warren t claim Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I was wondering what the feeling here is about pre 1965 cars without seatbelts. Would you drive an old Mini or Mk2 Jag everyday? The reason I ask is that this month I'm using an old truck which is totally beltless and for many years I drove taxis and private hire where the driver is belt exempt. In fact if you count the miles I covered as a passenger in my first 12 years of life before the law came into place I've probably covered more miles unbelted than I have with the Jimmy Saville seal of approval. Now I'm getting all middle aged and starting to have concerns about my own safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete-M Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I like it for the authentic 'old car experience', but it's enough to slow me down and make me mega-careful. Last thing I had without belts was that P5. Lots of pointy stuff to hurt lots in those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Westminster doesn't have belts - does keep me sharper about dangers (as do the somewhat lacklustre brakes!) but I don't worry about it. Same with the H van that we took to Sweden. You think about it for a bit, but then you sort of forget and just get used to it. However, there are good options out there if you want some period-looking seatbelts (albeit not sure they're that cheap). cros 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Ross Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 1970 Land Rover. Needs belts, they get worn. 1961 Land Rover. Belt exempt, will never have them while I own it. Best aid to road safety. Makes you feel vulnerable, therefore you drive with care, rather than the cocooned BMW/Audi drivers that just ram their way through. I believe I drive more safely than them due to my feeling of vulnerability. Marm Toastsmith and Rocket88 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren t claim Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 1970 Land Rover. Needs belts, they get worn.1961 Land Rover. Belt exempt, will never have them while I own it. Best aid to road safety. Makes you feel vulnerable, therefore you drive with care, rather than the cocooned BMW/Audi drivers that just ram their way through. I believe I drive more safely than them due to my feeling of vulnerability.If it's a van version it doesn't need them fitted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Ross Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 It does if it was built after Jan 1st 1965. If ti can be proved to be a living vehicle it's 1967. Either way for the 1970 it's not exempt. The 1961 is a ragtop/no roof, therefore it's the least safe vehicle to wear a belt in anyway. Best to jump clear if there's a risk of tipping/collision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogweasel Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 My '58 Land Rover had no belts, and frankly it felt so terrifying that I felt very uncomfortable driving it. The '68 had belts and I was happy to blezz about everywhere in that (very slowly), could take Poglets out mudding without too much worry. To me driving about without a seatbelt is like going out with no trousers & pants on. Not something I want to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seth Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I feel vulnerable enough in an old car that I'd always fit belts to one that didn't have them unless it was structurally impossible to do so. Did used to not wear them in my A35 but I was 18 then. Having that written off by being hit from behind perhaps helped me form my current view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warren t claim Posted September 6, 2010 Author Share Posted September 6, 2010 I seem to recall several 1965-70 Transits not fitted with belts. I stand to be corrected though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lankytim Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Seatbelts in trucks were only fitted by law to new trucks in 2003 or so, join the club and dont crash! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 As I pretty much always have one of my immediate family in the car with me at any time, then there's no way I'd have a car without seat belts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollywobbler Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 It is an unusual thing. I would never even consider not wearing a belt if I'm in a car that has them fitted, but will happily tool around in something that has no belts at all. I have driven some pre-war machinery and that is scary, as you often feel like you're perched on top of it rather than sitting in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HillmanImp Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I have never worn belts in either of my Gt6's as in both cases the belt directs your head directly at the metal boss on the steering wheel. Will take my chance with the window thankyou very much. Wear them in every other car though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Des Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 I've probably driven as many miles without as with, I'm definetly a more careful driver without, and as a result I think safer. Very important not to hit trees, lamposts or anything solid, you're puree if you do. Obviously car-wise anything old enough to be non belted won't have crumple zones either, (other than rust created ones) although modern vehicles will share theirs, and if you've enough mass / velocity might even sacrifice their passenger compartments. Modern 4X4s are already pulling this nastiness. cros 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cros Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 This is the horn/indicator switch assembly with the tube that enables it to remain stationary when the wheel turns. It belonged to my Sunbeam 90, and was one of the reasons I sold the car. The tube is so long that it cannot be fitted or removed from inside the cramped 4 door cabin, and even though the wheel is close to the dashboard the steering box is 6 feet ahead, just behind the front bumper. Though these cars are robust with a strong chassis it was not the lack of seatbelts that bothered me, but the prospect of having the entire column and gear lever rammed into my chest . A Polish lady told me that one car produced in her country was infamous for it's robust bonnet, which had the distressing habit of remaining intact during frontal impacts, and slicing the front occupants in half. Fortunately there are plenty of old cars that,by these standards, are adequate for daily use. They should be seen in a more positive light given that the latest technology seems to be heading towards enabling drivers to operate their vehicles in a virtually comatose state. Rocket88, Conrad D. Conelrad, myglaren and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SierraMikeHotel Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 My life has been saved by a seatbelt. Well, ok, obviously I can't say for certain that I'd have died without it. It's highly likely though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 My life has been saved by a seatbelt. Well, ok, obviously I can't say for certain that I'd have died without it. It's highly likely though. Same here, although I can say with absolute certainty that I would be deaded were it not for a seatbelt. It *absolutely* saved my life in a crash that was neither my fault, nor could I have done anything to avoid. I agree absolutely that driving a pre-'65 with no belts makes you drive in a safer manner. It just doesn't do anything for anyone else on the road, and it doesn't matter how safely or carefully you're driving if someone ploughs into the front of you. Wack, SierraMikeHotel, chadders and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SierraMikeHotel Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Oh sure. You can't take all the risk out of life, and it would be pretty bloody boring if you did. Seatbelts are an easy win though, it's possible to retrofit them to most classic cars and they take what - less than a second? - to put on and off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martc Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 It has been suggested that removing all seatbelts and placing an 8" sharpened spike in the centre of the steering wheel would improve road safety many times over. Rocket88 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyarddog Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 I have a damaged shoulder due to a seatbelt. God only knows what I would have damaged without it. Opel Kadett D,or mk1 Astra to you,(this was 1996ish)I was a passenger when an old lady in a near mint mk2 2 door escort pulled out in front of us oblivious! She wasn't oblivious for long.50+mph directly into the front left wing,Both cars written off. We all survived, she lived to be near 100!! Just passing away recently. Today my shoulder hurts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forddeliveryboy Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 It has been suggested that removing all seatbelts and placing an 8" sharpened spike in the centre of the steering wheel would improve road safety many times over.It should be standard safety equipment. [/tongueincheekbutstillmakingthepoint] Driving the Traction Avant many thousands of miles never bothered me, it just heightened your senses. It's human nature to live/drive up to a certain level of danger, which perhaps explains some of the appalling driving seen everyday on our roads - it's possible people believe today's cars are safer than they really are? chodweaver, Uncle Jimmy and Rocket88 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 it's possible people believe today's cars are safer than they really are? Not enough people die in accidents of their own creation, so they survive to do it again. We've removed Darwin from the equation, warren t claim, forddeliveryboy, pilninggas and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Honda Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Holy thread revival cros! Talbot, warren t claim and Marm Toastsmith 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conrad D. Conelrad Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Holy thread revival cros! Jimmy Savile still had a year to live when he was name checked in the first post! Junkman, BorniteIdentity, warren t claim and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marm Toastsmith Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Jimmy Savile still had a year to live when he was name checked in the first post! Was that before he turned out to be the world's most evilist fucker? What a cunt. Now then. warren t claim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cros Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Twould be a fucker if "clunk-clicking" had saved your bacon in some ghastly accident only to encounter Sir James putting in a spot of night duty as you lay in the recovery ward... SierraMikeHotel, BorniteIdentity, Uncle Jimmy and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutty2006 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Similar setup on the Healey 3000, I remember pulling a column out of a lightweight race car in exchange for a colapsable one made on site. I’m sure the indicator wires ran down it too. Right shit job that was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 When people ask me about my attitude to the lack of safety features in the older cars I own I just point out that a ride a motorcycle. warren t claim, twosmoke300 and cros 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 When people ask me about my attitude to the lack of safety features in the older cars I own I just point out that a ride a motorcycle.Me too. I ride a large bike in an open face lid, yet oddly feel safer than in some cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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