It may sound stupid but, did my 1960 2 dr lark have seat belts in it?I do not remember seeing them in either car mine or the parts car.I never thought about it till now lol and I can't seem to find where to buy some either
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The easiest way to check is to look at the floor under the carpet as there will be rubber plugs if the attachment nuts are welded under the car as in my 1962 Lark. They likely put the nuts there and it was up to the dealer/customer whether they were installed. I believe the factory put the belts in the trunk for the dealer to install, especially since it required holes to be cut in the carpet to access the plugs.
As for the belts, my 2010 Studebaker International Catalog has them listed on page 127.
Best wishes with your LarkJohn Clements
Christchurch, New Zealand
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If I recall correctly from reading my Popular Science magazines back "in the day", it was with the 1962 models that the U.S. car manufacturers all started to weld in attaching points for seat belts, even though the belts themselves weren't required as standard equipment until, I think, the 1967 model year. Studebaker made the belts standard equipment before some of the bigger companies did. If I'm wrong about this I'm sure someone will correct me. In any case, I don't think your 1960 car had the belt attachment points from the factory.
Dave Bonn
'54 Champion Starliner
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Originally posted by Blue 15G View PostIf I recall correctly from reading my Popular Science magazines back "in the day", it was with the 1962 models that the U.S. car manufacturers all started to weld in attaching points for seat belts, even though the belts themselves weren't required as standard equipment until, I think, the 1967 model year. Studebaker made the belts standard equipment before some of the bigger companies did. If I'm wrong about this I'm sure someone will correct me. In any case, I don't think your 1960 car had the belt attachment points from the factory.
Dave Bonn
'54 Champion Starliner--------------------------------------
Sold my 1962; Studeless at the moment
Borrowed Bams50's sigline here:
"Do they all not, by mere virtue of having survived as relics of a bygone era, amass a level of respect perhaps not accorded to them when they were new?"
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Studebakers had optional seat belts since 1956, but they were not mandatory in US cars until 1965.
Your build sheet will tell you if your particular car came from the factory with seat belts (to be installed by the dealer).Gary L.
Wappinger, NY
SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer
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Originally posted by Blue 15G View PostIf I recall correctly from reading my Popular Science magazines back "in the day", it was with the 1962 models that the U.S. car manufacturers all started to weld in attaching points for seat belts, even though the belts themselves weren't required as standard equipment until, I think, the 1967 model year. Studebaker made the belts standard equipment before some of the bigger companies did. If I'm wrong about this I'm sure someone will correct me. In any case, I don't think your 1960 car had the belt attachment points from the factory.
Dave Bonn
'54 Champion Starliner
As far as installing belts, not difficult as long as you have those tremendously large washers to diffuse the tug force should it ever be required (fingers crossed hoping "no")Last edited by Jim B PEI; 11-20-2011, 02:50 PM.
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Originally posted by studegary View PostYour build sheet will tell you if your particular car came from the factory with seat belts (to be installed by the dealer).63 Avanti R1 2788
1914 Stutz Bearcat
(George Barris replica)
Washington State
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If seat belts were an option as early as 1956, does that mean that any Studebaker from that point on had factory installed attachment points, even if seatbelts were not ordered? If not and you are installing seatbelts Juilianos Street Rods has a great plate to use as a reinforcement. It is rectangle and very hefty.Joe Roberts
'61 R1 Champ
'65 Cruiser
Eastern North Carolina Chapter
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Originally posted by JRoberts View PostIf seat belts were an option as early as 1956, does that mean that any Studebaker from that point on had factory installed attachment points, even if seatbelts were not ordered? If not and you are installing seatbelts Juilianos Street Rods has a great plate to use as a reinforcement. It is rectangle and very hefty.
I don't know if the '56 belts were factory or dealer installed, but they were a whole different animal. The outer belt attached to the rear of the door (at least for C and K models). I had a '60 Hawk with those belts, but I don't know if the door attachment points were factory installed of not.Last edited by 53k; 11-20-2011, 05:16 PM.Paul Johnson, Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.
'64 Daytona Wagonaire, '64 Avanti R-1, Museum R-4 engine, '72 Gravely Model 430 with Onan engine
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The early Seat Belts 1956 to '58 or later, only would use ONE floor attach point per passenger, because the outboard belts were on the door. So there were no attach points at all on the cars before 1962.
I do not believe ANY Studebaker Trucks ever had nutplates in the floor for Belts, since they were not DOT required until after Studebaker was gone.StudeRich
Second Generation Stude Driver,
Proud '54 Starliner Owner
SDC Member Since 1967
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