Message-Id: <47B56B4A-9290-43EB-B9C7-093449BD1536@xxxxxxx>
To: AMC List <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>
Subject: seat belts!
Date: Fri, 4 Nov 2005 19:13:01 -0800
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!
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