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[mr.loverlover]

Hi all,

I have been searching the net for instructions for and/or photos of a 3-point seat belt installation on a Triumph TR2-TR3.  My 1960 TR3A arrives later this month and I'm hoping to put in seat belts right away.

This is my first Triumph.  My last classic car was a 1964 Volvo P1800S, and that already came with 3-point seat belts.

The Roadster Factory website seems to be pushing lap belts for the TR2s-TR3s.  While I suppose that is better than nothing and perhaps more authentic, I'm not sure that I see the point of skipping the added safety of a 3-point belt.  Am I missing something?

Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.  I welcome any and all instructions, tips, experience, photos, or recommended models.

Also, if anyone has an opinion as to whether there is any reason to go with fixed belts instead of inertial reel belts, I'd love hear it.

Thanks in advance,
Joshua

[charley fitch]

There are several points here.  One is "authentic"  I could be wrong , but I do believe that these cars came with NO seat belts as far as the off the line public sales model. I  remember buying a set of belts to put in my used TR3 back in 1963 or so. But they also came with the seat belt bolt/loop that a seat belt could be clipped onto.  Of course there were seat belts available for racing purposes.  As to the reel type belts the one thing that I would ask is how tall are you?  If you are tall and you wish to put in a reel type system then you wil need to mount same on top of the rear bench.  There will be NO room on the floor behind the driver's seat for ANYTHING besides a standard seat belt connection.  You will need to look at that situation prior to purchasing a reel type system.

I purchased a TR4  that was in the process of setting up a bar that sat on top of the inner wheel covers and ran from one side to the other.  It was to be the mounting point for a set of seat belts ( as I understand  was described in Kas Kastners book, but I have not seen the book). 

I am sure that there are a few different views out there regarding the best type of seat belts to have.  I will not even venture into that gray area.  I am happy with  my standard seat belts.
Best wishes,
Charley Fitch   

[mr.loverlover]

Charley,

Thanks for the response.

I am six feet tall, so proper placement is an issue.  I've seen instructions for mounting reel type belts to the wheel well area on roadsters, I don't know how well this works.  I am, of course, concerned that a bad placement might allow the belt to slip off my shoulder while driving or in the event of an accident.

One alternative I see is to replace the seats with a model that is designed to have a three-point seat belt mounts to it.  With the weak dollar, however, getting an authentic-looking but upgraded seat is an expensive endeavor since many of these are manufactured in the UK.  (Revington, Cobra, Ridgard)

I may just have to wait until the car arrives later this month and hold a belt in several places to see if any of them feel natural.

[charley fitch]

The good thing about the TR3 is that is works really well for tall people.  I am 6'2" and a friend is the same height but has even longer legs than I do.  I am tall from the waist up.  One can not say as much for the TR4 as height is an issue.  But you do need to be able to use the full space behind the seat for the seat in a TR3. 
For myself I have been driving  a TR3 for the last twenty years plus about 10 years  before that.  I have never felt the need for more of a seat belt than the lap belt.  Again it is personal preference.  I always liked the idea that I could lay down across the seats if I ever needed to in an emergency.  That has never happened yet and I really hope that it never does.
I agree that you should wait until you drive the car and then decide what seat belt improvements you wish to make.
Charley Fitch