Zagato Rear Seatbelts.

[SIMid]

Hello fellow owners.

I'm trying to get the rear trim pieces for my Z because I will need to add rear seat belts for compliance. Mine never came with them and if I am going to put them in, I want to keep the factory look if possible. I do know the factory Zs with the belts had this unique rear trimming. I saw it in a Z many years ago and never took a pic and now I regret it.

Anyone got a pic they can share for me to see? ...so I know what I have to hunt down as well?

Thanks! :)

[Charley]

Hello fellow owners.

I'm trying to get the rear trim pieces for my Z because I will need to add rear seat belts for compliance. Mine never came with them and if I am going to put them in, I want to keep the factory look if possible. I do know the factory Zs with the belts had this unique rear trimming. I saw it in a Z many years ago and never took a pic and now I regret it.

Anyone got a pic they can share for me to see? ...so I know what I have to hunt down as well?

Thanks! :)

I don't understand why you would need seatbelts installed if the car wasn't originally equipped with them. The back seat of a Zagato is basically just a storage space. My coupe's back seat belts are hidden behind the trim panels. I know that in my state (Pa. I am a certified Pa. class 7 State Inspection mechanic),vehicles that were not originally equipped with belts are exempt from the belt laws. I would ask to see a reference to the law that states you must install belts for the rear "seat" in that Zagato.I had quite a few older cars that had no belts,a 53 Chrysler,a 62 Ford. Would the 74 Porsche 911 down the street need belts in the back too?

[1,6 HF]

I think Charley's right. In terms of Federal requirements, you only need the safety equipment the car came with. And I believe that most (if not all?) states follow suit.

[Jim Keller]

Yup, you only have to have what the car was required to have the year it was built, however, the Betas were always required to have rear belts and came factory with them, in the US anyway, since it's been a requirement since the late 60's here in the states

I have pictures on my computer being repaired, so if you have another week or so when I hope to get it back, I can get some up for you. However, I know of no trim on either the Zags or Coupes, they just bolt thru the side panel at the bottom beside the rear seats and to the floor under the seats in the center

[SIMid]

As most of you commented, that was my argument as well, not required. But the Z was shipped from Hong Kong which does not need rear seatbelts when my father purchased it (still optional to wear them in the back to this day).

But for compliance in Australia, I was told that she will need rear belts, child restraints (who knows where the anchor points are going to be) and side intrusion bars (which will have to be fabricated).

I may not need the belts if I get her complianced once she hits 30 years old (next year), but I'm seeing if I can get the trimming, just in case. Plus, I prefer anyone who sits in the back to be belted up for my piece of mind.

Jim, if you can find some pics, that would be fantastic! :) But I saw a Series 1 Z here in Melbourne about 3 years ago and she had rear belts with factory trimming at the rear with slots which the belt tucked behind the ashtray. When I saw it, I thought, "Wow! That looks different". And, finding out several years later, I will need to add belts. Bugga.

[1,6 HF]

Oh, you're in Oz. In that case, you can forget everything we said about compliance.

You might try pulling the rear panels; even though the car didn't originally come with belts, I think you'll probably find that there are mounting points. Of course the rest of our advice has been rubbish, so make of it what you will...

[HFStuart]

These are from a pre facelift Beta but is this what you had in mind ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180148832693&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

The only reason I haven't bought them for mine is their pretty expensive and they've got the hole in the top that Spyder ones don't.

[BetaZagato]

This is how it is done in my Z :

http://users.telenet.be/lancia.addict/BetaZagato/images/rear_seatbelts/DSC03947_.jpg

http://users.telenet.be/lancia.addict/BetaZagato/images/rear_seatbelts/DSC03950_.jpg

[Jim Keller]

That's exactly how ours are in the states as well

[SIMid]

Oh, you're in Oz. In that case, you can forget everything we said about compliance....

*LOL* Yup, our ADR are just a pain in the backside! But I'll taker another look and see if it's just bolt straight on.

BetaZagato, perfect pics! Thanks!! One last question, how does it attach at the top of the B-Pillar?

HFStuart, that's what I saw on the 1st Series Spyder. But the 1st series had a different trimming so it wouldn't match the later series. Looks more integrated though.

[BetaZagato]

-- how does it attach at the top of the B-Pillar?

These are 2-point seatbelts, there's no attachment at the top of the B-pillar.

[HFStuart]

On my Spyder theres a top mounting point unser each side of the rear trim (the bit that covers the rear deck under the hood) there are also two removable panels in the trim so you can pass a belt through.

[SIMid]

On my Spyder theres a top mounting point unser each side of the rear trim (the bit that covers the rear deck under the hood) there are also two removable panels in the trim so you can pass a belt through.

Any chance you could take a picture please? I'm curious to see what options I have when I have to put them in.

BetaZagato, I'm hoping all she needs are just lap belts at the back. But being Australian Design Regulations, they will probably want me to install 3 pointers. :(