Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Uncle Joe]

Just now I have the interior removed in my 300 so that I can replace the carpets. Nicely hidden under the old carpets I found what appear to be the original seat belts. They are of the inertia reel type.

I cant ever recall seeing this type of belt in a car so old. Could this be one of the first production vehicles that this type were ever fitted to?

[ukdave2002]

Hi UJ

Sabb & Volvo were the pioneers in the late 50's onwards, but they would focus on the saftey side rather than practicality...wouldn't surprise me if the folks across the pond developed it into a more practical solution, ie the inertia belts.

Dave

[Uncle Joe]

I had a bit of a trawl earlier about this subject. Seat belts date back to 1913, inertia belts to the late 30's.

You are indeed correct UK. SAAB and Volvo were indeed the first in the late 50's to fit belts to a production car. In the US the first year was 1964. So in other words, it took them a year to make them practical....

The system on mine would be easy to transfer to a british classic, by the way...I mention this with a safety topic elsewhere on the forum in mind...

[stuchamp]

Seat belts were available as a "dealer installed option" in 1955 thru 1963 Chevy's and probably other U.S. brands and then as 'standard equipment' in 1964 as UJ mentioned.