Rear seat belts?

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PhillySpider
Posts: 325
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:51 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: New Hope, PA

Rear seat belts?

Post by PhillySpider »

Hi Folks, I have recently bought an 80 spider 2000 and have one seat belt in the back seat. I've stuffed my sausages down all around between the seatback and seatbottom and it seems only one set on the rear passenger side. Can anyone confirm if there should be 2 sets back there? I'd think if only one it would be in the middle, not off to one side. Even better, if there should be two sets...anyone out there toss their's asside for the rear seat shelf and willing to part with it? THANKS!
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azruss
Posts: 3659
Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 12:24 pm
Your car is a: 80 Fiat 2000 FI

Re: Rear seat belts?

Post by azruss »

my 80 has no seat belts in the back. Just the mount for the front seat shoulder belts. Many have added belts back there for kids or dogs.
GeorgeT
Posts: 379
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:41 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Rear seat belts?

Post by GeorgeT »

There were no backseats in US Spiders, only a "Package Shelf". Had something to do with DOT regs I think.
DieselSpider
Posts: 2130
Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel

Re: Rear seat belts?

Post by DieselSpider »

GeorgeT wrote:There were no backseats in US Spiders, only a "Package Shelf". Had something to do with DOT regs I think.
US Spiders had a back seat to get them into the country cheaper as a 2+2. People later removed them and put in a parcel shelf instead.
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stuartrubin
Posts: 273
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 11:10 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: 44122

Re: Rear seat belts?

Post by stuartrubin »

I added rear back seats to mine. There were already holes in the body which I believe were there for the European market. I drilled additional holes to make a better fit, but I'm not sure if it was strictly necessary. It's a cheap and easy job (even for me) to add aftermarket "vintage"-looking seatbelts.

It was also necessary in my case for domestic reason!
Stuart
1975 FIAT 124 Spider
Il Mostro di Frankenstein
bobplyler
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Posts: 823
Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 spider 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC

Re: Rear seat belts?

Post by bobplyler »

DieselSpider wrote:
GeorgeT wrote:There were no backseats in US Spiders, only a "Package Shelf". Had something to do with DOT regs I think.
US Spiders had a back seat to get them into the country cheaper as a 2+2. People later removed them and put in a parcel shelf instead.
They were called upholstered Package Shelf's. That way they didn't have to put seat belts in. Whether you had passengers sitting on the package shelf was up to you.
1979 Fiat Spider (since new)
2005 Lincoln LS (the wife's car)
2003 Chevrolet Cavalier (daily driver)
1999 Honda Shadow VLX 600
1972 Grumman Traveller 5895L (long gone).
PhillySpider
Posts: 325
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2016 6:51 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000
Location: New Hope, PA

Re: Rear seat belts?

Post by PhillySpider »

Thanks for the input Folks. I've seen period advertisements and I believe even an early motortrend vid highlighting the back seat on these. I think likely the belt was added to mine, I'll likely add another as I have 2 young boys and it's plenty of room for them. Will keep you posted.
vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Rear seat belts?

Post by vandor »

Yes, there should be 2 sets of lapbelt holes, one set on each side. They are covered with small plastic buttoms, and likely hidden under the tar like sound insulation. They must be in the same location as the others, just on the other side. Use a tape measure to find them.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town
JimmyO1242000
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue May 22, 2018 4:07 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000

Re: Rear seat belts?

Post by JimmyO1242000 »

Hi All,
So perhaps the holes are there....assuming, where might one source appropriate belts.
How about a shoulder belt or harness?
What specs for safe hardware?

Thanks in advance,
Jimmy O
StL MO
80'124/2000
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