[wicked93gs]

Cosmetically...shoulder belts don't look good in classic mustangs. The fact that there is no B-pillar makes them look out of place. That being said, of course a shoulder belt is much safer than not having one and so cosmetics should probably take a back seat there. It sounds like a 67 is better match for you than a 68 honestly. In my 67 Coupe I actually bolted in some shoulder belts from an Isuzu impulse with the only mod needed being to cut a hole in the headliner. Of course, the downside is that those things flapped in the wind like crazy with the windows down since those particular belts didn't have the drop-loop or whatever its called....but thats just an illustration of how simple shoulder belts are to install in 67+. Also, while the 67 had an ugly steering wheel, at least it wasn't as ugly as the 2-spoke 68. In all honesty though, none of your listed reasons(shoulder belts, headrests, or steering wheel) should prevent you from buying some other year Mustang...these are small one-hour modifications you can do in your driveway after all(there a billion seats with headrests you could choose to swap in). The only year-relevant modification would be if you decide you want a big block engine, in which case you want 67-68. If you ask me...out of all the 65-70 Mustangs, 67 was the best balance of looks and desirable features. The downside is that 67-68 cars are more expensive than the 65-66 cars.

 

[LaPorta]

Cosmetically...shoulder belts don't look good in classic mustangs. The fact that there is no B-pillar makes them look out of place. That being said, of course a shoulder belt is much safer than not having one and so cosmetics should probably take a back seat there. It sounds like a 67 is better match for you than a 68 honestly. In my 67 Coupe I actually bolted in some shoulder belts from an Isuzu impulse with the only mod needed being to cut a hole in the headliner. Of course, the downside is that those things flapped in the wind like crazy with the windows down since those particular belts didn't have the drop-loop or whatever its called....but thats just an illustration of how simple shoulder belts are to install in 67+. Also, while the 67 had an ugly steering wheel, at least it wasn't as ugly as the 2-spoke 68. In all honesty though, none of your listed reasons(shoulder belts, headrests, or steering wheel) should prevent you from buying some other year Mustang...these are small one-hour modifications you can do in your driveway after all(there a billion seats with headrests you could choose to swap in). The only year-relevant modification would be if you decide you want a big block engine, in which case you want 67-68. If you ask me...out of all the 65-70 Mustangs, 67 was the best balance of looks and desirable features. The downside is that 67-68 cars are more expensive than the 65-66 cars.

Thanks for the opinion. It is seeming more and more to me that 67 is probably just where I am looking. I don't mind replacing the 67 wheel now that I think about it, as long as it is something that looks decent...the 69 wheel isnt bad in my opinion. As far as the shoulder belts, I'll deal with that as it comes. I could always do the original separate shoulder belts with lap as they had, or even the aftermarket as you are stating. I guess the balance I am trying to strike is having the car be somewhat original while still doing some upgrades that don't scream "NOT 60's!" when someone looks at the car at a show or something. As far as the 65-66, I really don't like the styling as much either, so that's somewhat out for me. All I have to do now is bide my time and wait for the right one to show up...

As far as the headliner, were you able to just feel for the mounting holes through it?

 

[wicked93gs]

Thanks for the opinion. It is seeming more and more to me that 67 is probably just where I am looking. I don't mind replacing the 67 wheel now that I think about it, as long as it is something that looks decent...the 69 wheel isnt bad in my opinion. As far as the shoulder belts, I'll deal with that as it comes. I could always do the original separate shoulder belts with lap as they had, or even the aftermarket as you are stating. I guess the balance I am trying to strike is having the car be somewhat original while still doing some upgrades that don't scream "NOT 60's!" when someone looks at the car at a show or something. As far as the 65-66, I really don't like the styling as much either, so that's somewhat out for me. All I have to do now is bide my time and wait for the right one to show up...

As far as the headliner, were you able to just feel for the mounting holes through it?

Yes, you can feel them behind the headliner(or at least I was able to at the time). As far as originality goes...aside from concours restorations there aren't many classic mustangs driving around that don't have some "upgrades". Everything from seats to wheels to much more extreme modifications, just about every one you see has plenty of non-60s changes.

I do agree that changes that can be seen from the driver's seat or the outside of the car are best kept period correct. Its why I chose Capri seats as an example. They look nearly stock, but just have better bolstering(they also had headrests, but I opted not to reinstall them, they were rather hideous as far as headrests go). I have a number of toggle switches...but they are all the old-style toggles and not the rocker-type. I have no problem with modifying the car as long as visually the modifications look period correct(well, as long as you don't look under the hood, but I can choose not to open the hood)

 

[LaPorta]

I do agree that changes that can be seen from the driver's seat or the outside of the car are best kept period correct. Its why I chose Capri seats as an example. They look nearly stock, but just have better bolstering(they also had headrests, but I opted not to reinstall them, they were rather hideous as far as headrests go). I have a number of toggle switches...but they are all the old-style toggles and not the rocker-type. I have no problem with modifying the car as long as visually the modifications look period correct(well, as long as you don't look under the hood, but I can choose not to open the hood)

Sure, that is pretty much what I am talking about. I'd like my engine under the hood to have correct colors, stickers, all of that to look original. I want the dash and instrument clusters to be as well (no extra tach mounted on the steering column or that sort of thing). But yes, as you are saying, something done well and tastefully and looks like it belongs would be appropriate.

 

[Rufus68]

It sounds like you are getting a car to enjoy driving. If so, you should choose your modifications based only on how it affects your enjoyment. No one else needs to like them.

A view of my '68 with 6 bolt steering wheel, DIN radio, Dakota Digital VHX gauges, and AFR gauge. All there because I wanted them there. No other reason.

 

[LaPorta]

I gotta say, that's pretty darn sharp whether someone was a fan or not!

 

[Cayuse1965]

Hi everyone,

I realize I am new here, but I am doing some long-term planning to eventually purchase what will likely be a 1968 hardtop. Why 1968? There's a few reasons so far. One is that I like the 1960's style gauge clustering (which seems changed to a more 70s style in 69), but also would like to have shoulder belts in the car as well (which would exclude 1967 unless custom installed). It would be great to have headrests, and I think per my research that there were optional ones available in 68 as well. There's only a few downsides that I can think of that are purely cosmetic for me: the deletion of the FORD hood lettering (I like that so much, I actually installed it on my 2006 GT!), and that the two-spoke steering wheel really isn't as nice looking as the three-spoke of the 67 and 69.

As far as the car itself, for the longest time I had planed to get a 1970 Camaro and restore a true Z28....until I realized that it is way, way more expensive than when I first wanted to twenty years ago (the dreams of a college student). I have noticed that the plain hardtop 60s Mustangs, by and large, are pretty reasonably priced for a decent, non-rusted example that is not some sort of high-end or rare model. So, I figured that that would be my entry point. At this point, I think getting a not original engine car would be appropriate if I am going to do the following: someday installing a refurbished 302 or 390 in it, and mating it with a modern 5 or 6 speed overdrive manual transmission. I wouldn't want to take apart a numbers matching car, and it would probably cost me more for no reason as well.

This is likely going to take me a good two or more years to get off the ground: I am widening my shed/outbuilding just to be able to store it. What do you all think as far as the logic of the plan: does it make sense, is there anything I am missing? Is there anything you would do differently? I am of course welcoming all opinions. Thanks!

id sell youbmy 1965 built as hi po very clean 50k on body im 2nd owner i have pony interior. Added headrests wiring and neq back seal in window n paint shiw car material non ac

 

[raddad]

I hope you're joking.

"More than 50 percent of the combined total of fatal and injury crashes occur at or near intersections"

Intersection Safety | FHWA

Background and Objectives More than 50 percent of the combined total of fatal and injury crashes occur at or near intersections.

highways.dot.gov

Over 20,000 motor vehicle fatalities in the first 6 months of 2022.

NHTSA Early Estimates Show Overall Increase in Roadway Deaths in First Half of 2022

Second Quarter 2022 Projects First Decline Since 2020

www.nhtsa.gov

I don't know where you live, but people run stop signs and red lights on a daily basis where I live. Maybe if I lived out in the sticks I wouldn't be too concerned. But I'm not putting my health in the hands of all the other idiots on the road that don't pay the f*** attention.

All it takes is if for you to T-bone someone that ran a red light. You don't even have to be moving more than 25mph. You're going to wish you had a shoulder harness. I don't care how "rare" it may or may not be. For the cost and effort to put a pair in??? Seriously??

Not rare in older vehicles or where the occupants are not restrained. As a crash investigator I've seen many people with major facial injuries or missing teeth in those situations

You work in job that sees accidents for a living. Your POV is only through that lens. Its no different from every nurse telling me stories of gruesome motorcycle accidents and why I shouldnt ride a motorcycle. Do these things happen - yes. I just choose to live my life not wrapped in a plastic bubble. If your are scared of getting impaled by your steering column. buy the 3- point seatbelts or better yet, dont buy a classic car.

 

[raddad]

Maybe the op should heed his dad's advice. These cars aren't for the faint at heart. Death and dismemberment lurks at every intersection.

I like your thinking. This thread is turning into - why a classic car will be the death of you. If people live in fear and you actually are worried about getting impaled by your stearing column, either buy the 3 point harness or don't buy a classic car. These cars are not for people who want to live in bubble wrap. Period.

 

[66coupe289]

Anyone that doesn't think that 3 point belts and collapsible steering columns aren't serious safety improvements need to watch this video. The video is a great example of why modern cars are so much safer than even a larger heavier vintage car.

Seatbelts were an improvement over none. Today we have air bags, crumple zones, anti-lock brakes, traction control, lane detection and impact warning devices in cars. Yep, big safety improvement.

I have zero illusions that my car is "safe" by current standards. Vintage cars provide a raw driving experience with the understanding that if you screw up you could die, kinda like a motorcycle.

 

[Maxum96]

You work in job that sees accidents for a living. Your POV is only through that lens. Its no different from every nurse telling me stories of gruesome motorcycle accidents and why I shouldnt ride a motorcycle. Do these things happen - yes. I just choose to live my life not wrapped in a plastic bubble. If your are scared of getting impaled by your steering column. buy the 3- point seatbelts or better yet, dont buy a classic car.

Contrary to popular belief, I do have a life outside of work. LOL In my adult life I haven't always been an accident investigator. So I have seen things (including some gruesome fatal crashes) as Joe Citizen before I did this for a living. Does my profession make me want to live in a bubble? Absolutely not. After all, I own a vintage Mustang, ride motorcycles for work and on my personal time, scuba dive, love to fly in helicopters, done aerobatics in an airplane, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane at 15,000' above the ground (with a parachute!), been up very close to wild animals in my travels, been in the middle of shootouts and vehicle pursuits with armed murder suspects in my law enforcement career, and done other not so safe things in my life.

So my comment about vehicle safety is more aimed at pointing out that vehicle technology and safety on today's cars is light years ahead of where it was in the 1960's. Someone claimed that the safety improvement of shoulder belts and collapsible columns was overblown and I disagree due to my personal observations , training, and the video. With that said I will continue driving my 1970 Mustang and encourage others to drive their vintage Mustangs as well.

 

[Redneckgearhead]

In the early 90s my dad was driving a beautiful 67 ranchero.... 289, 4 speed, side pipes, not even a hint of a seatbelt. On his way to work one morning a bulk cement truck hit him head on. It pushed him hundreds of feet in the opposite direction he was going. The steering wheel was one of the aftermarket chrome 3 spoke ones that was popular back then, it looked as if someone bolted it on backwards. Oddly enough the column didn't impale him. Anecdotal? All day long. But proof that these cars and the people in them are tougher than some give credit for.

 

[Master Hack]

Germany 1973, I was 6 belted in the back seat, brother 8 belted in the front. passing a line of PC's, GI's waving us by and cheering at the sight of a Gold '70 Camaro with white vinyl top. Dad was on the gas showing off when PC #1 in line makes an abrupt left turn becoming a large green wall that we T-Boned. Totaled the car, we went to the hospital and got checked out, and dismissed. Your car experience may vary, mine created a respect for velocity, but not fear of.

 

[LaPorta]

I don't want it to sound like I want a car that spprays securefoam all over me (if anyone has watched Demolition Man). All I was inquiring about was what year shoulder belts were legitimately available so I could have them for my own safety. I was born in '83, so short of the back of my dad's Buick growing up with lap belts only, lap belts in the front alone are completely foreign to me and would just "feel" unsafe. Just a personal preference. I'm glad everyone chimed in, there was a lot to learn there.

 

[Sandthemall]

My dream car is a 1970 fastback. I had a 6cylinder 70 hardtop in high school and college...so my aesthetic preference was set with that car. It was my father's first new car. I own a 1968 fastback and love it but would trade it for the right 1970 fastback. If not, I may just finance it as my next car but will buy it already restored and stock looking. It will be a factory 4 speed car. And it will be good.

 

[LaPorta]

Nice that you know just what it is that you want! I am narrowing things down, but I am also grappling with the fact that I currently have nowhere to put the car!