Embrace life.

[Barry Wolk]

Posted without comment, as none is needed.

YouTube - Embrace Life: A new online ad with a twist

[Shawn Newcomb]

Have you put seatbelts in your cars?

[Barry Wolk]

All but the Mark II. I use them in all the vehicles that have them, yet I am uncomfortable wearing just the lap belts in the Porsche, as I've heard some pretty bad stories about spinal and internal organ injuries.

Regardless of what I do, it's probably the most powerful public service statement that I've ever seen.

[Mad Scientist]

I have lap belts in my mark.

yet I am uncomfortable wearing just the lap belts in the Porsche, as I've heard some pretty bad stories about spinal and internal organ injuries.
.

and for that reason I went with 3" wide belts.

Would like to add a shoulder harness but where would you anchor it?:confused:

[Barry Wolk]

Actually, I have a place on mine. The support for the convertible top is a substantial structure and is independent of the "B" pillar.

I really don't know if the laws of physics can be overcome by an additional 1" of fabric, but what do I know?

[Doc]

This is something I've given a lot of consideration (in part, because I occasionally take our grandkids in the Mark II and feel so guilty about the potential risks, that I put them both in the back in car seats that they've really outgrown, but are still better than nothing as they have shoulder harnesses, etc.).

I've had one of my friends, a mechanic who builds race cars, look at the Mark II in terms of a possible anchor for a shoulder strap. His conclusion, even if you installed a shoulder belt, as long as the front seats don't have a latch to keep them from folding forward and, more importantly, a head rest, it's really only a superficial improvement. From a safety standpoint, a head rest to prevent whip lash is probably more important than trying to prevent a full facial on the steering wheel or dash...broken noses and teeth are insignificant compared to a broken neck...

[Barry Wolk]

I don't know, Doc. break your neck and it's usually over. Plant your face on the dash or leave the vehicle in flight can have some pretty disastrous long term effects.

[Doc]

I think we're in agreement on this one--a broken neck trumps a face plant, but a face plant is no party...

I hope our lap belts will keep me from free flight. I'd really want them if I had your car; hopefully my roof will afford me a little more protection in the worst case scenario. No reason not to have them in the Mark II--they were, after all, an option. And even the LCOC doesn't deduct for them...

[Barry Wolk]

I did a "Superman" leaving a go-cart once. Landed face first in a barrel made from old tires that were filled with smelly mosquito laden water. My employees got a big kick out of it. I never want to be airborne ever again.

[Doc]

Then to be sure, put seat belts in your Mark II while you're waiting for your carb to come back. Do it for your wife, if not for yourself...

[Mad Scientist]

Consider the weight of the MKII is twice that of an average car whip lash from being hit from behind is would probably not be that bad. But planting ones face firmly on steering wheel that could be a problem.

The only places I can see to put a shoulder hardness anchor would either be ineffective or block access to the rear seat.

[Barry Wolk]

Do you recall the accident in Michigan involving a Duesenberg that had been side-swiped by a car running a stop sign. There were five people in the Duesey. The vehicle flipped side over side 5 times and three people lived after being ejected, two did not. Had they been wearing seat belts they would all have died as it was a convertible and their heads would have impacted the ground five times instead of once.

Two schools of thought, but good conversation.

[Barry Wolk]

Consider the weight of the MKII is twice that of an average car whip lash from being hit from behind is would probably not be that bad. But planting ones face firmly on steering wheel that could be a problem.

The only places I can see to put a shoulder hardness anchor would either be ineffective or block access to the rear seat.


You're saying that heavier cars are inherently safer? I'm not buying that. It's all about absorption of energy, which the Mark II does very poorly. Remember, there are three impacts in an accident and vehicle safety is all about minimizing the last one.

In an accident your vehicle hits an object, you hit the inside of your vehicle and your kishges hit the inside of your skull and rib cage. That's where the real damage is done.

[Mad Scientist]

I agree. You flying around inside the car is where the damage is done. But in terms of whip lash only you are safer in the mark if rear ended by a small car then you would be if you in a small car without head restraints.

[Doc]

Barry there's really a simple solution for your special case: a rollbar! Think of it: solves the roll-over problem and provides you an anchor point for your shoulder strap.

I think we'll have to check the authenticity manual to see whether the rollbar should be chrome, body color, or upholstered.

Shoot, you could even mount driving lights up on top of it for your off-roading adventures.

I can see it now...be sure to post pictures of the fabrication and installation...

[Don Henschel]

This is something I've given a lot of consideration ........ ......even if you installed a shoulder belt, as long as the front seats don't have a latch to keep them from folding forward and, more importantly, a head rest, it's really only a superficial improvement....
A shoulder strap with these seats the way they are with no latches might make things worse. I never thought about that before. After reading this I flipped the seat back and forth reminding me of how heavy this part of the seat is and I can imagine how heavy they would become in a collision! This thought gives a new meaning of defensive driving while driving this car. I used to worry about damage and expensive, hard to find parts!

[Keith W Colonna]

Andy Warhol did some interesting photo studies of auto accidents of 50's cars. Although they are very macarbre....they show how dangerous these cars are.

[Shelly Harris]

My wife refused to get in the car without seat belts. Here's a set of lap belts I ordered from an Internet site for $29.

http://markiiforum.com/pictures/seatbelts.jpg

[Barry Wolk]

Somebody did a nice job on your seats.

[Shelly Harris]

Somebody did a nice job on your seats.

Barry:

Dr. George didn't skimp on anything he restored in my car. I was left with a few things to finish up, which he made me aware of, but whatever he did was first-class.

[Don Henschel]

Somebody did a nice job on your seats.

Very nice! Perfect!