Anyone ever added front seat shoulder safety belts to a mid 60's 111/112 coupe? What type of belts would/did you use and how?

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"BECAUSE KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE"
G. I. JOE.

First, what year is your coupe and might it already have belt anchors or mounts built in?
Cars sold in the US were required to have lap belt anchors (usually reinforced threaded holes in the floors under the seats) starting in 1963, then shoulder belt mounts starting in 1968. I think Mercedes started installing shoulder belts or mounts in 1964 or 65.
My dad had a Euro' 1966 250SE that had front shoulder belts (but, curiously, no lap belts!) I recently finished installing front lap and shoulder belts in 'Miss Daisy' my 1960, 111 body, 220S Finback, which originally had no belt anchors whatsoever!

Before I began this project, I spent an afternoon stumbling around a local salvage yard to see if there were any O.E. belts that would look OK in my Finback. The best vintage looking belts I could find was a 20 year old set out of a XJ6 Jag for $95. Not wantng to trust my life to 20 year old belts, I turned to good old 'J C Whitney'. They still sell brand new, non-retactable combination lap and shoulder belts for $30 a set - $60 + shipping for both front seat sets. These belts are from 'Beam Mfg.' of Oklahoma City, have the classic, '60s style chrome buckles and the straps are availible in red, maroon, tan, grey, blue, navy and black. The black ones look fine in my 220S.

It was a major project to design and install shoulder belt anchors in my 220S center pillars. If your coupe already has the anchors it will be so much easier.
For the shoulder portion, the anchors on the coupe would have to be near the top of rear window-sill, just below the side window and just back of the doorjamb (that's how the factory belts are in my '72 250 Coupe). If your coupe is new enough, there may already be anchors there, perhaps holes in the sill/panel covered by plastic screws or covers, or you will have to fabricate something suitably sturdy.
(I've seen belt anchors on the ceiling of many pillarless coupes but don't know if any early Mercedes Coupes ever had them there.)

As for the floor anchors, my '72 250 has them on each inside rocker panel and each side of the driveshaft tunnel and that's where I decided to put them in my 220S, as her floors are somewhat rusty. If your floors are sound it may be OK and easier to put them there, with suitable reinforcing plates.

The anchor bolts that come with these new belts are 7/16 fine thread, grade 5. They should fit the factory belt anchors, if you have them. I was told that this 7/16 bolt size was adopted as the automotive standard because of the origin of seatbelts in US built aircraft. I've checked and it's 7/16 fine thread in my '72 Mercedes, my 83 Dodge van and my '84 Honda Accord (and an '87 Volvo in the salvage yard).

I now feel less 'naked' while driving 'Miss Daisy' in modern traffic. Good luck with your belts.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Thanks, Mark. The car is a 1965 300se coupe and the previous owner installed lap belts so the anchors there should not be a problem. I have a pair from a 1971 300sel 3.5 which uses the 2 piece method: the shoulder portion latches onto the lap section. I just was not sure where to anchor the shoulder portion.

__________________
"BECAUSE KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE"
G. I. JOE.

Your shoulder belt sounds like the same design as I have in my '72 250 sedan. If you know where there's a late '60s - early '70s SE coupe or cabrio or can find detailed interior photos of one, you will see exactly where the shoulder belt anchors.
Make sure the SEL sedan shoulder belt is long enough to reach the anchor location in your Coupe.
Keep in mind that your SEL belts are probably 30 years old and. while using them might be better that not having any belts, the fabric strapping has probably deteriorated by now. Even if there's no visible damage, the nylon strapping weakens from U V exposure. It would be much better to have new belts or at least new straps intalled to the original hardware, if possible

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Clunker,

My '72 108 had the two-piece belts that locked into each other at the tongue, but I just got a '66 250 coupe 2 days ago. I has the shoulder and lap strap integrated into one, and is anchored on the top surface of the window ledge just behind the front seats. The female end, unlike the rigid 108 set, is just the same belt fabric tethered to the center below the console. I can email you a picture or two if you like.

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Scott

'66 250 SE Coupe, european
Black
Power sunroof
4-speed

A photo would be great!

__________________
"BECAUSE KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE"
G. I. JOE.

Sorry to take so long. If I ever get my car out of the shop and figure out how to upload a picture I will do it. Just found "dirty" gas on Friday so we will be sending the tank out to be repaired. Last time this took 4 days. Just wondering if I should take advantage of the tank being out of the car and going ahead an replacing all the fuel lines. Will be back.

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Scott

'66 250 SE Coupe, european
Black
Power sunroof
4-speed

Clunker,

I don't know how to post a picture here, but send me your email address and I shot a few and send them to you. I saw a similar setup this weekend at Drew's place in Andrews NC. Didn't know if mine was original but I guess it is.

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Scott

'66 250 SE Coupe, european
Black
Power sunroof
4-speed

I ordered a set from Andover Restraints, in
Maryland. I had mounting holes however. No
lap belts though.