Re: {Chrysler 300} 1961 300G seat belts

Seat belt story:

I had the G out for a short drive to the store one Sunday morning when I got stuck in one of those police registration/seat belt checks where they close one lane and make you crawl through while they check.
In any event, when I got to the cop he told me to pull over, and I figured he wanted to check out the G, which is not uncommon. He then informed me that he was going to ticket me for not wearing a seat belt,

whereupon I told him that the car didn't have seat belts. This cop was maybe 35 years old, and told me "All cars have seat belts." I suggested that, to save himself some embarrassment, perhaps he should check

with the stationhouse, or at least someone over the age of 50 and ask about seatbelts. He started to argue with me and I told him that, in fact, seat belts were not standard back in the 60's before he was born. He

grudgingly went off to his car, or somewhere, and came back 10 minutes later with a sour look on his face and said "You can go!" I tried to tell him that I understood why he wouldn't know about the seatbelts, but

he wasn't interested in hearing it. Anyone else have a similar story?

Pete Fitch

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Pristelski <ajp002@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Noel Hastalis <cpaviper@xxxxxxxxxxx>; Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, Apr 5, 2021 10:49 pm
Subject: Re: {Chrysler 300} 1961 300G seat belts

If Wisconsin had a mandatory seat belt law for the 1962 model year, it must have been withdrawn or revoked. Maybe at that time a potential loss of sales tax revenue spoke louder than being the first state to have a mandatory seat belt law?

I am originally from Marinette, Wisconsin, 50 miles north of Green Bay. Starting in 1960, my Dad was a Chrysler/Plymouth dealer in Marinette. My recollection is that seat belts were not available as an option from Chrysler Corp for the 1961 model year. Instead, they were a dealer installed option. I clearly remember my Dad's mechanics hating to install seat belts because a filament in the carpeting would invariably wind around the drill bit, causing a run in the carpeting. However, only a small minority of purchasers requested a seat belt installation.

My best recollection is that seat belts became an available option with Chrysler Corp. for the 1962 model year, but were not mandatory in Wisconsin. My Dad drove a 1962 Chrysler 300 2dr HT, white with a red leather interior, and it did not have seat belts. Seat belts were not very popular back then. In fact, in 1965. my Dad drove a 1965 Plymouth Sport Fury, red with a black interior and a 383 engine, again without seat belts -- all in Wisconsin.

Best regards, Jim

On Mon, Apr 5, 2021 at 6:53 PM Noel Hastalis <cpaviper@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Brian and Friends,

My folks' new '63 Newport sedan, purchased in Chicago at end of the model year, 9/14/1963, had no seatbelts. I remember taking it to a nearby upholstery shop to get the car retrofitted with green belts, to match its green cloth interior. They were the lift-the-clip design.

Noel

On 04/05/2021 5:06 PM Brian and Kathy Frank <300gforce@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I stand corrected. The State of Wisconsin, not the Federal government, mandated front seatbelts in all cars sold in Wisconsin starting in 1962. They were apparently the first state to do so six years ahead of the federal law. Other states may have also subsequently mandated that before the federal law went into effect in 1968.

I don't know whether the dealers required that the customer order the option from the factory or whether you had the dealer install them after the car was delivered to the dealership but before the customer took possession. Anyone out there that ordered a new car in Wisconsin between 1962 and 1967 remember how that was handled?

Brian

On Mon, Apr 5, 2021 at 4:39 PM skyhawk@xxxxxxxxx < skyhawk@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Those "parachute company" seat belts that Bob found in his "G" were likely made by the Irving Chute Company. That's what was in my one-owner 300G when I got it in 1980. Dennis Cloer

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian and Kathy Frank < 300gforce@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Apr 5, 2021 3:17 PM
To: Bob Merritt
Cc: Chrysler list server
Subject: Re: {Chrysler 300} 1961 300G seat belts

To All,

I believe 1962 was the first year front belts were mandated by federal law, so all cars had them, not just Chrysler products. I believe front seat belts were optional at least as early as 1956, although I could be wrong. I don't know about rear belts. I also don't know whether any individual states required front and/or back seat belts before 1962. I don't even know if the individual states could mandate them.

Brian

On Mon, Apr 5, 2021 at 2:05 PM Bob Merritt < bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

The page http://www.chrysler300club.com/tech/sbelts/1.html
shows application for 1960.
However, I don't find a seat belt option listed in the 1960 dealer
page http://www.chrysler300club.com/tech/decode/60.html

I do find a seat belt option listed in the 1961 page
http://www.chrysler300club.com/tech/decode/61.html

So I don't know but I can say front seat belts were standard
on the 1962 Chrysler 300 H.

Bob

so I'd say 1960 is the first year as an option.

On 4/5/2021 2:56 PM, 'pffkllc' via Chrysler 300 Club International wrote:

When were seat belts made available as optional equipment on Chryslers and when did they become standard equipment? My impression was that 1961 was the initial year but that may well be incorrect. For what it may be worth, I don’t remember seat belts in any of my early cars, including my ‘65 Pontiac Bonneville convert.
Pete Fitch

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

On Monday, April 5, 2021, 2:36 PM, Bob Jasinski <rpjasin@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Attached are some photos of the seat belt that was installed on the driver’s side when I bought my 300G in 1978. Also attached is a scan from the April 1961 Motor Life 300G coupe article mentioning the seat belts that evidently came with the car. Note that the belt I removed in 1978 was made by a parachute company, and had a lift up buckle. When I replaced the front belt(s) I found an NOS vintage aftermarket black set with a satin finish lift up latching buckle, which I installed back then. I never installed belts in the rear seats, so cannot comment on those. There also was a seat belt set sold as an accessory from Chrysler that is on the 300 International website in the tech section, one page of which I have attached. The belt set illustrated there has a lift up buckle, but the tang that slides into the buckle has a square receiving hole for a latched fit as opposed to a friction fit that the “original” belt, made by the parachute company that I found in my car in 1978.

I’d like to know if any other 300G owners had the parachute friction latch belts in their cars. I really don’t know if it was factory installed or not, but the April ’61 Motor Life article does show belts installed in the road test car. My recommendation for anyone installing belts in a G would be to find a black set with the lift up buckle, about 60” in length for each front seat.

Bob J

300G convert

From: 'Guy Morice' via Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, April 5, 2021 9:38 AM
To: John Nowosacki <jsnowosacki@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Frank Newhouse <newhousef@xxxxxxxxx>; chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: {Chrysler 300} 1961 300G sezt belts

My 2 cents.....for what it’s worth. In 1966, I purchased a 1961 Chrysler New Yorker 2dr hardtop from a generic used car dealer. The car had 2 front seatbelts and none in the rear. The belts were not the lift up flap type to release the metal buckle. The belts were made of a fairly thick and stiff nylon-like fabric. You inserted one end through the clamping end, pulling it through to the desired snugness. Then at that point, you closed down the clamping end thereby locking the belt in place with several rows of grippers on the inside of the clamping end. Worked great. At that time in my life(20 years old) I did not check for Chrysler logos or part numbers.

Thanks

Guy Morice

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 5, 2021, at 9:23 AM, John Nowosacki <jsnowosacki@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I have what appear to be originals in my G convertible, (Chrysler markings, etc.), but they are only in the front two seats. None were ever installed for the rear seats. Anyone know if that was the way it was done, or are mine just dealer installed for the front seats from the original owner?

On Mon, Apr 5, 2021 at 10:05 AM Frank Newhouse <newhousef@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I am in need for front and rear seat belts for my 1961 300G. Does any one know where I could get them?

Also are they the flip latch style and or what would be the style of the belt.

Frank Newhouse

61 300

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

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