Author Topic: Can you buy new lotus seat belts  (Read 1645 times)

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Offline Runningwild

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Can you buy new lotus seat belts
« on: Monday,October 01, 2018, 12:22:07 PM »
What has everyone done for seat belts. 68 S2. Nothing came with my car. Would Miata seat belts work?  Can you get new lotus ones.  Tom

Offline BDA

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Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
« Reply #1 on: Monday,October 01, 2018, 01:11:55 PM »
I have seen where several people have found a "generic" three point harness with retractors that seem to work well. I bought a set from Richard at Banks back when I was building my care (almost 20 years ago, now) but I couldn't see how they would work. Maybe I missed something and it was probably something obvious. I no longer have them but Richard sells seat belt sets for a bit over 50 pounds. I would think that they would work - at least he could explain how to make them work if there was a trick to it.

In the end I used my original belts sending them to an operation named Ssnake-Oyl (http://www.ssnake-oyl.com/). They did a great job re-webbing them in the color of my interior but they could not rebuild my retractors. Luckily, they were in pretty good working order. I mention them in case you get an old original set. They have some generic belts that might work but I wouldn't expect them to know about Europas.

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
« Reply #2 on: Monday,October 01, 2018, 01:50:10 PM »
Can you buy new belts that are the same as original equipment?  Nope, no longer available.  The S2 originally used Kangol seatbelts like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-111-112-113-Genuine-OEM-Seat-Belt-Kangol-LD3-3-Way-Mounting-Nice/292499504520?hash=item441a543d88:g:Z3IAAOSwKXdag2pf

They are usually some on ebay, occasionally NOS.  I bought NOS ones meant for a military Land Rover and modified them to Europa spec.

Too much?  Don't care about originality?  You can buy aftermarket 3-point, manual-adjust belts that fir right in.  Any British parts supplier carries them.

Offline Bodzer

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Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
« Reply #3 on: Monday,October 01, 2018, 01:56:53 PM »
Hi Tom,

Securon in the UK supply all varieties of belts. When I ordered a set for my +2 from Sue Miller (Elan specialist) they were Securon belts.

http://www.securon.co.uk/products.htm

Part number 200 looks like it would match.

I had my kangol belts refurbished by a company called FTDS seatbelts in England. Excellent service and communication.

Offline 4129R

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Offline LotusJoe

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Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
« Reply #5 on: Monday,October 01, 2018, 04:04:33 PM »
I recently had my belts refurbished.... It was like $65.00 per belt and they came back like new. New winders, new webbing, metal polished up. For me it was well worth it.
Joe Irwin
3927R TC Special
(The Classic Barn Find)


Offline BDA

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Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
« Reply #6 on: Monday,October 01, 2018, 04:21:17 PM »
Joe, did you get original belts refurbished. If so, where did you send them?

Offline LotusJoe

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Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
« Reply #7 on: Monday,October 01, 2018, 04:38:32 PM »
Joe Irwin
3927R TC Special
(The Classic Barn Find)


Offline BobW

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Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
« Reply #8 on: Monday,October 01, 2018, 07:21:39 PM »
I don't know at what point retractors came into use but the OP's S2 probably didn't have them. My late 69 S2 doesn't.