Fitting Seatbelts to Series 2 land rovers

[danniboy]

Hi
I am preparing an old Series 2a SWB to get it back on the road. Its seatbelt time. The car is a hard top model. Can you fit seat belts that could be used with the hard top off or on? Where do you get the necessary brackets from? I am thinking retractable but it is not essential. Currently old non retractable belts are fitted.
Can anyone enlighten me on this task?
Any help, comments much appreciated.

[Homestar]

Have a look through this thread - Seat belt rules for old cars? (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/series-ii-and-iia/114261-seat-belt-rules-old-cars.html)

There is some conjecture about if they are needed at all legally, but that’s not saying you should or shouldn’t.

When I did some in my 2a shorty many years ago, they attached to a bracket I made on the hard top so wouldn’t work with the roof off - you’d need to fit a roll bar for that I would imagine and that will cause you all sorts of grief with VicRoads as they think you’re driving a race car then… 😁

[gromit]

There are companies that make seatbelt bars that stay in place when the roof is removed.
Problem might be getting the roadworthy tester to sign it off as it's not original.
It wouldn't be hard to make something similar but again it comes down to the tester.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kjIAAOSwZP9dFet~/s-l400.jpg

Look up VicRoad VSI 21 for the seatbelt requirements in VIC. For 4WD passenger vehicles they must be fitted after 1/1/71


Soft Top Front Seat Belt Bar For Land Rover Defender / Series | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/283530539282)



Colin

[whitehillbilly64]

My S3 Daily has New non retractable seat belts with a middle lap belt.
I understand the risk in event of an accident, on the shoulder area as a result of using the low fixing points.
Some discussion about using the seatbelt bar and insurance problems of a non Australian approved bar.

whitehillbilly

[Cap]

I take it that your model doesnt come with the belts (pre 69ish??) Mine didnt (1963) and I had no issues with registration. In fact a mate of mine fitted Securon (meets ADR) belts to his 1963 88 and had nothing but issues with rego inspection. He had to get a mod plate by an engineer to cover the soft top seat mount (as per Gromit's pic).

From my research, you cant have a 3 point belt setup on a hardtop with removal in mind. You either have it setup permanently or convert the hard top to a canvas top, or not run belts at all.

EDIT: there is one other option, and that is to run the 3 point belt to the top or behind the seat bulkhead. I think this is for S3 where they have the threaded cap to attach the top belt mount but this would mean you run the belt below shoulder level. More on this if you search ALURO.

You can see the setup on this photo I took (spotted S3 opportunity :))

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