1950s 1954 series 62 installing lap belts an option?

[Julien Abrahams]

Dear all,

I am considering installing lap belts in my '54 series 62. However, when looking at the seat, there is not opening between de seat and the backrest. In '67 (which has factory installed lapbelts) the backrest and the bottomseat have seperate cushions and you can put your hand through from fron to back. That is not possible in the '54 as there is fabric.
What are the options? If I can I would like to avoid to damage the seat if I do not have to.
What have others done?

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

Dear all,

I am considering installing lap belts in my '54 series 62. However, when looking at the seat, there is not opening between de seat and the backrest. In '67 (which has factory installed lapbelts) the backrest and the bottomseat have seperate cushions and you can put your hand through from fron to back. That is not possible in the '54 as there is fabric.
What are the options? If I can I would like to avoid to damage the seat if I do not have to.
What have others

Dear all,

I am considering installing lap belts in my '54 series 62. However, when looking at the seat, there is not opening between de seat and the backrest. In '67 (which has factory installed lapbelts) the backrest and the bottomseat have seperate cushions and you can put your hand through from fron to back. That is not possible in the '54 as there is fabric.
What are the options? If I can I would like to avoid to damage the seat if I do not have to.
What have others done?

Nope, you can do it. I had to take the side of the seat off and loosen the backrest, but I got belts in there. It just takes some finagling, but you can do it.
Jeff R

[5390john]

During the restoration of my '55 CDV I added front and rear seat belts. Since the seat assemblies were completely apart, it wasn't too big a deal to modify the front seat as though  the car had seat belts from the factory originally. Before installing the fabric on the seats, a 1/4" thick piece of leather was sewn under the fabric to reinforce it and then a slit was cut for the belt to come through.
See photos, show judges have always been impressed!
John Adams
 

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

A great way to do it, and the best.

Did the springing require trimming to allow the webbing to have a clear passage?

Bruce.

[5390john]

The bench seat springs did not require any modifications but the seat belt vendor did have a "sleeve" that was installed that prevented any interference between the springs and the seat belt fabric. Tight fit but has worked really well.
John Adams