Originally Posted by +fireamx
Assuming your Chevelle was 25 years old when you first got it, is there the slightest possibility that somebody may have removed the original seat belts? And if there are no holes in the floor pan where the attachment bolts would be, maybe, just maybe a 25 year old car from the north east (rust belt) may have had new floor pans installed.
Google seat belt laws, that's where I got the info.
I'm not trying to start a war or anything, I was just pointing out that the auto industry offered seat belts before Ralph Nadar saved us from ourselves with his book.
Cgocifer, your car could have very easily slipped by the seat belt installer, quality control back in the 60's wasn't the greatest it could have been. My friends 65 Malibu had factory belts, they saved his butt when he totalled it in 1968 at 60 mph when a car pulled out in front of him.
Huudoo, sorry for the thread hijack. You're absolutely right, it's amazing how this car has been on the road "unchanged" for over 4.5 years and people still come up to me and ask "What is it?" (Of course, that sometimes happens when I'm in my AMX too.)
With all due respect, I'm not from the North East (rust belt as you call it). I'm from Arizona. I was born and raised there. The rest of my family is from California. I have been stationed everywhere, just so happens that NH is where I'm currently stationed. The Chevelle was a family car that was passed down to me. I have all original documents including the original papers. Seatbelts were an option on my particular car, but were not chosen. Mounts were there, but weren't installed by the dealer. Seatbelts weren't compulsory (mandatory) in U.S. vehicles until 1966. In European cars, they were mandatory in 1965. The anchors were however installed in U.S. vehicles in 1964. The car now has seatbelts, 5 point harnesses to be exact. By the way, the Chevelle is still living in AZ, stored in a garage. I wouldn't want it to rust out here in New England, now would I? So, to answer your questions, no, no floor board replacements, no rust, and no, previous owner didn't remove them.