1970 convertible seat/shoulder belts

[Donald O.]

I have a friend with a very original 1970 LT1 convertible that is missing the shoulder belts, including any mounting brackets. In going through the AIM for the 1970 only shoulder belts that were listed were denoted as for the coupe and have a part number. There was no mention of anything for a convertible shoulder belt system, yet both seats have the opening for the shoulder belt. In fact, no mention of a shoulder belt appears until the 1973 AIM where a different attaching bracket and part number is called out.

So, my questions are did the 1970 convertible have shoulder belts as standard equipment or only the coupe? Were the convertible shoulder belts an option then or not available?
This would make no sense to me as I would have thought that a convertible would have benefited more from extra belt for occupant safety compared to the coupe.

Thanks for any and all help
Don

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1970 convertible seat/shoulder belts

Shoulder belts were standard on coupes, optional on convertibles.
It was option A85 to add them to the convertible.

Your friend's car never had them.

[Donald O.]

Re: 1970 convertible seat/shoulder belts

Thanks Pat. I’ll let her know. Her parents bought it new and it’s a true survivor.

Don

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 convertible seat/shoulder belts

I have a friend with a very original 1970 LT1 convertible that is missing the shoulder belts, including any mounting brackets. In going through the AIM for the 1970 only shoulder belts that were listed were denoted as for the coupe and have a part number. There was no mention of anything for a convertible shoulder belt system, yet both seats have the opening for the shoulder belt. In fact, no mention of a shoulder belt appears until the 1973 AIM where a different attaching bracket and part number is called out.

So, my questions are did the 1970 convertible have shoulder belts as standard equipment or only the coupe? Were the convertible shoulder belts an option then or not available?
This would make no sense to me as I would have thought that a convertible would have benefited more from extra belt for occupant safety compared to the coupe.

Thanks for any and all help
Don

1970 Coupe had shoulder belts as standard equipment
1970 Convertible had no shoulder belts as standard equipment. They were optional = A85 option code
Yes this is counter intuitive, but it is the way it was.