It's time to ask again -- has anyone found a source for replacement seat belts for US version 246 GTS Dinos? I have searched all of the usual sources but no-one has any in stock or knows where to get them. Has anyone installed other than OEM seat belts in a Dino? The originals are inertia reel lap belts, with a diagonal shoulder strap that clips onto the belt buckle, forming a three point restraint. The problem with mine, and I suspect many others, is that that the tooth that clips the male end into the female end, has become loose and no longer has a tight enough grip to keep the seat belt closed. Both belts in the car are afflicted with this condition.
No-one? Hard to imagine that a common item like a seatbelt is unobtainium I'd even settle for a non Dino part. I just need a working seatbelt that will attach to the current mounting points in a US model Dino
Have you tried the search feature for this forum? There are a lot of threads about seat belts for the Dino.
What an original idea. Now why didn't I think of that? Unfortunately the search comes up empty, except for one seatbelt supplier, Andover, which is in the sticky thread at the top of the Dino section. They cannot really help as they are a general manufacturer/supplier with no specific knowledge of the Dino. At least that's what the guy told me. They suggested I remove the belt assembly entirely and send it to them to try and match it up with something that may work, but that was a long time ago. I'd rather find a ready-to-go part, but it may get to the point where I have no choice. Thanks again for the useful suggestion.
Here is a Lancia belt that is on Ebay Item #200372925267 that looks quite similar to if not the same as that used on the Dino. The Robbins seat belt head was probably used on many different cars and the belt length was different. Could be possible to find the head and clips from other cars and have someone like Andover or Snakoyl (www.ssnake-oyl.com) make up new belts I have a set of virtually NOS belts for my GT but one is missing the little center medallion. If you are not concerned with originality I could measure my belts for you and you could have some made up. There are also NOS Britax belts on Ebay UK quite often that look somewhat period and could probably be modified.
Thanks for the offer. The original belts are made by Klippan. The female end (similar to the eBay Lancia item) looks basic but all of the various potential replacements that I looked at would not work with the male end. The problem lies in the clip inside the female end. I guess it has worn down over the years and just won't hold the male end anymore. I will probably have to find a complete inertia reel system from the 70's. The search continues.
That is useful to know. It gives me another direction to search. I imagine most 70's inertia reel system buckles were sourced from Robbins
The plastic end has cracked on my passenger side belt. The belt still functions, but should probably be replaced. I think the best bet is probably just to go with brand new belts. Depending on 30+ year old eBay belts for protection sounds a little risky to me. I'd bet that any 30-year-old belts should probably be replaced anyway, even if they appear to be working fine. Originality isn't much of a factor when a serious safety risk is on the line.
I am fortunate that I have never had seatbelt issues... Following are a set of photo's take tonight of my seat belts for the cars I have sitting in my garage.... The first set is from a 1972 US spec coupe (03930) (tan interior) The second set is from a 1974 US spec GTS (07714) (black interior) The third set is from a VERY late 1974 US spec GTS (08468) (tan interior) ALL have the same stlye of belts and locks. The other cars I have aren't in a place that I can take photo's to document... Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Inertia reel lap belts? My car, December 1972 production never had them, as far as I know. They are Klippan type 517 RP. The label on the back is dated 1970, so they are probably original. While searching that part number I came across a wonderful page from the Daytona Registry, called the Authenticity Page. (We should have one of those for the Dinos!) http://www.daytonaregistry.com/originality/index.html There it shows both the inertia and the non-inertia belts. It appears that what you have in your car is a Klippan 562. It would make sense for Ferrari to use the same DOT approved belts for the Daytonas and Dinos produced at the same time. Why tx246 has a Dino coupe of an earlier production than mine (s/n 5020) with inertia belts in it, is another one of those Dino mysteries, I suppose. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
After doing some more research, I must conclude that the belts in my Dino were replaced at some time with the much superior non-inertia Daytona belts. Just wanted to add that clarification in order not to confuse the issue further. To try to be of some help to you, 410SA, have you checked the "308/328 seatbelt sourced" thread? There, myfazzaman1 from down under has found that all US 308s used the Klippan 4570 belt and that the US spec Fiat X1/9 also used it. He has a few of them in stock. Would that fit the Dino too? If so, it would be an appropriate replacement.
410SA, sorry to hijack your request, but this thread appeard appropriate to insert another version of belt. It is of the fixed variety with sliding buckle to adjust. I cannot prove it is original, however, given the history of the car I suspect it is. Kevin Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks for the Ebay tip, I bought the Lancia belt and it is an exact match for the part I am missing! It is not in the best shape but it is repairable and will work fine. Thanks again.
I have Britax belts in my Dino,always thought they were original they look the same style of belt for that period. Here we go again a search for the originals.
Possum I think Australian 246 and Daytona seat belts (and mirrors) were dealer fit. ie Lowes would fit what they wanted to sell / or were ADR approved. Check with John Allan, ex Lowes, but that is my understanding Regards Howard
Thanks Howard,my holding bolts are klippan but the seat belts are britax,would you have a contact no for John could be very usefull as it was sold by Lowes in 1973.
sounds like dame edna spruking to the masses, my little jigger was also sold by lowes in 1973, & guess what ? BRITAX BELTS. Cliff Donnon South Australia 246 gt
Hello Cliff, that`s very interesting. Ferrari had at least different seats belts for E-series Dinos depending on export markets... for example: standard France & Benelux Switzerland USA, Norway, Danmark, Sweden Great Britain Australia isn`t mentioned so I would assume delivery with standard or GB seat belts... Regards Matthias
I know this isn't original and may not be the solution that is being sought, but the picture shows what I did for a customer that just wanted his belts to function. This style of Dino belt is the same that is my Alfa GTV. Image Unavailable, Please Login
By accident I think I found a partial solution in finding a similar Robbins seat belt that looks correct for the U.S. Dino. My friend has a U.S. spec '75 Mercedes 280C. The back seat has three sets of Robbins seat belts, two 3 pt inertia reel type and the middle one a 2 pt normal lap belt. The receivers look the same(outside of the button sticker). The male part is different in that they don't have the removable shoulder belt. I'm sure that part could be fabricated. And of course it has the inertia reel vs static arrangement. That could be fabricated as well. Freeman Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
That same buckle was used on Fiats, Lancias and GM cars of the era. Check out Ebay for GM seat belts and you'll find a bunch of them.
