[motorcitymusclecar]

in 69 you could get Deluxe seat belts which would be the stainless buckle cover and the front retractor or lap belt had a different type of retractor with a smaller buckle and end but this was just on the lap belt and the shoulder belt had the big buckle. But the Convertible did not have the shoulder belt so did it just have the lap belt with the small buckle or the lap belt with the big buckle.

Does anyone out there have a convertible with deluxe belts and what size is the lap belt buckle small or big. and what is the manufacture on the belt or buckle.

Thanks john

[shineybike]

I believe the brushed chrome buckles were available in '69. They were the large size buckles. The buttons openings were more square compared to the '68 which had a larger rectangular button opening. I had some corroded buckle covers on my '68 and replaced them with the '69 style I found in a salvage yard and they fit fine.

[motorcitymusclecar]

Thanks but Since 68 has a different belt - the material and other details - i was more looking for 69 specific informantion. Most of the covers are interchangeable - but in 69 the deluxe lap belt had a small buckle and a different retractor. - Just trying to figure out if it was the same on the convt since there were no shoulder belts so only one set of belts for the front seat.

[robz]

This is a pic of Mark Simiele's '69 GTO conv (he's a PY member)..I know he added these on his conv so not sure of their authenticity...He may chime in to confirm..

[gto4evr]

Early 69 locking retractors had a small tensioning knob on the back of the retractor body and were small head buckles.

I'm not really clear on the "deluxe" terminology from the factory since i've got original stainless covers on my 67 yet they're not locking retractors and have the large buckles I don't know if that's because locking retractors didn't appear until 68 or if there were two versions of deluxe, one with locking and one with non locking retractors.

The set I added to my 69 I believe were out of a 70 vert (I'll check the date codes tonight) but they've got the small stainless buckles for the locking front retractors (no shoulder belts) and the large stainless buckles for the back seat.

[north]

In 69 convertibles ordered with deluxe belts, used the same smaller self adjusting lap buckles up front as coupes. Early cars had a release knob on the retractors.

There were 4 belt options for 69 Convertibles:
431 Deluxe belts with front shoulder $36.86
432 Deluxe belts with Front & Rear shoulder $63.19
434 Deluxe belts no shoulder $10.53
438 Front Shoulder belts (no deluxe) $23.17

(you could not order rear shoulder belts without deluxe)

Deluxe belts in 69 netted you Bright metal buckles, self adjusting lap belts for driver and front passenger, color matched to interior

Convertible front and rear shoulder straps are the same part numbers, they just mounted differently. Also convertible shoulder straps work the opposite of the coupe equivalents; the female buckle is on top instead of the bottom half of the straps.

The non deluxe front shoulder belt did not come with the retainers on the rear armrests as seen on deluxe shoulder belts.

[Ken Mac]

Great info in this thread guys, thanks to everyone who contributed. Waiting for quote from Snake Oyl for a deluxe set for my '69 convertible. I'm guessin' it will be more than than $36.86 for the 431 option that John Hall mentioned.

[motorcitymusclecar]

Thanks John H that is exactly what i needed to know and answered my next question on the code and price.

Thanks - john

[marauder]

Hmmm, I purchased a real nice black '69 date coded set for my vert that almost look NOS but there are no small buckles, just the full sized ones.

Hamill Model # 1901, 1911, 1951

Maybe they are for a Chebby?

[Ken Mac]

Snake Oyl says $300.00 ea for retractor set and $170.00 for non-retractors. About $1100.00 for the set (excluding shoulder belts). Anyone out there have a set that they're selling? Webbing doesn't matter, I'd have to get it replaced anyways (unless they're red).

[LpTudor]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum and am in search of information for fixing up my 68 convertible GTO with shoulder straps in the front and rear. I've assembled a set of buckles/tongues, etc. (from lap belts) and am having them restored with new webbing. I'm in search of measurements for the belts (68 should be the same as 69) and wondered if any of you might be able to help.
Thanks

[69Customs]

Robz, aren't those lap belts on Mark Simiele's too long? They look like Bench seat laps.
I thought bucket laps were shorter?

[robz]

Originally Posted by 69Customs

Robz, aren't those lap belts on Mark Simiele's too long? They look like Bench seat laps.
I thought bucket laps were shorter?

Sorry haven't been on PY in over 1 month...:-(

Not sure, 69CustomS, as I have the regular lap belts w/o any shoulder belts. They are adjustable, so maybe he has them extended all the way out...Maybe Mark will chime in....

[gto4evr]

I'll chime in here. Mark's car has the deluxe self adjusting locking retractors, no adjustment on the female, it just reels in and locks inside the retractor. I don't believe there's a difference between bench and bucket belts, they both tie down to the floor in the same spot. My deluxe belts look to be the same length as those in his picture.

[Mark Simiele]

You guys saved me a lot of typing, thanks!

Like Rob said I added mine. I was lucky enough to find two pairs of intact used examples on ebay years ago in a pile of seat belts that were for sale and I had Snake Oil restore them. The rear convertible shoulder belts were duplicated from an all original two owner 69 convertible that had them from the factory so they are correct regarding length and style. I went through a lot research to make sure of that.

The self adjusting retractors were also added but these were dropped by GM after January 69 and since my car is an early build Oct 68 they were a good fit for being date correct.

I would have to say gto4evr is correct regarding length on both bench seat and bucket belts, pretty sure they are the same.

BTW, I have been looking for some seat belt parts for my Bonneville and it seems the deluxe belts are getting some real high prices these days on ebay, more than they ever did.

[69Customs]

Thanks for the info Mark & gto4evr. Learn something new ever day!