Taking kids in your Muscle Car???

[Zedder]

I am in the process of closing a deal on a Camaro that will be restored as a nice family cruiser and my wife doesn't like the idea of the kids being in the car without a shoulder harness belt. Has anyone addressed this situation some how or do you just use the lap belt like the good ol' days? Thanks in advance for any suggestions http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Salvatore]

How old are the kids?

[DarrenX33]

My 4 year old is my co-pilot. However, he is in the car seat still.

[njsteve]

Are you talking front or rear seat harnesses? My Z11 came with rear shoulder harnesses but they are very easy to reproduce. I know a guy here in NJ, Kevin Wright that has the measurements for the rear units. He made up the set for my car as a previous owner threw them away. For my 4 year old, I use the booster seat and thread the shoulder harnesses as listed in the instructions. Some of the booster seats have built in shoulder harnesses and work very well with just the lap belt to hold the booster seat in place. Take a morning and visit your local Walmart or Babies-R-Us and check out all the different child seats available. You may find your answer there.

[Zedder]

Thanks guys. My Son will be 5 shortly and my daughter will be 3 (she's still in a car seat, so that's no problem). I'll check on-line and see what might be available but our current car seats are pretty nice and they say they can't be used with their harnesses after 40 lbs - they become boosters then and you must use the vehicle's belts.

[Zedder]

Thanks again for the advice...I did a Google seach and came up with a couple of solutions here http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/lapbelts.aspx

Thanks again http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[Belair62]

I didn't look at the link Zedder but being they are that young you can probably get the car seats that have the thing that comes over their head and buckles in and then set up a tether to the package tray area http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Belair62]

Just looked...yep 5 point with a tether ...

[Zedder]

Most car seats are only good until they reach 40 lbs. That link shows a few that go up to 65 lbs, but there is also a harness that they sell that attaches to the lap belt and would do the trick nicely! Gotta keep the little ones safe you know http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[427TJ]

Here's how I cruise with my 4-year old son. (He was sick that day so he looks wiped-out in the photo.) I fasten his car seat in with the lap belt and off we go. No air bag so no ticket. My wife wasn't thrilled the first time I did this with The Boy until I poited out that typical soccer-moms rat-race all over town in SUVs and minivans, cell phones glued to their ears, mouths running full-speed, several kids strapped in, gas pedal down and at least 10 mph over the limit. I told my wife: "That's who I'm afraid of." Besides, how did so many kids survive before the onset of the modern era of safety hysteria? I grew up sitting up on my knees in the passenger seat of my mom's '66 Falcon, no belt. Yeah, a few close calls but life is full of them.

It's a compromise. Fasten the kids in and drive carefully. Oh, and have fun!

[Zedder]

Thanks for the reply 427TJ. I guess we all have our own levels of comfort when it comes to this sort of thing and yes, the odds are in your favor that things "might" not happen. However, running a manufacturing company I have learned that "anything" is possible and wherever I can use modern technology to my advantage when it comes to safety I usually do so.

As for the car seat in the front seat, I would put it in the rear just for that extra measure of safety - especially with the metal dash on a '67. My guy is too big for a car seat now, so he has to use a booster seat and the vehicles belts.

Ride safe!

[Mr70]

I'd stick with your Idea. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
http://www.cei.org/images/nader-airbag.jpg

[njsteve]

Anyone remember the kids car seats of the 1960s? They used to have two big metal hooks that you hung the kiddy seat over the car's bench seat: That was all that held it in the car. Kinda like the old drive in theatre speaker that hung over your window. It's amazing any of us are alive today!

[427TJ]

By the way, my son's car seat has a full shoulder-lap-chest restraint, not just a single belt. I also put the seat all the way aft. If we were in an accident bad enough to cause him to hit the metal dash, it probably wouldn't have mattered how he was strapped in, you know what I mean?

[Salvatore]

Hey Rick, Is that Ralph Nader in that picture?

[Keith Tedford]

1969 Chevelles also have the holes in the parcel shelf for the shoulder belt setup. They were an option seldom ordered. Properly belted into one of these cars the little ones should be almost as safe as in a new car.

[Mr70]

Yes Sam,it is a 1977 demonstration he did,to show how SAFE airbags would be.
HERE'S THE STORY (http://www.cei.org/gencon/003,02326.cfm)

[55chevy]

I remember when I was growing up my first real memories of riding in my parents car was when my Mom had a '68 Malibu 4 door and my dad had a '74 Maverick 4 door (three on the tree baby). And I OWNED the back seats in whichever car I was in.. It was my little world. I could lay on the seat.. hunker down on the floor.. climb up on the package tray for a min (before getting yelled at) but usual position was standing up and hanging over the back of the bench seat. Then Mom traded in for a brand new 77 Subaru and that baby had bucket seats where I could usually be found filling the gap between them while riding down the road. I also remember when I was little I would spend alot of time with my Grandpap riding around in the '73 Chevy Pickup he had. My place in Paps truck was standing on the floor in the passenger corner of where the dash met the door. Usually I had 2 younger cousins along when I was with my Pap or my Gram.. We all would go places with Grandma and she always drove Plymouth Fury Station Wagons. Of course the back cargo area was the ONLY place to be in that car being a little kid.

I'm 32 now and I'd wager a guess that probably 95% of you guys grew up riding in cars the same way I did. I now have a daughter who is almost 2. Isn't it funny how those of us who grew up the way we did, how very anally protective we are about our own kids riding in cars these days.. even when WE, as professionals, are driving? Just like all of you guys, now I strap my little girl in with a 5 point harness child seat securely positioned in the center back seat of my Nova. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif But I still remember when I was little and how much fun that freedom in a car was at that age and when I take my daughter to her mothers place, if it's after dark I'll let my girl ride up front with me since we only go about a mile and don't exceed 25mph doing it on the urban streets here. And she just thinks that's the greatest thing in the world riding up front beside Dada. But if it's daytime or we're going anywhere else she gets buckled in.. They hand out hefty fines these days for not having your kid in a proper child seat. Oh I miss the good 'ol days.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Belair62]

Brought back memories...my Dad always had a 3 or 4 year old Caddy...we used to sleep in the footwells of the back seat !!!! The trans tunnel was our pillow....

[Mr70]

Okay...Now it all makes sense. http://www.yenko.net/attachments/119785-nutz.gif

[DarrenX33]

Hell yeah! I also remember driving cross-country in my Dad's 72 Sedan DeVille. The backseat seemed like a twin bed at the time. And it always seemed like we were on vacation forever. Also remember he would spend hours the day before getting the car ready. Changing all fluids, wash, wax. My Dad loved the open road. Guess that's were my passion for it comes from. Geez, getting misty here.

[DaveC68]

[ QUOTE ]
Okay...Now it all makes sense. http://www.yenko.net/attachments/119785-nutz.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Right...Dad didn't slow down for speed bumps http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[Belair62]

Small exhaust leak maybe http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif

[indycamaro]

Chevrolet child seat from 1969

http://members.aol.com/bbrad24/Childseat.jpg

[Rat_Pack]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks again for the advice...I did a Google seach and came up with a couple of solutions here http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/lapbelts.aspx

[/ QUOTE ]

Zedder, thanks for the link! My wife and I have been trying to find something more comfortable for our son to ride in and found it on the Britax site. They are now the makers of the Snug Seat brand for kids with special needs. We had bought one of the seats from Snug Seat about 4 years ago and it is now discontinued and being replaced by the Britax Traveler. This one should actually fit in the Camaro. Again thanks for the heads up! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif.............RatPack............

[Donny Brass]

I remember my Mom and Dad used to put the top up on the vette and stuff me and my sister in the cubby hole behind the seats.......

those were the days...

I am just shocked we survived the suicide seat in the back to the family station wagon: look at how close that truck is to the back bumper !

I hate to admit this, but my kids are 8 and 6 and when they want to ride, I just belt them both in with the lap belt and drive it like a wuss........

[Zedder]

No problem Ratpack...just take it off of my bill http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Rat_Pack]

Which bill? The storage fee for the wheels? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.........RatPack.................

[Zedder]

Touche! Somethin' coming your way soon, so make some room http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[Schonyenko2]

If mine were good they got to ride in the trunk with bubble wrap. If they weren't good, no bubble wrap. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Motion Camaro]

[ QUOTE ]
If mine were good they got to ride in the trunk with bubble wrap. If they weren't good, no bubble wrap. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[/ QUOTE ] http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[Rat_Pack]

[ QUOTE ]
If mine were good they got to ride in the trunk with bubble wrap. If they weren't good, no bubble wrap.

[/ QUOTE ]

Schonyenko2,

That reminds me of the time we went on our yearly family vacation to Daytona. In 1977 Dad had a new Caprice wagon (the new body style) that he wanted to break in on the road trip. Somewhere south of Macon GA he kept hearing something coming from the left rear of the car like a "thumping" noise. He kept asking us kids (all 4 of us between the ages of 4 & 10) what were we doing. Three of us replied nothing. Our youngest sister (4 yrd old)did not reply and Mom turned around and looked to see if she was asleep. Then to her horror she was not there! Dad pulls off the side of the road and wanted to know what the Hell was going on and where was our sister? My sister starts yelling and crying and Dad finds her in the lockable storage compartment in the left rear of the wagon! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif My brother put her in there for reasons unknown. Something along the lines of "I bet you can't fit in there." He and I both got our butts worn out with a Hot Wheel track. I was the oldest and should have known better I guess. Those were the days..........RatPack...................

[Belair62]

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[Mr70]

The Wooden spoon,the dreaded belt,the bare hand,the bar of soap,the "Wait till your father gets home!" threat.
All pale in comparison to a child, when threatened to be disciplined by one of his own toys,his own extension,his best friend.
To this day,the mere sight of this Orange or black 32 inch piece of plastic track,that doubles as a weapon,still sends me screaming into the next county.. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
http://moonjumpers.com/christopher/thirty_months/christopherhotwheels081502web.jpg

[Rat_Pack]

I thought I was the only one that dreaded that piece of plastic. What is bad is that I collect that stuff and most of my original tracks have a bend in the middle where they have been folded over to be stored in my Mothers pocket book! Oh the horror http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif..................RatPack............

It took me a few years to figure out not to ask for a new Hot Wheels set for Christmas. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif

[Belair62]

If I were you I wouldn't sleep when your sister is around.

[Rat_Pack]

I believe my brother still sleeps with his gun by his side. Me I just keep my doors locked. She still has a slight paranoia of small confined places....not sure why http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif..........RatPack................