Vintage Cars: seat belts, seat belts, floor pan

Question
I am looking at a Rambler American 1960 in original, excellent condition. I am not a collector, want a car for my 16 yr. old to drive to school, but would like to maintain it's value. Would installing seat belts make it no longer "original" and decrease it's value? Thanks, Bill

Answer
I would say no, because by 1960 seat belts were starting to show up as accessories installed by owners if not by the factory.

I would recommend you contact some people that supply Rambler parts and the Rambler clubs and find if they offered a factory seat belt kit.  you may be able to find some NOS ones, or used ones.

If not, then some of the various companies supplying parts can probably sell you a set that will look like period pieces. Check out Hemmings.com for suppliers.  I recommend you buy a copy of the magazine, it makes looking through the ads easier.

If you install them carefully then it should not detract from the looks or value of the car at all.  

Be sure to check the floorboards carefully where you plan on bolting these up.  Chances are you will just have to put them through the sheetmetal floor, and if it is weak, you may have to weld in some re-inforcement and in any case use some big heavy duty washers on both sides of the floor pan to give them some support.  

The last thing y ou want is the belts pulling though the floorboard if the worst happens and your son really needs them!

Don