Retractable Seatbelts

[Deeder]

I am restoring my 1971 914-4. I cut out the seat belts years ago. Now would like to install retractable belts. Any know how would be appreciated.

[Joe Ricard]

I went to a junk yard and found some rear belts off a Mercedes (Still REPCO) that fit pretty well in a 74 car. There is a difference in this area on early cars (no bent cavity for the retractor piece to go). Everything else will bolt in where the early belts bolted to chassis.

I ran 5 point harnesses in my 70 car.

[racer]

iirc, the retractible belts have a (reinforced?) mount for the inertia reel which your '71 doesn't have. Also not sure if it would work under the early back pad.

That said, 3-4 years ago I sourced a new belt and reel. Just can't remember where. Will try to find it when I get home...

[John Rogers]

Belts from an early Audi or Porsche 924 will bolt right in.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I don't believe there is room for the retractor under the early back pad. So you need to swap, which means swapping to a moveable passenger's seat, which means adding the mounts on the floor for the seat.

You should also weld in the reinforced "bump-out" on the firewall for the retractor as well.

Evidently you can use early 944 or 924 seatbelts, but you may have to remove or grind the locating pin thinner.

There are retailers out there that sell retractors that bolt up to the B pillars where the upper loop for the regular seatbelts go. I don't know how well they work, and I don't know who sells them off-hand.

--DD

[GeorgeRud]

I got the retractable belts from the competitor (Auto Atlanta) to replace the non-retracting ones in my 914-6. Simply bolt up to the B pillar and seems to work nicely. They do stick out a bit in front of the pillar, but make life easier and don't require any welding or other non-reversible modifications.

[Cairo94507]

George can you post a picture of the belts you have?

[GeorgeRud]

PM sent.