1965 Eldorado Rear Seat Belt question

[francisthepig]

Hello everyone,
I am very near to closing the deal on a 1965 Eldorado convertible (found in The Self Starter) and if everything goes as planned, it should be with me mid-February. 

One of the first things I will need to do is add rear seat belts for my two young boys. They will be in car seats with built in restraints, so a lap belt will suffice for now.  I've been reading the threads on this subject, but can't seem to find if there are already mounting holes or spots in the back.  I believe rear seat belts were an option in 1965, so it would make sense that it would be fairly easy to add them.  Does anyone know for sure or have pictures of mounting points for rear seat belts in their 1965-1968 Convertible?

I've been looking the  Andover Restraints, Vintage Lift with Satin as the closest to original that I could find. https://www.andoauto.com/ARW13.htm  There is a $300 pair of originals on ebay, but that is more than I want to spend right now on something that will be covered up by a car seat.  I worry about that when the boys are out of car seats in about 5 years.

I need to know what mounting hardware will work the best and if drilling through the floor is going to need to happen. If so, are there "dimple spots" I've saw on a post from a pre-1959 Serviceman jpg. while conducting my search, just wondering if there is one similar for a 1965.

Thanks in advance!

[fishnjim]

It would be unusual if there are factory fronts and not rears.   Maybe they are still there under the back seat?   I was common to push them back in as there were no retractors yet.   Unless a PO added just new fronts?
I wouldn't rely on 55 year old nylon/stitching with precious cargo.   There are several good vendors for modern belts.   Not sure you'll find the exact buckles, but they can sew new belting on old, if you do. 
It's going to be a bit windy top down back in the back for the tykes in chairs.   Something to think about.
What I recall, in the early days, they used a chromed swivel bolt/stud that screwed into the cross member with a welded nut for the rears but not 100% on that.   That was kinda across GM.   But without the car to look at can't say.   Maybe the owner could do you a favor and pull out the back seat and take some pictures.   
The belts have to be attached to the right structural members, or they won't be worth much other than child seat holders when not in a crash.   Just bolting through the floor pans won't cut it.

[John Cadillac]

I can't answer your question regarding mountings. But I have a '66 CDV and found some old original seatbelts with the buckles on ebay. I had them re-conditioned by Ssnale-oyl. They put new fabric (period and colour correct) and reburbished the chrome buckle. They look like new and have the strength to be safe.

Good luck with your project.

[Cadillac Fleetwood]

According to the 1965 Cadillac Optional Specifications Manual, LH and RH outboard front seat belts were standard equipment.  LH and RH outboard REAR seat belts were an option that was available from the factory by specifying option code A on the order form, or as dealer-installed accessories.  The fact that these were available as dealer-installed tends to indicate that there are pre-drilled, reinforced holes for them, or at least "dimples" to ensure that the mountings were installed in the right place.

In 1965, one could specify "front seat belts delete" by specifying option code "O".

Rear seat belts became standard in 1966.

The seat belts and retractors are the same in 1965 and 1966.

-Charles Fares

[Chuck Swanson]

To answer the question, yes the holes are already there for the '65 Eldorado in rear.  Yes, rear seat belts were optional in '65, standard in'66.  There are rubber plugs that cover the holes.  The rubber plugs are the same exact style as the rubber plugs that hold the dash insulation, just shorter, around 1.5"
Simply remove the rubber plug (use a plastic tool if you want to save), then get seat belt bolts readily available on eBay as they will screw right in (use anti-sieze too).

The seat belt logo in '65 is different than '66 (which has more of a black center than silver).

Chuck

[francisthepig]

Thanks!  That is what I wanted to hear because I didn't really want to have to drill through the floor.

[bctexas]

The seat belts and retractors are the same in 1965 and 1966.

-Charles Fares

Hi Charles!  Looks like not all '65 seat belt buckles are the same.  As documented in "The Cadillac Serviceman" publication in January '65, the seat belt buckle used up to "approximate V.I. Number 131000" has a lever type release.  After this, a new buckle was used having a push button release.  My '65 CDV, VIN 101070 (built in the second week of September 1964) has the lever type release.  The buckle on my '65, and the article from Serviceman are below.  I cannot attest to the accuracy of this info from personal experience other than my car having the lever type buckle.

Happy Motoring!

[francisthepig]

I glad you posted up bctexas, as I thought these were lift type buckles.  I've attached a close up the front buckle from the inspection report, so it looks like a push button type.
The VIN number for this car is E5224951 and the build plate is attached.

[Cadillac Fleetwood]

Bernie:  Thanks for your post.  I learn something new every day.  Up to this point, all the '65s I have seen have had push-button seat belt buckles.

Robert:  The 1965 Eldorado whose body plate is depicted was built in the fourth week of April, 1965, and would have push-button buckles, per the Cadillac Serviceman that Bernie posted.  Front belts were standard.  The plate doesn't have accessory code A for the rear belts, which were optional.

-Charles

[francisthepig]

Bernie:  Thanks for your post.  I learn something new every day.  Up to this point, all the '65s I have seen have had push-button seat belt buckles.

Robert:  The 1965 Eldorado whose body plate is depicted was built in the fourth week of April, 1965, and would have push-button buckles, per the Cadillac Serviceman that Bernie posted.  Front belts were standard.  The plate doesn't have accessory code A for the rear belts, which were optional.

-Charles

That is very cool to know since I was married in April, it's one more thing to smooth this purchase over with the wife.