Ok, please, I know these cars aren't as safe as today's cars so can we please refrain from stating the obvious?

So my '68 has the lap and shoulder belt, and I wonder if this could be any different from a modern car's (safety wise). A seat belt is a seat belt right? Modern shoulder belts have the retractor and ability to move before locking under quick force, but in my eyes that is just a mobility convenience - once it is locked it should function just like older model shoulder bets. Or am I wrong?

I ask, because I have considered putting in a 3 point modern belt system but then thought about it and started to see no gain (other than mobility convenience).

Also, I saw a post by Yellowbird (can't find that post again, and her private message box is full) explaining how the belt should be adjusted to be safe. The adjustment was that the shoulder belt should have enough room for the palm of your hand to fit between the belt and your chest - but I wasn't sure if it was with your hand/palm flat against your chest or perpendicular to your chest. Any ideas?

Thank you guys/gals so much.

the modern 3 point belts are much safer.....but they only help in a wreck....personally I ride both my classic cars w just lap belts (horrible safety record on those) and my old 57 Studebaker had no seat belts....its just risks you take , as part of life...you determine how much safety you want /need...to be safe...get three point belts, and dont drove a vert

Without getting too detailed...

Yes, seatbelts between newer and older models have similar attributes. The main difference is the amount of force applied to the belts and the resulting injury.

You can assume that the earlier lap belts were better than nothing and that the lap and shoulder belts were better than the lap belt only. Then you have the shoulder/lap single belt in the 70's which was superior than either the two prior, yet not as good as the same system in a car without airbags...yet with improved crumple zones.

So, in essence, its about how much force the body applies to a belt system and the resulting injuries. You compare the same exact parameters between a 3300# 68 Firebird and a 3300# 2010 Cruze (no airbags) and the difference in injuries will be substantial.

With the amount of mileage one will see driving a first gen, the possibility is there for a serious crash, but compared to a daily driver...I don't worry too much, if at all about the old school restraint system. I believe the injuries would be similar if one was to install newer generation belts in a first gen, but thats my opinion and is crash type dependant.

If you are concerned with the existing seatbelts, send them out for service and inspection.

The original belts may safe your life, or do some severe damage to your hip since they are not retractable. The problem now is that the newer technology in new cars and the impact design standards make it even less safe to be hit in an older car. To really be safe in an older car you would need to strengthen so many areas, just really not an option. Even if you have up-to-date seat belts you will be more likely to be crushed because the car collapses inwards and does not have any crumple zones like the new cars do. My opinion, you are still better with the seat belt than without, but the cars are not even close to being safe. Frame ties are a nice start to bracing the car better if you don't care about losing the stock appearance.

I for one am much more careful while driving the bird than when in my 03 accord or 90 chevy p/u. Not to mention weekend drives for a total of 500 miles/year(probably less)makes an accident less more likely than in a daily driver.

Just make sure you have a current will and durable power of attorney in place and then you don't have to worry about seatbelts

The driver's belt probably doesn't mean much for me anyway. Seeing the remains of my 1st Gen after a bad accident would be too much for my heart to survive.

I would feel the same way.

I look at it this way. It will always be safer than the motorcycle I ride. When you put it in that perspective, I think it clears things up.

Good point

I still don't see how a 3 point is safer or how the retractable aspect matters at all. The retractable aspect is nice for movement while buckled in, but the moment force is exerted on the belts they lock (they don't do a slow gradual lock to lessen the stress against the body).

The 3 point I always saw as safer ONLY because it gave no option of lap belt vs. lap & shoulder. Basically it was all or nothing and required one less step for the user to do. I just can't see any other way it's safer.

Of course this is all considering the belts are in equal shape. And I guess newer cars may have improved woven patterns?

I have full intentions of using my car as a daily driver...

the three point belt is safer because it restrains your upper body....stops your head from hitting W/S, restrains your chest from hitting steering wheel/column

the retracting helps you also, because at a crash it restrains you where you are instantly...if you were to use three points without retractable system ,you would have it looser ,so you could move ,and that means movement before you hit the beltt = more body damage (to you).

I'm comparing a 3 point to the use of a lap AND shoulder belt in a first gen (not just a lap). In this case, both types of belts are restraining your upper body.

I see your point about not having a retractable...a user may have it so loose to give movement that it doesn't work properly. That's why in my original post I asked how snug the belts should be (I personally keep it pretty snug, with just minimal space).

yes,thats the problem...if you use lap and shoulder belts, old way...you are strapped in so you cant move , or reach stuff...loosen it up so you can , its more dangerous , you will get body damage from the movement into the set belt....it should be snug to be safe...thats why the "instant" retractable works...no movement

Trying to make these first gens safer is like trying to make your old 45 records sound as good as your MP3 player, you just can't and won't get the same results. They are what they are, drive'm and don't worry.

New vehicles also have advanced seatbelts with explosive pre-tensioners that react in concert with the SRS systems which actually tighten up around the occupant in an accident...if ya want that kind of safety, drive a newer vehicle...my .02

I could see that the combination of the 3 point belt and a seat specifically designed for those belts would bring some safety to the car, but not remotely close to the newer cars.