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Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Runningwild on Monday,October 01, 2018, 12:22:07 PM

Title: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
Post by: Runningwild on Monday,October 01, 2018, 12:22:07 PM
What has everyone done for seat belts. 68 S2. Nothing came with my car. Would Miata seat belts work?  Can you get new lotus ones.  Tom
Title: Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
Post by: BDA on Monday,October 01, 2018, 01:11:55 PM
I have seen where several people have found a "generic" three point harness with retractors that seem to work well. I bought a set from Richard at Banks back when I was building my care (almost 20 years ago, now) but I couldn't see how they would work. Maybe I missed something and it was probably something obvious. I no longer have them but Richard sells seat belt sets for a bit over 50 pounds. I would think that they would work - at least he could explain how to make them work if there was a trick to it.

In the end I used my original belts sending them to an operation named Ssnake-Oyl (http://www.ssnake-oyl.com/). They did a great job re-webbing them in the color of my interior but they could not rebuild my retractors. Luckily, they were in pretty good working order. I mention them in case you get an old original set. They have some generic belts that might work but I wouldn't expect them to know about Europas.
Title: Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
Post by: jbcollier on Monday,October 01, 2018, 01:50:10 PM
Can you buy new belts that are the same as original equipment?  Nope, no longer available.  The S2 originally used Kangol seatbelts like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-111-112-113-Genuine-OEM-Seat-Belt-Kangol-LD3-3-Way-Mounting-Nice/292499504520?hash=item441a543d88:g:Z3IAAOSwKXdag2pf

They are usually some on ebay, occasionally NOS.  I bought NOS ones meant for a military Land Rover and modified them to Europa spec.

Too much?  Don't care about originality?  You can buy aftermarket 3-point, manual-adjust belts that fir right in.  Any British parts supplier carries them.
Title: Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
Post by: Bodzer on Monday,October 01, 2018, 01:56:53 PM
Hi Tom,

Securon in the UK supply all varieties of belts. When I ordered a set for my +2 from Sue Miller (Elan specialist) they were Securon belts.

http://www.securon.co.uk/products.htm

Part number 200 looks like it would match.

I had my kangol belts refurbished by a company called FTDS seatbelts in England. Excellent service and communication.
Title: Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
Post by: 4129R on Monday,October 01, 2018, 01:59:25 PM
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOTUS-EUROPA-SERIES-2-TWIN-CAM-SECURON-500-30-INERTIA-FRONT-SEATBELT-KIT/350840212292?fits=Car+Make%3ALotus%7CModel%3AEuropa&epid=1425002049&hash=item51afb4cb44:g:5b8AAOxyWalR4Son

ANG seem to have them.

I bought a pair.

They are close enough.
Title: Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
Post by: LotusJoe on Monday,October 01, 2018, 04:04:33 PM
I recently had my belts refurbished.... It was like $65.00 per belt and they came back like new. New winders, new webbing, metal polished up. For me it was well worth it.
Title: Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
Post by: BDA on Monday,October 01, 2018, 04:21:17 PM
Joe, did you get original belts refurbished. If so, where did you send them?
Title: Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
Post by: LotusJoe on Monday,October 01, 2018, 04:38:32 PM
Joe, did you get original belts refurbished. If so, where did you send them?

https://www.safetyrestore.com/webbing-replacement/6793-classic-car-seat-belts.html
Title: Re: Can you buy new lotus seat belts
Post by: BobW on Monday,October 01, 2018, 07:21:39 PM
I don't know at what point retractors came into use but the OP's S2 probably didn't have them. My late 69 S2 doesn't.