1967 Seat Belts

[Keith B.]

Re: Pic of Mine

Thanks for the response for help. You have all helped answer the question.
It appears the RCF-65 will appear on all original seat belt buckles.

[Gerard F.]

RCF-65 means

Robert C. Fisher, patented in 1965. I think if any 67 seat belt buckles do not have this patent mark on the back, they were probably made in Taiwan.

Glad we got this resolved, Keith.

Regards,

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179

[David K.]

Re: 1967 Seat Belts

My original belts are stamped RCF-65

[Kent K.]

Addendum II

Keith----

After reviewing this thread later and seeing photos posted, I had to take another look at my seat belt buckles after returning home from the office. Here's the first of two confirmation photos. The second photo in my next post is of the remaining portion of a seat belt buckle from where I reported the stamping A319. Question is, since it cannot be a date unless A=January and the number is a style. What are your thoughts?

Regards, Kent #6201

[Kent K.]

Re: Addendum II - Photo #2

What does the "A319" represent??? Or, could it be "4319"?
My eyes are getting old.
Kent #6201

[Peter L.]

Re: RCF-65 means

Jerry - I just love researching these things. Couldn't stop checking, so I looked at the Deluxe Seat Belts on my '66 Chevelle and they, fronts Model #103 (no date ink stamp) and backs Model #108 (stamped 15C66), are Hamill buckles and have the Hamill logo as described and RCF-65 stamped on them. Now, I need to check my '66 Corvette, S/N 25,305. I know they are the '67 style and I'm betting they are the Hamill buckles with the RCF-65. I'll let you know. Pete

[Gerard F.]

It looks more like a 4 to me

Kent,

I don't think the 4 digit number is a date code. The numbers don't make any date sense. My originals for a 67 June 29 car with February seat belts (7E67)have a number on the back of 0378, both the same number on each buckle. Other originals, I have seen reported in the archives and posts have a different number on each buckle.

What date would be 4319? The buckles were not produced until the later part of 65 or early 66.

The RCF-65 is a patent mark for the buckle back and latching mechanism. This mechanism is not unique to the Corvette, and was used with different tops and button inserts as Deluxe Seat Belts on most GM passenger cars in 1966 and 1967. There must have been in the order of 100,000 or more of these seat belt buckles produced.

If you take one of these buckles apart, you'll find a 3 or 4 digit number on almost every part of the mechanism, and not the same as the back or between different sets of buckles.

I surmise that the numbers are ID numbers related to a production run or inspection, and possibly required by Federal regulation.

Jerry Fuccillo
#42179