seat belts!

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

I finally got my seatbelts rebuilt, in my 1970 Hornet. Seatbelt  
technology and fashion aren't a specialty of mine, but I think 1970  
is unique (a lot in the 1970 Hornet is unique to that car; many  
things are totally different from 1971-up).

It's certainly an early attempt to figure out how to make a  
functional shoulder belt -- and not successful one! The lap belt is  
ordinary enough, the outside end has a retractor in a plastic tube,  
the inside is fixed with a plastic tube that pokes through the seat.

The shoulder belt is the kicker -- it's fixed to the roof behind your  
head, does not retract, and has a primitive clip and socket behind  
the plastic trim with which to afix the mess when you're not using it  
(which will be most of the time for most people, it's so annoying).  
The business end has a little tang that fits into a keyhole in the  
lap belt. It all looks very experimental. And since it's fixed, and  
not inertial, when it's adjusted reasonably you are essentially  
webbed tight to the seat, you can't even lean forward.

The whole contraption cracks me up. The shoulder belt is so  
impractical and hard to use! I love old cars!


I had to have all the webbing replaced; since the shoulder belt  
doesn't retract, it's out in the sun, and they're all bleached and  
frayed. I steel-wooled all the chrome parts, wrinkle-painted the  
painted buckles (not correct, but not a concern of mine).

That's all, just a reminder of the past, and improvements actually  
made over time!