63 passenger car seatbelts

[Willard M.]

I just found an old set of seat belts from a 1963 409 car that I used to own. The buckles have IC-5000 on the back. Are these the same as in Corvettes? Any idea as to their worth? They are red which is faded substantially and the buckles are oxidized.

Bill #2659

[Gordon Peterson #4961]

Re: 63 passenger car seatbelts

I bought a set of "mint '63 Corvette seat belts" off eBay a while back. When I received them, the profile (side view) of each buckle's latch was different from mine. Open your belt's latch and look at the shape of the side where it is reinforced. When I showed this to someone else, they said that these were from another '63 Chevy product, probably the full size car.

I had other issues as well (e.g. dark blue strap color was wrong for a Vette), and the deal went south. Anyway, here is an image of the two latches for you. His is on the left, my original '63 Vette is on the right. Sorry for the quality.

Pete

[Tracy C.]

Re: 63 passenger car seatbelts

Bill,

63 vettes used a non painted buckel. The link below is a set of passenger car belts that recently sold on eBay. What you might get for yours depends on who is looking and bidding for your set on any given day.

64 vettes had painted buckels with the BowTie emblem, but used MODEL IC-8000 buckels.

tc

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4535981950&category=34206

[Tracy C.]

Re: 63 passenger car seatbelts

Gordon,

Thats a great picture. Is the paddle aluminum or chrome plated steel? Satin finish or polished? Is your car a late or early example?

tc

[Gordon Peterson #4961]

Re: 63 passenger car seatbelts

Hi Tracy -

Both these "paddles" (great word) are satin finish (lightly brushed) aluminum. My '63 is one of the last #21102 and has the 1/8" high lettering in the MODEL IC-5000 stamping. I understand that earlier '63 buckles used a smaller font in this stamping.

Pete