History of Corvette Seat Belts

[Walter K.]

Can someone tell me the source for this pdf file? The file was posted on another forum but I can not identify the source. TIA

[Gary B.]

Re: History of Corvette Seat Belts

Walter,

Could it be from the book on 1956-1976 Corvette seatbelts that Barbara Spear wrote in 1989?

Gary

[Walter K.]

Re: History of Corvette Seat Belts

Gary,
Thanks for the response. I thought I remembered a lady had written it. I will research that. Thanks again.
Walter

[Walter K.]

Re: History of Corvette Seat Belts

Gary,
I have looked it up and that is the book referenced in that PDF file. I found it as a reference on a couple Corvette forums. I guess my next question is whether the NCRS world accepts this book as a reliable reference?
Thanks

[Gary B.]

[Gary B.]

[Walter K.]

Re: History of Corvette Seat Belts

Gary,
Not exactly. To be truthful, I had a discussion today with a vendor about the seat belts that were in my car. The buckles for my lap belts were made by Bay Trim. Evidently, the vendor has never seen Bay Trim buckles in a 68. I couldn't tell if they were original to the car or not but if you look at the book I referenced, it list the Bay Trim buckles as a possibility in 68. When I found the reference, I told the vendor to restore them as they were, with the Bay Trim buckles with hopes that my car was that odd duck with Bay Trim buckles. Later today, I started thinking that someone on the NCRS site may recognize this reference and was wondering if it might be a source to verify what seat belts might have been in the car. I am new to this site and to corvettes so I have a lot to learn. Although I am sure my car would not do well at any sort of NCRS judging, I am trying to keep it original when possible. Thanks again

[Loren L.]

Re: History of Corvette Seat Belts

Beware of "absolutes", Gary. I would refer you to a discussion on this Board within the last six weeks about 63 SHP/FI water pumps seemed to result in a final question of "In EIGHT years, why hasn't this been corrected?". JGs are TOUGH work if they're done right.

[Gary B.]

[Mike E.]

Gary,
Not exactly. To be truthful, I had a discussion today with a vendor about the seat belts that were in my car. The buckles for my lap belts were made by Bay Trim. Evidently, the vendor has never seen Bay Trim buckles in a 68. I couldn't tell if they were original to the car or not but if you look at the book I referenced, it list the Bay Trim buckles as a possibility in 68. When I found the reference, I told the vendor to restore them as they were, with the Bay Trim buckles with hopes that my car was that odd duck with Bay Trim buckles. Later today, I started thinking that someone on the NCRS site may recognize this reference and was wondering if it might be a source to verify what seat belts might have been in the car. I am new to this site and to corvettes so I have a lot to learn. Although I am sure my car would not do well at any sort of NCRS judging, I am trying to keep it original when possible. Thanks again

[Frank D.]

Re: History of Corvette Seat Belts

I understand the penchant to want your car to have some unique, original feature that is a factory "outlier" and if you have sufficient documentation you can make your case. "Sufficient" being the operative word; judging has provisions for that and I don't know what more the NCRS can do in that regard.

I know of two recently acquired split windows whose owners swear have factory A/C when both VINs are well before the option was available based on the best available criteria. Their arguments simply won't fly from a judging standpoint.

[Walter K.]

Re: History of Corvette Seat Belts

Thanks to all for the input.

[Harmon C.]

Re: History of Corvette Seat Belts

If you need a Barbara Spears seat belt book I have a few new. PM me