seat belts?

[raru]

I just got this 68 squareback... love it. Anyway, the car is pretty much original, but seems to have bolt locations for a three point seat belt. When did these become options? Or is it something else? Where are the m-codes located on a type III? Thanks in advance. --Raul

[Tram]

Hi Raul-
If your '68 is a US spec model with hi- back seats, it should have the three point belts. If it's a low- back Euro or Canadian spec model, it'll just have lap belts, and the mounting hole on the pillar should be blanked off with a big white plastic "screw" with a phillips head in it- like the ones in the pillars between the centre and rear windows on each side. By the way, you could get three point belts front AND rear (rear 3 points for the outer two rear passengers only-) as an option in Germany beginning in the mid 1960s on most Mercedes and VWs. These were basically a lap belt with a shoulder belt that you could attatch seperately to the lap belt. I had a 1962 Mercedes 220SE with the optional three point belts. Nothing was retractable, and it was a real pain in the "Asche" to adjust the shoulder and lap belts so that they'd both fit together AND fit comfortably. I mainly used the lap belt and let the rest of it hang there. My grandparents picked up a 1966 Notchback in Germany and it had the three pointers front and rear, with the same situation.
Was bedeutet "M- Code"??? What do you mean by M- Code??? Georg

[raru]

Thanks for the info Georg. Guess mine were changed out for the lap belts, but I want to go with low back seats anyway, so maybe I'll keep them. I asked about M-codes because I'm more familiar with buses, usually the options, or M-codes, are on a plate on the interior. Guess that is not the case with type III's. Thanks again. --Raul

[rustysquah]

Heya, Raul.

I think you'll find all of the codes underneath the rear seat stamped on the top of the tunnel, and another plate riveted in front of the spare tire.

Georg: In the mid 60s? Wow! I never knew.

RS

[Tram]

Hi RS-
Yes, believe it or not! There were lots of "variant" (pardon the pun) parts options available in Europe. I also had a 1968 Mercedes 300SEL 6.3 with ORIGINAL rear headrests! They started experimenting with what we now call "ABS brakes" and SRS style airbags in the mid '70s over there. You could also get Beetles with front disc brakes beginning in the very late '60s. (Only Karmann Ghia got them in USA in the Type 1 line) Mercedes started four wheel disc brakes in late 1965. Halogen headlights (like H-4s, not sealed beams) were also available, even in 6 volt, back in the late 1950s, and became standard in the '60s. Most German states required front and REAR fog lamps- The front ones pop up on Samba and Ebay occasionally. If I recall properly, the rear one looked just like a 1967 Type 1 or 3 Hella reverse lamp, but with a RED lens. You installed one only, low down under the bumper on the driver's side. It was really bright, and kept you from getting rear- ended in heavy fog or snow. BUT- Europe NEVER got hi- back seats!!! So, for all your 3 point safety belts, you could STILL get whiplash. The Euro cars never went for heavy duty bumpers, either. However, in Germany, EVERYONE who sees an accident is REQUIRED to stop and help administer first aid. That's why so many Euro spec cars have first aid kits.
NOW I'm ranting like an old man. Sorry!
Geo.