1960 Shoulder Strap

[Bob B.]

Hi all,

I am going for Top flight this year with my 1960. However, I am one of the few and the proud who intends to drive it afterward - as much and as often as possible. However, after someone hit us head on in our pickup a couple of years ago (cemetary for him; minor nicks from flying glass for us), I am wondering if there is a non-destructive way to add a shoulder strap/harness? Or is there a supplier who has stuff like this? I have seen racing harnesses, but they don't seem to allow much mobility.

Thanks,

Bob

[Roy B.]

Re: 1960 Shoulder Strap

Keep them on the road or what use are they!!

[Eric J.]

Re: 1960 Shoulder Strap

Bob, One thing to be careful of is shoulder belts are designed to be used with seats that have head rests. The enery from impact is transfered backwards as you bounce off the belt. Without a headrest even the slightest foward collision will result in wiplash or worse. Not sure how you would modify the 60 to mitigate that. Eric #3,182

[Verle R.]

Re: 1960 Shoulder Strap

I saw a 57 with a shoulder harness attached to the upper soft top bracket. They had a metal bracket bolted to the soft top bracket that extended to the top corner of the seat back and a shoulder harness across the chest.

I agree with the concern about whiplash but the collision of chest and face with steering column/wheel is a serious concern also. How about a HANS device?

Verle

[Don Izzo]

Re: 1960 Shoulder Strap

Just remember to mount the seat belts to the body! I ran across a Doctor at a local cruise who had a local shop install the racing type seat belts in his C1. They bolted the belts to the roll bar which was welded to the frame. I asked him to return the car to the Vette shop and have them move the belts mounts to the Body . He asked me why and I told him how many people I have had to cut out of cars in my long career as an accident victim extrication technician with our local fire department. Then I told him how many car bodies I have seen lift off the chassis after impact. Had the belts been mounted the way his were there certainly would have been fatalities as a direct result of the installation method of the belts. And most of these cars where sheet metal not fiberglass bodied!

Don