C2 Seat Belt Identification

[Dwight P.]

My 65 Coupe bright blue seat belts are getting ratty and I am considering replacement. I removed them and checked the embroydered label. It read as follows:

CORVETTE
Model772CDR-H '64
Federal Spec. JJ-B-165a
SAE J4a
IRVING AIR CHUTE CO.
Lexington, Kentucky

The build date of my car was late March 1965 and I am the original owner of the car. Is '64 a date code? Were these belts left over from 1964? Or were the labels left over from 1964?

Any info would be appreciated.

[Peter L.]

Re: C2 Seat Belt Identification

Dwight - Interesting what one finds after all these years. I have seen similar examples of what appear to be "early" dates on some earlier 1966 Corvettes which of course were built in the Fall of 1965. If my memory is correct one of the seat belt sets had a '64 tag on the outboard belts and a '65 tag on the inboard belts. Since I expect that the '64 and '65 production model seat belts for these two years of Corvettes are identical, it didn't make much difference on the dates as long as the appropriate model belts were paired.

I can't help on the two '64 thousand dollar questions as to what came first the seat belt or the tag; but I'm sure someone will. Pete

[Jack H.]

Re: C2 Seat Belt Identification

Remember, '65 Corvette production started in the summer of '64 and belts supplied to the factory as late as Christmas time 1964 would have had the '64 designation on them! High volume belt colors (e.g. black) might have seen less inventory time at the St. Louis final assy plant than other, slower moving, colors. I find nothing wrong with what's in your car as it's well within the NCRS 6-month guideline for dating.

[Dwight P.]

Re: C2 Seat Belt Identification

I did some research. Nolan Adams Tech Guide Vol II, Page 258, discusses the 1965 seat belts and the ebroydered label. The label in the book is from a car that was assembled in early March 1965 and has the '64 date. I therefore have to assume that the labels attached to my belts are not out of the ordinary. Another point that Nolan Adams makes is the supply/demand of certain colors. The more popular colors would be more likely to run out early in production and have the '65 date on the label.

[Donald T.]

Re: C2 Seat Belt Identification

I have a May 13th approximate build date with '64 dated belts despite being black. I believe they are originals.

[Paul L.]

1967 Belts

Interesting thread. What does the pic tell me?

[Peter L.]

Re: 1967 Belts

Paul - The label indicates it's a HAMILL Model # C10 seat belt for a 1967 production year vehicle. The Model # C10 seat belt is the seat belt used in Corvettes. Pete

[Stephen L.]

Re: 1967 Belts

Your seat belt tag lacks the stamped date code. Probably washed out. It would have been across the bottom of the label and about 3/8" high letters

[Dwight P.]

Re: C2 Seat Belt Identification

Don:
Thanks for your response to the 65 seat belt label issue. Again, refering to Nolan Adams, I believe there is a possibility that all of the 1965 seat belt labels were dated '64. The belt material and buckles did not change between 64 and 65, only the retractors and holders.

I hope someone with a late 1965 car will respond to the question and clarify the mystery.