Did any cars come without rear seatbelts? I was just at a swap meet yesterday and bought those lower plastic pieces for the back that are the rear arm rests. Anyway, they were labeled 1990 Camaro but the little slits for where the lower seat belt retractor would be aren't there. The little divet or pocket is there, but there isn't a hole. Is this right? It haven't put it in my car yet to get a side by side comparison but it sure looks right. Was this some 1LE car or something? Did I find something rare, or have I just been living under a rock?

Help appreciated,
Mike

 

When the third gens went to a rear shoulder set up in 1989, the belt retractor section moved to the shoulder section behind the seat. No, it is nothing special.

 

Simo and racing geek are talking about to different pieces.

Simo is correct from 1989 - 1992 the rear seat belts included the shoulder harness.

Racing Geek is talking about the back seat seatbelts. The panel you have I think is from a Convertible. For some reason they put the back seat lap belts under the panel rather than going through the hole. I remember looking at it and once I figured out why it was obvious, I just do not remember why they did it that way.

 

No, I believe we are talking about the same pieces.

Third gens up thru 1988 had the rear seat belt retractors behind the plastic piece with the arm rest and the belt came out a thin slit.

When they went to the shoulder harness in 1989, they anchored the seat belt to a mounting point between the seat and the plastic piece.

Since they moved the retractor from behind the plastic panel they no longer needed to cut the thin slit for the belt to come out.

Instead of retooling for a new plastic piece, they just used what they had and did not cut the hole for the belt.

 

Yes, the 89-92 back seat side trim pieces don't have the opening cut out for the seatbelt because those years use the rear shoulder belts instead of the lap belts used on 82-88 cars.

 

Your right... I forgot that they eliminated the retracting mechanism in the panel by the seat AKA rear armrest... The problem was they would have to had to slit the panel to allow the belt to come through... Since there was more than one attachment point (like 1982-1988)...

I digress....

John

 

Oh oh...I think we need to take you off the "expert" list.

 

I knew the cars got the rear shoulder belt in 89 but I just assumed they still had a lower seat belt retractor like in the front. Apparently I'm wrong. The pictures below are of the parts I bought. They do have some light scratches, but for $6 they aren't bad. What's up with that little bend right below where the seat belt was supposed to come out? Now I just have to clean them up and take out my seats and seat belts so these can go in.



Hey Thirdgen Ranch, am I right in assuming that if I take out my rear seats I will be placed in the modified category for TGF? I can't wait for next year!

Mike