Vixen seatbelts

Vixen seatbelts

Author
Discussion

Monkeythree

Original Poster:

511 posts

228 months

Thursday 28th September 2017
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Can anyone recommend a period seatbelt for the Vixen? I ditched the OE fit static belts when I first restored the car in the mid 90's and fitted 4 point harnesses which I've now decided are a PITA for road use and I want to revert to something more original.

I'm kind of hoping that someone will tell me that a pair out of a Scimitar or a TR6 or something are a suitable replacement and I can pick up a set on eBay quite easily. Don't really want brand new ones because they will be way too shiny and plasticky.

Bull McCabe

242 posts

250 months

Saturday 30th September 2017
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I have recently bought a pair of 3 point seat belts from sports and classics (a quick google will find them). The old belts in my Vixen were hard to adjust, looked a bit ratty, were very grey and had flaky chrome and peeling "Press" stickers on them. I pondered for a while about whether to retain authenticity and put up with the shabby appearance or if I should make it more presentable? I am going to do a few interior jobs next weekend and this will include fitting my new belts so I will update you then, but so far the belts look in period and seem to be well made. 2 minutes with wire wool would take the newness off them if that is a problem, but I imagine they look more original than the 4 point harness that was previously fitted to your car.
I briefly thought about fitting retractable inertia belts because it can be annoying when the buckle drops onto the sill and you don't realise until you try to close the door, but I can't quite live with the British Leyland look of the classic/retro seat belts on offer. I also decided that because it is generally the same driver and the same passenger most of the time, ease of adjustment is not that important, so static 3 point belts suited me more than the stiff cable attached through the transmission tunnel with a big red plastic press button.
I suppose the advantage of a Vixen is that there were many variations that left the factory and by now so many modifications have been made that it is forgivable to stray a little bit from the original spec. I haven't owned my car for long, but I fully intend to keep it as close to original as possible but it still needs to be a car I want to get in and drive, so a few minor modifications to improve everyday driving are more important to me than having a museum piece that is a bind to use. I doubt there are many Vixens running on the same headlamps/bulbs as per the original, it''s just a question of what each individual deems possible to live with or endure.

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Saturday 30th September 2017
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Monkeythree said:
Don't really want brand new ones because they will be way too shiny and plasticky.
In case you change your mind......... clicky

nwarner

612 posts

259 months

Saturday 30th September 2017
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Monkeythree said:
Don't really want brand new ones because they will be way too shiny and plasticky.
I wouldn't have thought buying second hand seat belts was a very good idea.

Nige



phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Saturday 30th September 2017
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nwarner said:
I wouldn't have thought buying second hand seat belts was a very good idea.
Do you put new seat belts in when you buy a second hand car? scratchchin

Monkeythree

Original Poster:

511 posts

228 months

Sunday 1st October 2017
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Thanks for the pointer towards Quicksbs. Like the look of their period 3pt statics so going to order a pair of those tomorrow.

BTW I would have no qualms about fitting second hand seat belts. If you're going to crash a Vixen at any kind of speed where a seat belt might do something then your probably in trouble anyway long before the quality of your seatbelts has any influence on your injuries.

nwarner

612 posts

259 months

Monday 2nd October 2017
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phillpot said:
nwarner said:
I wouldn't have thought buying second hand seat belts was a very good idea.
Do you put new seat belts in when you buy a second hand car? scratchchin
True, but if you have done all the checks on the car you would know that it's hasn't been involved in a serious accident and you can't do those checks on second hand seat belts.

plasticpig72

1,647 posts

148 months

Monday 2nd October 2017
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True maybe the car hasn't been in a serious accident but the owner before could have replaced the seat belts with second hand ones from a crashed car!!
When i bought my 3000M the seat belts had been replaced with new and they look good.
I hope i never need to test them!!
Alan

280i

160 posts

151 months

Monday 2nd October 2017
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I like the classic Kangol magnet seat belts. they were in a great deal of cars from the 60s and 70s (Mercedes, Lotus, Jag, MG...) and you can find them used on line or from salvage yards. They just need to be re webbed. When ever I see them I grab them. The cool thing is, you can buy "TVR" stickers for them and they look right at place in our cars.

plasticpig72

1,647 posts

148 months

Monday 2nd October 2017
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I have Kangol magnetic on my Lotus Elan Sprint original 100%
Alan

280i

160 posts

151 months

Monday 2nd October 2017
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[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/zWznLkaN[/url

Astacus

3,363 posts

233 months

Monday 2nd October 2017
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280i][url said:
|https://thumbsnap.com/zWznLkaN[/url
I am sure I remember those from one of my Dad's old motors in the 70s

tomtrout

595 posts

162 months

Wednesday 4th October 2017
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I found a pair of these on the usual site. New old stock in the original battered box. Although I don't think TVR ever fitted Britax belts to Vixens, in my eyes they look the part and suit the car very well.

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Wednesday 4th October 2017
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tomtrout said:
I found a pair of these on the usual site.
Nice find ... thumbup