Topic: What color Seat Belts and Console?

[markb0729]

My September 2, 1964 Dearborn built fastback has a White Vinyl with Black Appointments Interior (Interior Trim Code: 46).  The seat belts are missing from the car and was wondering what color they would have been.  I'm assuming black but I figured I would check with the experts before I tried to hunt down a set of repro belts.   Also seems like nobody makes a decent reproduction belt for the 65’s.  They all say their repro belts s have that “classic look” but from what I see, nobody makes a dead on reproduction.  What gives?

As for the console, from what I have found out, it should be white.  Correct?

[67gtasanjose]

Ssnake Oyl is your seatbelt restoration source. It might not hurt to hunt down an original set to send in, might make it more cost effective but if you would like them to be RIGHT and look like new, be prepared to shell out a bit of dough, but the reviews speak volumes

http://www.ssnake-oyl.com/

Richard

[markb0729]

Thanks Richard.  I spoke to the folks at ssnake-oyl today.  Nice people.  They seem like the go-to place for belt restorations.  They have generic belts that look decent for $20 a piece.  You can order a custom belt that you can customize somewhat (length, buckle finish, mounting brackets) for $40.  Anybody know the correct belt length for 65 fastback, front and rear 2 point lap belts?  For example, ssnake-oyl's generic belts have a 20' fixed end mated to a 40" adjustable end for a total length 60" belt.

[carlite65]

you might also try python restorations. do a search here for contact info. they do nice work too.

[markb0729]

Thanks Carlite65, will do.

[CharlesTurner]

+1 to black seat belts and white console for that interior.

If you're going for correctness, the only option is to find nice originals or have a set of originals restored.  Ssnake-Oyl or Python Restoration are both great options.

[ChrisV289]

Are you sure your car had rear seatbelts? 

[GT500KR]

Here are some cores on eBay right now. My 64 1/2 April Dearborn car used the painted buckles like these. (Red in my case).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/64-65-Mustang-Seat-Belts-/380669711039?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item58a1aed2bf&vxp=mtr

[markb0729]

ChrisV289,

Are you sure your car had rear seatbelts? 

At some point, the car had front and rear seat belts.  There are factory style seat belt mounting points in my Fastback for the front and rear seats.  Unless deleted or removed, the 65 Fastback came with front seat belts from the factory and the rear seat belts were an option.  It's not clear to me whether the rear seat belts were a factory and/or a dealer only option.  Maybe someone can shed some light on this?  In any case, I figured I would install the seat belts so when I went on an occasional drive, the occupants would at least have a lap belt.


GT500KR,

Here are some cores on eBay right now. My 64 1/2 April Dearborn car used the painted buckles like these. (Red in my case).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/64-65-Mustang-Seat-Belts-/380669711039?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item58a1aed2bf&vxp=mtr

Thank you, thank you and thank you!   It was not clear to me the exact style seat belt buckle that would have been in my September 2, 1964 Dearborn built fastback .  I figured it was not the plastic (?) clam shell type found later (after 1/65?) in the 65 model year.  Several points of reference (books, web, etc.) kept indicating that with a build date of September 2, 1964 my Mustang would have had the 64 1/2 style seat belt buckle.  I had no clear indication of whether the early 65 seat belt buckles in cars such as mine were all Chrome or painted color coordinated.  Based on your response and the eBay link you provided, I'm pretty confident I would need the 64 1/2 style buckle, painted black if I want to keep my Mustang as original as possible.  In the short term, I may have to settle for some sort of "classic reproduction" belt as these things are hard to find let alone very expensive to buy and restore.   

Are your seat belts for your 64 1/2 considered a standard seat belt or deluxe?  If yours are like the ones in the eBay link, They sure look like the 1965 "deluxe" seat belt.  Take a look at this link from Python Restorations.  http://www.pythonrestoration.com/Ford_Belts.php  This is one of the websites that contributed to my confusion.

[CharlesTurner]

Rear belts were typically only dealer-installed in '65.  Shoud be obvious as there will be no anchors spot welded to the floor.

[mgmradio]

Your car would not have had the 64.5 style buckles. The ones on EBay are the delux style and were available for your car. My 4500 mile Aug 64 car has the delux belts.
  As Charles stated; in 65 rear seatbelts were dealer installed only.

[markb0729]

Rear belts were typically only dealer-installed in '65.  Shoud be obvious as there will be no anchors spot welded to the floor.

There are 4 factory anchors in the rear seating area that are spot welded in place.  From what I can tell, they are in the correct position.  The car is not a 66.  The VIN is 5F09C276###.  There was work done to the car back in the late 70's by the PO.  I'm assuming they were put in at that time.  My father bought the car around 1980. 

Your car would not have had the 64.5 style buckles. The ones on EBay are the delux style and were available for your car. My 4500 mile Aug 64 car has the delux belts.
  As Charles stated; in 65 rear seatbelts were dealer installed only.

So my car could have had either the deluxe or standard 2 point seat belts up front?  What type of seat belt would the dealer have installed for the rear seats?  Would they have matched what was installed in the front (standard or deluxe)?  If anybody can post some pics, that may clear some things up for me.

[mgmradio]

I would think that they would match what was there.

[CharlesTurner]

There are 4 factory anchors in the rear seating area that are spot welded in place.  From what I can tell, they are in the correct position.  The car is not a 66.  The VIN is 5F09C276###.  There was work done to the car back in the late 70's by the PO.  I'm assuming they were put in at that time.  My father bought the car around 1980. 

Sounds like the rear may have been clipped or a large section of the rear replaced.  Might want to poke around and look for welds.  Date codes in sheet metal might tell more of the story too.  5F09C276xxx is an early '65 car, probably around September/October '64.  It just wouldn't have been normal for the anchors to be there.

Does the rear window opening have studs for the clips or holes for screws?  There are other details on a fastback to tell the difference between 65 and 66.

[markb0729]

Yup, definitely replaced with metal from a 66 fastback.  Sheet metal date codes in the front part of the car are mid to late August.  Found a sheet metal date code in the rear from late January.  I also found the spare tire mount is the 66 style.  I suspect that the car was in some sort of accident and a 66 donor fastback supplied the parts.  I'll probably never know the history since the car was purchased circa 1980 and the PO is long gone.

That said, I'm still trying to figure out what would be the correct standard seat belts to install in the front and rear of my early 65 fastback.  I'm just looking to install correct 2 point lap belts.  Anybody have pictures of what I need to be looking for?