Rear shoulder belts

I do believe this has been done with the GSX 'Prototype' but I want to know if anyone else has tried to safely and properly install rear shoulder belts in their Skylarks?

Right now I usually don't drive with anyone under 18 in my car, even in the back. I simply don't like the idea of driving a kid around with only a lap belt even if its the back seat. It doesn't seem like it would be too hard to reinforce the package tray to securely mount shoulder belts. I think it would be good to use the 1 buckle design (for those not firmilar the 1 buckle design has a seperate shoulder and lap belt and the shoulder belt is keyed to snap into place in the lap belt buckle and the assembly fits into one reciever) as opposed to the more popular two buckle design as it would mean less belts and a cleaner, more factory appearing look.

Even though most assume our cars are bullet proof tanks that will survive any collision the truth is not so bright. These cars simply are not as safe as modern vehicles and I for one want to do anything I can to bring collision safety as close to modern spec as possible short of putting in airbags and plastic bumpers

 

Easy job to install. Not so easy finding the right parts.
I had to make my own rear anchors. Bought a set of NOS front shoulder belts & then had the buckle & latch reversed end-to-end.
The plastic clip securing the loose end once adjusted was impossible to find in any colour but black. I ended up painting a pair to match my interior.
3rd row shoulder belts are similar in a wagon of the same vintage.

 

Cool option! I love to see rare options like this!:beers2:

 

I'm doing the 1 buckle design for the rear seat belts in my '72 convertible. My vert already has the buckle with the key hole (and also rear retractors). I already have the matching button style shoulder belts that hook into the keyhole buckles - will be mounting the shoulder belts in a week or so after I complete another project first. Also installed front shoulder belts in my vert.

 

Are there recesses in the package tray for the seat belt anchors?

That looks amazing though!

 

Leon,
Every A-body ever built from '68-72 (at least) has the factory locations for the anchors. Very few buyers were interested in safety, however, at the time.
Search this site for postings on this topic.
George N. also has some pics on his site which is: www.buickperformance.com.

OR:

Crawl into the trunk of your car & look up, just outboard of the speaker locations.
Let me know if I can help. I have the dimensions of the anchors I made here...........somewhere.

 

http://www.andoauto.com/1968-72_Chevelle_Seat_Belts.htm

Looking like this is the set-up I will be going with for the front and rear of my car.

 

I have seen that article before and that is what piqued my interest in doing this. I guess I misread at the time and assumed it was only documented on the GSX 'Prototype' I also assumed that if you did not order the option that the mounting area was not formed into the package tray so I'll definitely go out and look now. I am excited to go to a junkyard and pick up some random Chevelle seatbelts for now just so I can finally safely haul people in my car!:grin:

 

For '71 Skylark/GS looks like the option was sold with colour co-ordinated belts only. Black was very popular & I've seen a couple sets.
Might get lucky at the junk yard.

 

I added rear shoulder belts to my 69 Convertible. I modified a set of Hard Top front shoulder belts to mount behind the rear seat and routed them between the convertible well liner and seat top.

 

>>Hi Eric. Where exactly did you mount the belts behind the rear seat? I'm looking to do this with a set of '72 front shoulder belts but have not found a good spot yet.

 

The factory shoulder belts for the conv....bolted to the front of the mechanism and ran over the mechanism cover to the front seat.

 

George - do you mean the convertible anchor frame? There is a hole there where I mounted the convertible front shoulder seat belts. Are the rear convertible shoulder belts also supposed to mount there?

 

Here's where I mounted them. Again, these are front Hard Top Shoulder belts. The one thing I don't have right now is a reinforcement plate. I'll be adding it this summer to give it more strength by bridging the pass through hole. I used grade 8 bolts with washers and nuts to bolt them down. I've been thinking about shifting the mounting position a little closer to the wheel well too.

Picture from behind the rear seat


From inside the trunk

 

Thanks for posting the pics Eric!:beer

 

If you can't find what you're looking for at the junkyard I have lots of seatbelts and parts I could sell you.

 

What belts do you have? I need a bunch:laugh:

 

I just happen to have a bunch, email me a list of what you want.

 

Ooops my mistake I think I jumbled a couple articles from the Buick performance website:laugh: I thinm because I assumed at first rear shoulder belts were only found in concept and never were an option, I know differently now though