23 replies to this topic

[Johnnypompom]

Hi all,

 

I'm looking at adding rear seat belts to my 1972 Morris Mini 1000. While looking around the boot to see the anchors and plates I'd need, I noticed I have the lap belt plates already on (nice!), but I was surprised to see that I also have a nut welded to a rather large plate beneath the parcel shelf on each side, at the very back. As far as I know the previous owner did not have them installed (he never had rear belts fitted)… I've attached a photo of the top of the boot on the left hand side (excuse the spider's nest and general crustiness, I'll clean it later I promise!).

 

Is that a factory anchor point? Is it safe to use? I've been unable to find anything like it anywhere online.

 

Thanks for the insights!

Attached Files

•  UnderParcelShelf.jpg   31.43K   3 downloads

[Ethel]

Don't think it was factory, but there was a bit of a phase where people were fitting 3 point inertias using  spools that mounted at shoulder height. Similar setups were used in rag top 2 seaters. Look closely at the reinforcing, the seat back & parcel shelf don't have much connecting them to the rest of the structure 

[62S]

That is a factory bracket for a rear seat belt.

[Johnnypompom]

Don't think it was factory, but there was a bit of a phase where people were fitting 3 point inertias using  spools that mounted at shoulder height. Similar setups were used in rag top 2 seaters. Look closely at the reinforcing, the seat back & parcel shelf don't have much connecting them to the rest of the structure 

 

 

That is a factory bracket for a rear seat belt.

Thanks for the replies!

 

Let's see if I get this right: the bracket may be factory, it's not really connected to the parcel shelf but rather the seat back and body shell. Would that hold in case of an accident? I know minis aren't getting 5 stars at EuroNCAP anytime soon, but since I'll use to carry my daughters in their car seats I'd rather be certain it will not turn them into cute little missiles in case of a crash…

[GraemeC]

Being a factory bracket it should be essentially safe - not up to modern standards but obviously acceptable back in the day to meet the requirements then.

Certainly better than any home brew efforts.

 

The alternative (if you are having body work done) is to buy the later 5 piece bracket set from Somerford and have that welded in - that includes the C pillar strengtheners that Rover used.

[Johnnypompom]

Being a factory bracket it should be essentially safe - not up to modern standards but obviously acceptable back in the day to meet the requirements then.

Certainly better than any home brew efforts.

 

The alternative (if you are having body work done) is to buy the later 5 piece bracket set from Somerford and have that welded in - that includes the C pillar strengtheners that Rover used.

Well, I already have the bottom pieces in (from factory apparently), and I bought the C pillar anchors. That's actually when I removed the C pillar trim to see how they fit that I found the holes, hidden under the liner strip that goes below the rear window…

 

I clearly wasn't to try and homebrew anything ("I'll put a piece of cardboard and a washer and call it a day!"), but if I can avoid bodywork and keep the car as close to factory while keeping the kids safe, then I'm a happy man :)

[GraemeC]

I wasn't suggesting you were trying to homebrew - more that others have experience previous owners that have and I was making the point that this wasn't that.

[Johnnypompom]

I wasn't suggesting you were trying to homebrew - more that others have experience previous owners that have and I was making the point that this wasn't that.

No worries, I was just joking :) Even though a "professional" did offer me to do something of the sort and sign a waiver… Which is not only dumb, but also illegal in France! Needless to say I'm not going to bring my car to that garage…

[imack]

There was a post on here a year or two ago regarding these rear seat belt mounts on early mk3's. I think the general consensus was that they appeared to be fitted to non UK spec body shells.
I see you're in France so it looks like the theory may be correct.

[Johnnypompom]

There was a post on here a year or two ago regarding these rear seat belt mounts on early mk3's. I think the general consensus was that they appeared to be fitted to non UK spec body shells.
I see you're in France so it looks like the theory may be correct.

That makes sense! So that would be some legal requirement to export them? I'll try and dig up that post, it looks interesting.

[imack]

There was a post on here a year or two ago regarding these rear seat belt mounts on early mk3's. I think the general consensus was that they appeared to be fitted to non UK spec body shells.
I see you're in France so it looks like the theory may be correct.

That makes sense! So that would be some legal requirement to export them? I'll try and dig up that post, it looks interesting.

Thinking about it that post was either on here or on the mk1 performance forum.

[Ethel]

That would explain why I've never seen anything like it, even though it does look like it's original.

 

It'd be interesting to see a photo that of all of it see what attachment there is to the body. 

[Johnnypompom]

That would explain why I've never seen anything like it, even though it does look like it's original.

 

It'd be interesting to see a photo that of all of it see what attachment there is to the body. 

I'll get you the pics tomorrow! Is there any specific angles you'd like to see?

[Ethel]

Don't go out of your way, it's only curiosity. Mostly wondering how far the reinforcement extends across the boot opening & how many spot welds they got on it. Also how the front would spread the load, but that's probably too involved to get in a single photo.

[Johnnypompom]

As promised, here are the pics of the front of the reinforcement and the boot opening!