65 Rear Seat Belts

[MadDogSkip]

Are there any aftermarket kits for the 1965 Coupe rear seatbealts? I pulled up the seat and didn't even see any bolt holes for seat belts. I want to take my son for a ride with my wife but have to risk getting a ticket in case any cops are familliar with this year's seat belt issue.

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[88 Fox GT]

New laws? I was sure it was no seat belts required for cars 1965 and older. That's Iowa though.

 

[gbarber]

Like Speed Demon1965 said, most states don't require seat belts in vehicle manufactured prior to the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966. This is also true of children required to ride in a safety seat. (No seat required....At least in Ohio. Check your local listings) However, if you would like to install seatbelts in your vehicle, National Parts Depot sells the required hardware. (See page 7 of their catalog) I'm sure many other suppliers sell them as well.

 

[blandq]

Law or not given the fact that from a safety consideration a 1965 Mustang is a death trap on the modern road, (5000 lb. SUVs every third car), No seat belts, no ride.

 

[MadDogSkip]

Required Seat Belts

Yeah, I knew they were required. I was just thinking of the law from a Washington State perspective where they became required back in the late 70's. The law's newness is relative to the year of the car's production date.

We did kind of get off track here as I was only looking for a place to buy belts that were as close to stock as possible. However, I do appreciate your input.

Lastly, there was a reply regarding the 1965 as being a Death Trap? I am kind of new at this as I have been wanting a classic mustang for about 20 years now and have finally just gotten one. However that statement has me concerned... Where did anyone hear that? I would like to see what the stat's are that could support such a statement. Not to mention that there is no way I could ever let me wife know about this. Man...

Thanks again...

 

[eleanor_350]

The safety issue has to do with the possibility of the gas tank exploding in the event of a rear end collision. The reason for concern is that there's only a card board divider between the trunk and the back seat. Some mustang suppliers sell a sheet metal divider to put in its place or you could fab one yourself to serve as better fire wall than the card board.

 

[MustangPaul]

Wasn't the initial story on 60 minutes? Rear end collisions can rupture the gas tank and shower the inside of the car with gas.

As a person who has been rearended, hard, in a 65, the gas tank held. It came loose, but held.

Was hit on the passenger side taillight by a dodge Ram van. Lady was yelling at her kids, turned around and there I was. I remember hearing screeches and thinking that someone was going to get popped. Hit me so hard it knocked the seat out of the track. They pried her fender off of the rim. They had to call a rollback for the 65. It was only 8 days out of the paint booth.

So are mustangs as safe as, say, my wife's VW Jetta? Nope. Are they a coffin on wheels? Not necessarily.

My son rides in the back of my GT. I added a third belt to the inside bolts of the existing belts and his car seat snaps nicely right over the tranny tunnel.

YMMV.

--P

 

[MustangPaul]

Found it!

Here is the link for the 60 minute story.

60 Minutes Story

 

[MustangPaul]

Tank armor makes a cover the tank type of floorboard. I'm not sure how well this would work . . .

Tank Armor

 

[burg65]

I would also be interested in finding a seat belt kit for front and back, but would like them not to look too old fashion, if you know what I mean! Let me know what you come up with

 

[MadDogSkip]

I think I am going to fab up a piece of sheet metal to replace the cardboard behind the back seat. I found a good deal for seat bealts that look classic too. You can get them here (plus they have tons of other good stuff too)... --> http://johnsmustang.com/Catalog/1748/

 

[66P51GT]

Check out Andover. They supply most of the Mustang specialty shops and offer three-point conversions.

 

[88 Fox GT]

Yeah, just because I said they aren't required doesn't mean I don't think you should have and wear them. I am planning on getting some kind of aftermarket belts or a custom setup so I have some kind of protection. So it's always a good idea.

 

[65conv50]

I have both front and back seatbelts in my '65 because I want to take the grandkids riding. The law is irrelevant to me; safety is the concern. Keeping those kids secured. You have to drill for the rears, because they weren't offered in the Mustang, even as an option. Be sure to use a proper kit with big heavy washers, to spread the load, as the sheet metal is thin there.

As for the exploding gas tank, that's mainly bravo sierra. A few Pintos had the problem but that's about it. I was rearended hard enough (years ago) to knock me 61 feet, buckle the frame and split the tank but no gas got inside. All on the ground. And no fire. Not in a Mustang - but in a Ford with a similar tank setup. (As for 60 Minutes, does anybody remember the pickups with exploding gas tanks a couple of years ago? Wasn't that 60 Minutes who was using explosive charges to make them blow, because they couldn't get them to do what they said they did??)