1974 Seatbelts

[Bill E.]

Hello:

I recently purchased a 1974 roadster which was built in January 1974. The car has a lap belt with a connection point for a shoulder belt and a belt cutout in the rear interior quarter panel. The seats, however, have no cutout for the shoulder belt and none of the shoulder belt mechanism came with the car. The previous owner says that's the way the car was when he bought it 12 years ago. The car has a new carpet so I cannot see any indication of the shoulder belt retactor ever having been mounted. Is it possible the car was delivered like this or do I have the wrong belts, quarter panel, and/or seats?

Thanks, Bill

[Jack H.]

Of course!

Option A85 was available for all the early Shark cars and this added the shoulder harness feature that was standard equipment on coupes to the convertible. IF your seats had cutouts for the shoulder harness, I think I'd be suspicious, but as described, sounds like it's clearly a 'base' model convertible without shoulder harness provisions as most of the convertibles were configured back then....

[Bill E.]

Re: Of course!

Jack, thanks for your comments. Am I correct to assume then that all 1974 roadsters either with or without shoulder belts do have a shoulder belt cutout in the interior quarter panel. I have to replace the panels and want to be sure I order the right ones, unfortunately the suppliers don't specifiy a unique panel for the 1974 roadster.

Bill

[Harmon C.]

Re: Of course!

Bill If you are planning on judging buy them with the cutouts. They are stronger without the cutouts and are less money to buy. The cutout is marked on the inside and could be done at any time. One out of nine 74 convertibles had the shoulder harness option so their are some around that may find their way to be judged. Lyle