Vintage (1958 250GT TDF) seat belt installation

#0895 GT?

 

Thanks. A beauty. Ex Harrah.

 

Technically always possible the question is how safe is the installation.
As a classic racer , the safest is a harness fixed on solid points ( most likely roll bar itself fixed on solid points) and then you drive with an FIA approved seat and a HANS. That the extreme and safest and likely over the top for normal use but very protective even at 50mph crash.
The other extreme is nothing and in prewar car even racing happens very often ( including Le Mans and MM). Did also several MM with my 500MD and no seat belt at all).Indeed dangerous but you are aware of risks.
Anything in between of course is more security but in some cases false security as people may drive faster or feel more comfortable because they are used to wear a seatbelt in every days car.
Problem is whiplash if you don’t have headrest and an effective seatbelt hence the need for FIA seats or an effective headrest.
Alternatively you can add a period or repro lap belt fixed on right anchor points which may require some or no reinforcement ( I have one on my Gullwing) which gives little but some protection and make you feel better.
Hope it helps.

 

A real beautiful car, saw it in 1993..


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+1
Very good points.

More often than not, basic lap or even ad hoc mounted 3- or 4-point belts on otherwise “stock” configuration vintage, let alone minimalistic road cars like TdF, etc will provide fairly low safety while lulling drivers/passengers to a false sense of security and perhaps causing them to drive more aggressively.

OTOH, if lap belts are chosen and no clearly good/strong attachments points are available on the floor or nearby structures, I’ve mounted some, depending on vehicles, either on the seat frames (if strong enough) or between seat track mounting point and the floor (and if needed or possible, I’ve added extra bracing under the floor in the manner that is minimally invasive and easily reversible).

 

I install seat belts in these old cars all the time, knowing full well the only thing I am doing is making it easier for the ambulance attendants to find the bodies.

 

You gave me good chuckle, Dyke.

 

Man up!
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As I recall, that was at the German Grand Prix at Avus in 1959 and Hans Herrmann actually walked away pretty shaken, but unhurt.

 

Funny you should point that out as I've said similar things about them to some clients and friends.
Kind of like one of my lifelong friends, who used to be a locksmith (now retired) and always pointed out the fact that "locks, in general, are mainly intended to give people false sense of security".

 

Happy he lived through that. Those guys were built different. Funny enough, Herrmann is tattooed on my arm (albeit in the #32 RSK from LeMans)

 

PM ME AND WE CAN DISCUSS THIS.. I own #1127GT, 1958 TDF…(which I bought in 1978) AND STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL SEAT BELTS INSTALLED…
CAN HELP YOU.