombed.  It took a while, but seat belts gradually became
standard and usage increased when mandated by law, saving lives and
injuries.  If you don't already have them in your classic Chrysler 300 or
other older car, please consider purchasing and installing them.  Watch out
for brake lines, gas lines, mufflers & etc. with either the punch or drill
method!

C-300'ly,
Rich Barber
Brentwood, CA
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Jim Pristelski
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2010 11:09 AM
To: Chrysler 300 List
Subject: [Chrysler300] seat belt color

At least as late as 1961, seat belts were not an option which could be
ordered directly from the factory.   But, most dealers installed them at the
request of customers.  It was not a very frequent request at my father's
dealership.  Considerably less than 10% of the customers requested
installation, and probably more like about 5%.  Seat belts were quite new
then.  While most customers probably heard of them prior to their purchase,
they were not deemed necessary.

My father's staff did not like installing them because strands in the
carpeting would tend to wind up around the drill bit while drilling through
the floor pan for installation of the anchor bolt.

At that time, the only color that I recall was black.

Best,

Jim in northern IL


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <2HsandaHeritage@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 12:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] seat belt color
To: Dave Schwandt <finsruskw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: list server <Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>






Hi Dave,

I believe that 1962 was the first year that seat belts were standard
equipment.

My H belts were/are black and do not match the tan interior.

The buckles are the "lift type" and are chrome plated except for the top
which is aluminum with an indentation for the 300 emblem.

The anchors look like an eye bolt and are threaded through a plate that is
welded to the under side of the floor .

Hope this helps,

Doug Warrener

Fair Oaks, CA

300H
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Schwandt"
<finsruskw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<finsruskw%40iowatelecom.net>>

To: "list server"
<Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com>>

Sent: Thursday, October 7, 2010 4:33:36 AM
Subject: [Chrysler300] seat belt color



Question....Were seat belts available as an option for the F in 1960?

If so, what color would they have been for the standard F interior and what
type hardware would they have used?

I have what I believe to be "period correct" hardware, buckles etc but need
to have new webbing sewn on. The buckles are the chromed "lift type"
release. Any one use this "Snake Oyle" outfit or any other seat belt repair
place you could recommend?

Thanks
Dave Schwandt

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