Rear seatbelt delete?

[dale_z28]

Has anyone heard of rear seatbelts being an option, or left out? I have no rear belts, but I do have bolts and they are sealed by what appears to be factory sealant/caulk. I bought it in '77, and it was virtually unmolested (except for headers and smog-pump removal) with 59k on the clock

[william]

A48 deleted all seat belts for export cars only. Yours were probably removed. Does it have an export body tag?

[BULLITT65]

I am pretty sure 1965 was the last year for domestic vehicles to have seat belts be optional. My uncle had a 65 (domestic)fastback that did not have provisions for bolts or any signs of ever having seat belts, front or rear. I think 66 was the first year they became mandatory, at least for the front seats. I have seen 66 Mustang convertibles (domestic) without a provision for seat belts in the rear. I would think by 67 they were mandatory front and rear.

[69Z28-RS]

The U.S. National Highway Safety Bureau first required automobile manufacturers to install lap belts for all seats and shoulder belts for front seats in 1968.

However, most Americans did not regularly use safety belts until 1984, when the first state laws were passed mandating seat belt use.

PS.  I've used my seatbelt religiously since 1970, when I was required by the USAF to attend 4 straight Saturdays of Drivers Safety Training ... 

[X33RS]

Yeah I remember them becoming standard in 69 for most vehicles.  It was very common back then from what I remember to remove the lower rear seat and put the rear seat belts on the floor so they weren't visible.  I hope that the case with my Z Dale, because I don't see the rear belts in the car and I haven't removed the back seat yet.

My 56 nomad has the optional front seat belts, but no seat belts ever installed in the back.  I don't even know if rear belts were available in that car, it was somewhat unusual to even order the front belts in the 1950's.  Most don't have them.

[69Z28-RS]

X33....  The 1956 model year was the first that front seat belts were even optional for chevrolets, and they weren't often chosen, so your car has a very rare option with them...

[X33RS]

Good to know, thanks Gary.  I knew they became optional in the 50's but didn't know exactly when.

[dale_z28]

Thanks for the reply's, guys. I doubt that my car was an export (and I don't even know what the tag would look like) but I was somewhat puzzled because the bolts had been carefully sealed over. It would explain why I never found a build sheet, though, since I obviously wasn't the first one to pull the back seat. I've had my gas tank out during this rebuild and didn't find anything tucked up there, either.
If I can locate some correctly dated belts I'll tuck them away somewhere for posterity, but I do like the "clean look" of the rear seat, sans belts

[luv2sixty9]

Has anyone heard of rear seatbelts being an option, or left out? I have no rear belts, but I do have bolts and they are sealed by what appears to be factory sealant/caulk. I bought it in '77, and it was virtually unmolested (except for headers and smog-pump removal) with 59k on the clock

I have a 67 Z28 and it also didn't have rear seat belts.  However, the bolts weren't installed the holes were sealed over with the factory caulk.

[69Z28-RS]

Dale,

If you haven't yet read Kurt S's CRG report on seat belts, you should do so.  It's very detailed and well written...

http://www.camaros.org/seatbelt.shtml

[william]

Thanks for the reply's, guys. I doubt that my car was an export (and I don't even know what the tag would look like) but I was somewhat puzzled because the bolts had been carefully sealed over. It would explain why I never found a build sheet, though, since I obviously wasn't the first one to pull the back seat. I've had my gas tank out during this rebuild and didn't find anything tucked up there, either.
If I can locate some correctly dated belts I'll tuck them away somewhere for posterity, but I do like the "clean look" of the rear seat, sans belts

An export body tag does not have the GM certification statement.

Camaros used the broadcast system in assembly; there was a Chassis Broadcast Copy [CBC] and Body [BBC]. Fisher Body installed the seats, belts, door and rear trim panels, rear carpeting. The BBC and CBCs were printed on the Chevy side after Fisher completed the body. They couldn't be under the seats.

[KurtS]

I'm a big doubter that any 1st gen was shipped without seatbelts other than the A48 optioned cars.
It's a federal law - you just don't ignore FMVSS. That's why all the L88's in 68 and 69 had heaters/defrosters, even though they were racecars.