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demley Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2015 Posts: 60 Location: Auburn ca
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 6:17 am Post subject: Seat belt question |
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Hi all
What was the first year that VW used a lap/shoulder type seat belt that has a lobster claw latch. The only number I could find was on the plastic latch which was KL5037 and on a mounting bracket which was 111-857-775A ?
Thanks
Don |
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KGCoupe Samba Member

Joined: July 01, 2005 Posts: 3580 Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Seat belt quesrion |
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I'm not 100% certain, but I believe that the 1967 model year Karmann Ghia was the first to be fitted with the lobster claw style sat belts.
I can tell you for sure that my current 1967 Karmann Ghia came with the lobster claw style lap belts (as well as a one-year-only seat belt retractor), and the 1966 model year Ghia I previously owned did not.
I never thought about it, but I suppose if you were to have ordered the optional lap/shoulder belts back then they would have been the same lobster claw style. |
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demley Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2015 Posts: 60 Location: Auburn ca
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Seat belt quesrion |
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I don't think they're off a 67 unless maybe a coupe. I know the vert used a lobster claw that was just a lap belt. Thanks |
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KGCoupe Samba Member

Joined: July 01, 2005 Posts: 3580 Location: Putting the "ill" and "annoy" in Illinois
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 7:38 am Post subject: Re: Seat belt quesrion |
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If you're asking which model year was the first to come "standard" with lap/shoulder belts - whether lobster claw style or otherwise - I believe the answer is that although a mounting point for the shoulder belt was included on all Ghias past a certain model year, the lap/shoulder belt was always an optional accessory.
I've never seen the optional lap/shoulder belt for the '67 model year, and I wonder if they would've come with that same one-year-only seat belt retractor that the lap belts had.
If so, that would surely qualify as a "Rarest Of The Rare" vintage VW accessory.  |
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Era Vulgaris Samba Member

Joined: August 22, 2012 Posts: 1915 Location: Raleigh, NC
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: Seat belt quesrion |
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My old 67 coupe had the factory retractable lobster claw lap belts.
I tried for some time to find a retractable 3 point lobster claw belt, with no luck. I did manage to find static 3 point lobster claw belts here on the Samba, which I bought for my car. The particular set I bought was from a '69 Ghia. I would imagine they would've been an option for all years that lobster claws were used though. Which I think was 67-69? I'm not sure if they were used in 70 as well, or if 70 switched to the later latch. _________________ Currently own:
66 Karmann Ghia, L390 Gulf Blue, under construction, here: www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=760505&highlight=
99 Mazda MX-5 10AE, Sapphire Blue Mica, 6 speed, LSD
Previously owned:
98 Porsche Boxster, silver, 2.5L -- 67 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1500sp -- 98 BMW Z3, Atlanta Blue Metallic, 2.8L I6 -- 75 Porsche 914, Laguna Blue, 2270cc -- 72 Porsche 914, Signal Orange, 1.7 FI -- 74 Karmann Ghia, Black, 1600dp -- 74 Triumph TR6 with O.D., sapphire blue |
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[email protected] Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2014 Posts: 1 Location: Brazil
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:55 am Post subject: Re: Seat belt quesrion |
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Era Vulgaris wrote: |
My old 67 coupe had the factory retractable lobster claw lap belts.
I tried for some time to find a retractable 3 point lobster claw belt, with no luck. I did manage to find static 3 point lobster claw belts here on the Samba, which I bought for my car. The particular set I bought was from a '69 Ghia. I would imagine they would've been an option for all years that lobster claws were used though. Which I think was 67-69? I'm not sure if they were used in 70 as well, or if 70 switched to the later latch. |
On the birth certificate of my Lowlignt 1959 it has an optional retractable seat belt |
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jeffrey8164 Samba Member

Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 4145 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:50 am Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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My 70 came with the lap and shoulder non retractable Claws. Not sure if they came standard or as an option.
My 71 did not have any seat belts. They could have been removed by the P.O. as most of the interior was missing as well. _________________ Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.
“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1) |
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69isalive Samba Member

Joined: July 17, 2024 Posts: 52 Location: SE Virginia
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Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2024 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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My unmodified 1969 Karmann Ghia came with the lobster claw 3-point non-retractable belts. Having trouble finding out how to adjust them - they just went into the 1969 I'm restoring and they are still nicely cleaned, but figuring out the loops through the top of the claw and how to get the belt to move through them is evading me. Any guidance would be appreciated. |
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bnam Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2006 Posts: 3457 Location: El Dorado Hills CA/ Bangalore, India
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Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2024 5:11 pm Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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My understanding was that retractable shoulder belts became standard only from 72 or 73. _________________ 1971 1302LS Convertible (RHD) owned since '74
Click to view image
1965 Karmann Ghia Coupe - under restoration
1966 Fiat 1500 Cabrio (with 1600 Twin cam)
1952 Citroen TA 11BL |
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jeffrey8164 Samba Member

Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 4145 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Thu Sep 05, 2024 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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If you can wait till the weekend, I’ll take some photos and video for everyone.
They’re not friendly at all so hopefully you’re passengers are similar sizes. 🙃 _________________ Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.
“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1) |
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carmangary Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2004 Posts: 419 Location: Raleigh, NC
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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My 1969 Ghia had plug in seat belts with little levers to unlock them. I am not sure if they are original or not but they are definitely from some old VW of that era because they have VW logos and are ancient. I'd add a picture but they are in a box. I replaced with some modern ones until I can get them rechromed and have the webbing replaced. |
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jcerier Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2024 Posts: 44
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 7:32 am Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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My 70 coupe has 3-point non-retractable lobster claw belts, and I'm pretty sure they are original. I really dislike them, and plan to convert to retractable plug-in belts (or whatever you call them). |
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jeffrey8164 Samba Member

Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 4145 Location: Georgia
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 8:47 am Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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jcerier wrote: |
My 70 coupe has 3-point non-retractable lobster claw belts, and I'm pretty sure they are original. I really dislike them, and plan to convert to retractable plug-in belts (or whatever you call them). |
Let me know when you switch.
I’d be interested in your originals. _________________ Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.
“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1) |
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 10524 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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A few months after I bought my '64 Ghia Cabrio in 1983, I bought a '70 Ghia Coupe parts car. Used its entire chassis for my '64, and many other parts such as the 12 V wipers, much of the electrical system, etc. Also transferred its 3-point belts into my '64. They are the "chrome tongue" style shown in the '69 Ghia US/English OM:
Factory-installed mounting holes for 3-point belts were standard equipment as of 1962 model year...
To adjust the lobster-claw style for belt length, push the chrome part of the latch inwards towards the plastic sheath. Keep pushing it and then pull the belt itself to lengthen or shorten it. When you let go of the chrome part, the belt length is locked. It'll likely take some working to loosen the mechanism. Careful with any lubricant because you don't want any overspray or drippings onto the belt material.
Inertia-reel retractable 3-point belts were standard as of the '72 model year on all US-market VWs. |
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carmangary Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2004 Posts: 419 Location: Raleigh, NC
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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Those seatbelts in the image the like the ones I have for my Ghia. Thanks for posting this.
Has anyone run across any reproductions of that cover over the seatbelt where it attaches to the car. It is shown in the photo over where it bolts to the car. |
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 10524 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:26 pm Post subject: Re: Seat belt question |
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Gary, there are a few complete bases in the Classifieds. Search for "seat belt receptacle". |
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