Any Idea What These are Worth? (67 seatbelts)

[Brian Monticello]

.... I know ... I know.. they are worth whatever someone is willing to pay. BUt, I am looking for a ball park figure based on the the experience of members of this board. I know there is a whole lot of opinion around here so share some with me!

thanks,
Brian

[Jack H.]

Build it up....

Paragon's catalog lists repro belts at $440 (including the retractor pockets). The market is bi-modal (those who want to restore a car + those who want to maintain an unrestored car). To the restoration crowd, you subtract wear/tear and the lack of items (if your belts don't have retractor pockets) and come up with a cents on the dollar number, probably 30-70 percent of replacement cost. To the unrestored market, the belts can command a price premium vs. fresh reproduction belts.

So, the swing is pretty broad and, as you said, it depends on what a give buyer is willing to pay on a given day. Plus, that buyer's objectives for the belts (restored vs. unrestored car) is even more important. Bottom line, who's your buyer?

[David W.]

Re: Build it up....

Decent originals seem to go in the $200 range on eBay. I sold a pair that way and was surprised at the number of bidders. There definitely is a market for used sets.

[Gerard F.]

Re: Any Idea What These are Worth? (67 seatbelts)

Brian,

I recently saw a fully restored set with retractors sell on ebay for $178.50 which was a steal. I been working on my originals and have been keeping track. Earlier this year I bought a set of near perfect refurbished belts and retractors without labels for $350. In adding the dated labels I'm at $390, I should have gone to Paragon in the first place.

Yours are not a matched pair, one's for a 66 and the other for a 67. Yours have some scratches in the buckles which probably won't come out without replating. (Don't try to brush the scratches out, they are plated steel, not solid stainless steel). As is, and without retractors, you are probably in the range of $50 to $100. I just bought a set of 1976 replacement buckle ends for the buckle parts from another NCRS member for $50.

If you put them on e-bay, clean them up, especially the belt material. You might get a restorer who wants them for belt material, or other parts, or someone who just wants them for a driver.

If you have the retractors with them, the prices may be a different story.

I hope I haven't dashed your hopes. Put them on ebay and see what happens

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179