seatbelts

[1967250s]

Did the 1967 250s came with seatbelts as standard acc. or even as an option?

DAN

[Mark V]

Not sure but I was told that the belts in my '69 were the first year they installed seatbelts. I haven't found anything to confirm or refute that statement.

[Tomguy]

I think they were an OPTION! The ones in my '72 look like they're a kit or something.

[1967250s]

Thanks.

If some of you as more information, please let me know!

Thanks again,

DAN

[psfred]

The law required lap and shoulder belts in 1972, so yours are "factory" -- the shoulder belt on mine is "latched" to the lap belt, strange arrangment. No three point inertial reel, either, had to manually adjust length to fit. I know that they were conpletely separate in the 1968 Ford we had.

I don't remember when seat belts were required by law in the US, but I'm quite certain our neighbor's Finny had them, was a 64 or 65. My guess is that the 67 would have had lap belts, anyway, at least as an option, and maybe shoulder belts. The 68 would certainly have had.

My 220D has Kangol buckles rather than the insert a tang into the latch type, great fun to watch someone try to figure out how to put them on the first time!

Peter

[Fintail Fan]

My 1962 220SEb "Fintail" sedan has front seat lap belts that were installed by a U.S. MB dealer after the car arrived from Germany where it was purchased new. When my gandfather, (original owner), purchased the car from MB Germany, they would not install seatbelts for his U.S. destination car since the MB seatbelts at the time did not meet U.S. seatbelt specifications. So, after driving the car in Gemany for a while, he had it shipped home, (Connecticut), and then had two lap belts installed for each of the front seats. There are no seatbelts for the rear seat passengers though.

1962 MB 220SEb "Fintail" Sedan 189,000
1963 Vespa VNB 4T 125 Motor Scooter 11,400
1992 MB 300TE 4Matic Wagon 131,000
1995 Subaru Legacy 4wd Wagon 97,000

[stejm]

My 72 250 has the three point retractable for the drivers seat, and the latch for the passenger seat - no one can figure out how to get that damn thing connected! I do have three latch belts in the rear...

I do like the nice latch hanger, tho....

[Tomguy]

Well, those Kangol belts are the same ones my 72 has. BUT, I've seen other cars (A 73) with "normal" style belts (not the Kangol ones that I love )

[JCE]

My 1967 Chevelle Malibu 2 dr HT came from the factory with seat belts and headrests on the bucket seats. The front disk brakes were an option, and that was the first year for them (they were 4 piston units off the 'vette). I would be real surprised if MB didn't have belts before Chevy.

[psfred]

The three-point inertial reel belt is probably a replacement. If I weren't interested in keeping the 280 mostly original, I'd install some later model three points simply because they are so much more comfortable -- the latch type strap you in like a race car driver.

Peter

[Mark V]

And if you're a tall guy with the seat way back, strapped in with the rigid belts, good luck reaching the glove box with them on.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

US regulations required front seat belt anchors in 1963 then lap belts by 1964 and front shoulder belts by 1968. I don't know about Canadian seat belt regulations.
Years ago, my dad had a grey-market 1966 250SE sedan that had the factory 'Kangol' shoulder belts in front but, curiously, no front lap belts. A recent major project for me was installing front lap and shoulder belts in my 1960 220S, which had no belt anchors whasoever!

Happy Motoring, Mark

[gmask]

One of my 250's has nice kangol belts that are chewed up yet. The other car is in shreads. Is there any place to have these remade with new belt?

[Mark DiSilvestro]

I'd first check and see if new belts can be ordered from Mercedes. Next choice would be to see if there is any service in Hemmings Classic Magazine availible to refurbish old belts.
Maybe you can contact some restoration shops for their opinion. There ae racing supply companies tht furnish belts but not to re-use in your original hardware. Maybe new Kangols might still be availible from one of these sources.
You can buy new lap and shoulder belts from
J C Whitney, with or without retractors, that will bolt to your original anchor points but they won't be Kangol.
I used 2 new sets of non-retracting
'Beam Manufacturing' belts from J C Whitney in my '60 220S because they had the '60s style chrome buckles that look just right in my Finnie. They were about $40 a set, plus shipping. NOT included with the new belts was designing and fabricating reinforced anchor points for my center pillars.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[1967250s]

Originally posted by Mark DiSilvestro
I don't know about Canadian seat belt regulations.

Years ago, my dad had a grey-market 1966 250SE sedan that had the factory 'Kangol' shoulder belts in front but, curiously, no front lap belts.

Happy Motoring, Mark

It looks like its 1971 for Canada....I hope

Mine as rear belts and holes in center pilers for shoulder belts (or hand straps!?) in front, no lap belts. The day of the safety, I'll remove the rear one (not to confuse the teck guy )

DAN