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68 Beetle seatbelt specs

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Crispy Commited Dubber

54 posts · joined Dec 2012 ·

#1002984
I want to order custom made seat belts for my 68 beetle.

They are the non retractable lap sash ones with a web buckle.

I need to know the length of the webbing that the buckle bit attaches to. Ie. the length from the bol on the floor/tunnel to the hip.

Does anyone use these types and do you know how long they are?

The original seatbelts in my beetle weren't the right ones for the car so I can't measure them.

Thanks!

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1002992
Ask the question on the VW Heritage online store. For Every item they have an ask a question tab. I alwasy get a reply within a few days tops.
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1003204
You'ld be better asking an Australian as these were Australia only.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

hulbyw Insano Dub Head

819 posts · joined Sep 2009 ·

#1003209
Not so. My '68 was made in Germany. Unfortunately I don't have the original seat belts so I cannot help with measurements. I have inertia reels

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1003233
hulbyw wrote:Not so. My '68 was made in Germany. Unfortunately I don't have the original seat belts so I cannot help with measurements. I have inertia reels
So are both of my T3s but the seatbelts were made in Australia.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

viiking Officially Full-On Dubber

253 posts · joined May 2012 ·

#1005867
Have you resolved this?
I have an original 68!with the central plastic "cassette" belt tongue attachment point.

Is this the one you are talking about?

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1005871
viiking wrote:Have you resolved this?
I have an original 68!with the central plastic "cassette" belt tongue attachment point.

Is this the one you are talking about?
That's not original. They didn't come out until around '71 or '72. I put one in my '70.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#1005876
AA003 wrote:
viiking wrote:Have you resolved this?
I have an original 68!with the central plastic "cassette" belt tongue attachment point.

Is this the one you are talking about?
That's not original. They didn't come out until around '71 or '72. I put one in my '70.
My 69 has one of those - it was in it when I bought it in the late 70s - pretty sure it is standard.
From your ole' mate Jeff

viiking Officially Full-On Dubber

253 posts · joined May 2012 ·

#1005879
Fitted as of January 1969 as law changed in NSW requiring the replacement of the original sash only belt that came fitted with the car.

They were fitted to my dad's 68 by the dealer and the belts I have are the original ones from 1969.

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1005881
AA003 wrote:
hulbyw wrote:Not so. My '68 was made in Germany. Unfortunately I don't have the original seat belts so I cannot help with measurements. I have inertia reels
So are both of my T3s but the seatbelts were made in Australia.
Not everything of VW Australia was made in Australia dude. The web style belts were used in USA and the UK too. Possibly Europe but I don't know the demographic.

For the OP I suggest looking up the NCOP, National Code of Practice, for vehicles and the ADR specific for your year of manufacture alongside your states regs. Between these you will be able to figure out what belts you require or you can take the easy option and pay $120ph for your local vehicle engineer to tell you what you need 🙂
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1005885
psimitar wrote:
AA003 wrote:
hulbyw wrote:Not so. My '68 was made in Germany. Unfortunately I don't have the original seat belts so I cannot help with measurements. I have inertia reels
So are both of my T3s but the seatbelts were made in Australia.
Not everything of VW Australia was made in Australia dude. The web style belts were used in USA and the UK too. Possibly Europe but I don't know the demographic.
What are you talking about?

Seat belts in Australia of that era must be stamped with the appropriate Australian standard. The USA and UK were not.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1005891
AA003 wrote:
psimitar wrote:
AA003 wrote:
hulbyw wrote:Not so. My '68 was made in Germany. Unfortunately I don't have the original seat belts so I cannot help with measurements. I have inertia reels
So are both of my T3s but the seatbelts were made in Australia.
Not everything of VW Australia was made in Australia dude. The web style belts were used in USA and the UK too. Possibly Europe but I don't know the demographic.
What are you talking about?

Seat belts in Australia of that era must be stamped with the appropriate Australian standard. The USA and UK were not.
Oh dear. Doesn't mean they weren't manufactured elsewhere as even back then global companies would use the most strigent of the standards in which the vehicle was to be sold to save money. No different really to the modern homologation standards most modern vehicle manufacturers go by.

You know, like a Bugatti Veyron would be no different in construction irrespective of the country it's being sold in as it passes all standards. The German standard probably being the most strigent in the world 🙂
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1005896
psimitar wrote:Oh dear. Doesn't mean they weren't manufactured elsewhere as even back then global companies would use the most strigent of the standards in which the vehicle was to be sold to save money. No different really to the modern homologation standards most modern vehicle manufacturers go by.
You have no idea what you are talking about.

The pommy seat belts that Just Kampers were selling were not legal here so they stopped selling them. They met European standards.

Try buying a bicycle helmet from overseas. It would not be legal in Australia. Child safety seats from overseas until recently were not legal.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

DakDak67 Officially Full-On Dubber

208 posts · joined Sep 2011 ·

#1005899
To the OP , I have the OG belts as you describe in my 68 . Are you still after the specs?

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1005912
AA003 wrote:You have no idea what you are talking about.

The pommy seat belts that Just Kampers were selling were not legal here so they stopped selling them. They met European standards.

Try buying a bicycle helmet from overseas. It would not be legal in Australia. Child safety seats from overseas until recently were not legal.
I do actually but as you are being stubborn lets just agree to disagree 🙂

Apologies to the OP 😀
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1005949
psimitar wrote:lets just agree to disagree
It's not an opinion.

Because of this type of misinformation people buy seat belts from England, Europe, USA etc only to find that they have wasted their money on non-approved seat belts. If you don't believe me ask Roy at Bus Stop, Vintage Vee Dub Supplies or Just Kampers.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

pfillery Insano Dub Head

734 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·

#1005959
I have a set that was in my 68. Kept them when it went because I'd fitted newer belts in the front. Lap sash with webbing strap and metal buckle with blue VW push button. Same style as used on many cars of the period. If you want originals these are the ones and available for sale as I won't use them. Happy to measure if you just want that.

I would be careful that any belts carry the correct standards marks. 68 was a transition year for belts I believe, I was told I could remove the rear belts if I wanted as they weren't needed until later on.

Who were you going to use for your custom belts? There are only a few legit Aussie approved makers of seat belts. I know a lot of people use original buckles and fittings and get new webbing made.

56oval resto Officially Full-On Dubber

212 posts · joined Jun 2009 ·

#1005968
worked with JK AUS for 3 years or so , no longer with them ( left earlier this year )

JK seat belts do have the tag on them that meet all AUS/NZ standards

if you are replacing belts in any car , they need to meet our AUS regulations

all you need to do is actually ask the supplier if the belts meet our AUS standards , check with JK AUS - Gerald .......

cheers ...Simon

AA003 - YOU ARE CORRECT

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#1005989
pfillery wrote:I know a lot of people use original buckles and fittings and get new webbing made.
Pretty sure you will find that is not legal either.

pfillery Insano Dub Head

734 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·

#1006004
Joel wrote:
pfillery wrote:I know a lot of people use original buckles and fittings and get new webbing made.
Pretty sure you will find that is not legal either.
Not sure. I know there's places who sell refurbished ones for early Holdens etc.

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1006006
AA003 wrote:
psimitar wrote:lets just agree to disagree
It's not an opinion.

Because of this type of misinformation people buy seat belts from England, Europe, USA etc only to find that they have wasted their money on non-approved seat belts. If you don't believe me ask Roy at Bus Stop, Vintage Vee Dub Supplies or Just Kampers.
Not what I was getting at. The majority of all the items you've mentioned would probably easily pass the AU standards but the company didn't bother paying to have them ratified to sell in Oz.

And that was my point. The item doesn't need to be made in Australia to pass AU laws but obviously for insurance purposes must have the approval in the country the item is used in to comply with your insurance policy.

Everything I've said all along has been that the country of manufacture doesn't matter so long as the item has been homologated, or stamped/tagged with the relevant safety standard, for the country it's to be used in. The original CDK kits that started VW Australia were made in Germany but passed the ADR rulings of the day otherwise the entire vehicle would have been illegal.

So that was my point but you just didn't get it.

For the OP - it is always down to the customer to check an item to be bought meets local laws but an Australian manufactured item must meet local laws for them to stay in business so means less research for the buyer.

I bought my belts from Klippan. Various colours available and when I bought a few years back were very reasonably priced compared to most others.
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍

hulbyw Insano Dub Head

819 posts · joined Sep 2009 ·

#1006028
Hemco in Ballarat, Vic will make Aust approved seatbelts to fit a specific vehicle. I had a set made for my son's Datsun 1600 a while back. I am quite sure if you asked them they will either have a set or make a set that will fit a '68. However I am unsure whether they will make the style with a web buckle. They may only sell buckles on a steel cable/stork. Unless you are going for a fully original look, I can highly recommend swapping to the stork style buckle as they don't fall down between the seats like the original webbing buckles do (I have been running inertia reels out of a '76 for 20 years but I still remember what a PITA the webbing buckles were)
Cheers........Wayne

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1006035
hulbyw wrote:Hemco in Ballarat, Vic will make Aust approved seatbelts to fit a specific vehicle.
They made belts for Australian delivered Volkswagens as some of ours were of a completely different design to any other country to meet our standards.

The belts for Australian Beetles (circa 1970) were made by Britax.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

DakDak67 Officially Full-On Dubber

208 posts · joined Sep 2011 ·

#1006045
Wow, this is still going. Yawn.

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1006093
DakDak67 wrote:Wow, this is still going. Yawn.
It's what happens when you get foreigners on here trying to tell you about Australia.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

DakDak67 Officially Full-On Dubber

208 posts · joined Sep 2011 ·

#1006097
AA003 wrote:
DakDak67 wrote:Wow, this is still going. Yawn.
It's what happens when you get foreigners on here trying to tell you about Australia.

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 ·

#1006113
AA003 wrote:
DakDak67 wrote:Wow, this is still going. Yawn.
It's what happens when you get foreigners on here trying to tell you about Australia.
Yawn, whatever Captain always right 😂
madness is in the eye of the beholder 👍