luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Jul 22, 2015 12:46:18 GMT
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I'm hoping for some wisdom if there are any SVA/MOT/legality experts around (I know you're out there, don't be shy, lol). All RX-7 FB Series 3s like mine had the mounting points for rear seatbelts included in the structure of the car, although very few UK cars actually had them (IIRC they were still an option then in 83-85). Some had lap belts, some three-point, most none at all though as I say, they all had the mounting points. Are there any opinions on the legality of rear seatbelts in cars this age? Presumably because they were an option, there's no legal requirement to have them in the rear? Does this mean you can actually take passengers though? Obviously I want the kids to be safe, so I'm looking at fitting some. I got a spare set of FD rear belts, but because of where they hide the inertia reel, they're essentially four-point mounting even though they're only three-point belts if that makes sense.... but having stripped out the trim in the FB and found the mounting points it's now clear there's no way you could fit an inertia reel anywhere without it really intruding into the seat and the trim. You'd have to seriously hack up the trim panels and I doubt that a MOT man would be happy about where the reel ended up. So, I'm thinking of getting some fixed-adjustable non-retractor type belts, like from the Old Days. Are these legal though? Plenty of kit-car and vintage aftermarket shops sell them, so I'm guessing they are, but it'd be nice to know for sure. All wisdom gratefully received  Ta |
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,888
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Jul 22, 2015 12:59:27 GMT
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Jul 22, 2015 13:05:18 GMT
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If fitted they've got to work properly etc. etc. But are non-retracting non-inertia reel ones you manually adjust to length alright? It states "none" as a requirement but doesn't say what you have to fit as an option if you wanted to |
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Last Edit: Jul 22, 2015 13:07:57 GMT by luckyseven
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Jul 22, 2015 13:35:42 GMT
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Check the manual in the link above to see if there is any reference regarding inertia vs static. I don't recall ever seeing a legal distinction as far as the MOT is concerned - e.g don't harnesses count as seat belts for the MOT? Also, aren't all lap belts (as used to be fitted to the middle of the rear seat on most cars until at least the '90s still the static type? Nothing wrong with static belts - they just need adjusting to fit. As a child, I found the three point static belts in my father's Amazon (the same car that I have now) much more comfortable than inertias. If you want a set made up in the colour of your choice, try www.quickfitsbs.com/ I am sure that they would also be able to answer any legal queries. |
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taurus
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,084
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Jul 22, 2015 13:36:02 GMT
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So long as they are secure and the buckles work correctly they should be fine. If you're worried about the MOT simply remove them before the test.
My Viva has the original non-retracting belts and it passes the MOT no problems.
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Jul 22, 2015 14:18:25 GMT
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My '81 924 has no rear belts fitted and isn't an issue come MOT time. My old '67 VW type3 variant had aftermarket static rear belts fitted and was never a problem either  don't know if that helps? |
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,888
Club RR Member Number: 58
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Jul 22, 2015 14:45:03 GMT
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If fitted they've got to work properly etc. etc. But are non-retracting non-inertia reel ones you manually adjust to length alright? It states "none" as a requirement but doesn't say what you have to fit as an option if you wanted to Hmm going by the other two categories under where it says 'none', it gives inertia reel or manually adjustable as an option so it would seem that in the eyes of the MOT for rear seats the two are equal I'm not an expert, but it seems as though it would be fine. I guess other cars of the same era would have had static rear belts as standard? in which case it should definitely be fine? |
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Jul 22, 2015 14:52:23 GMT
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Yeah, maybe I'm being excessively paranoid. Anyone small enough to fit in the "dwarf buckets" of an RX-7 is so wedged in you need a crowbar to pry them out anyway  . Think I'll just get some adjustable CBS ones and see how it goes... |
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meltdown
South West
Isn't letting old age get the better of him, still making the same bad decisions with vehicles.
Posts: 687
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Jul 22, 2015 14:57:50 GMT
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LOL you should have seen what my 240z front seats came with as standard.
But going back to the rears there is no difference in the MOT's eyes whether they are static or inertia.
Fixing points need to be secure and free from structural rust.
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luckyseven
Posted a lot
Owning sneering dismissive pedantry since 1970
Posts: 3,839
Club RR Member Number: 45
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Jul 22, 2015 15:02:49 GMT
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I've seen a rubber plant and a house fly but I've never seen a First-gen RX-7 with rust-free seatbases
Just out of interest, and obviously not that I'm about to, but presumably it's legal to carry live humans in a car this vintage with no seatbelts at all? Or is it one of those things where the LAW and the MOT don't overlap?
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Jul 22, 2015 15:19:04 GMT
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Just out of interest, and obviously not that I'm about to, but presumably it's legal to carry live humans in a car this vintage with no seatbelts at all? Or is it one of those things where the LAW and the MOT don't overlap? Hi, yes perfectly legal, my Land Rover doesn't have front seat belts because of it's age. Dead humans have to be secured in a box. Colin |
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mk2cossie
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,985 
Club RR Member Number: 77
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Jul 23, 2015 12:13:04 GMT
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Fixed 3 point belts will be fine for the mot in the back, just remember that the mounting points will all come under the 30cm prescribed area though |
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Ta
don't know if that helps?
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