Re: What was the first Packard to have seat-belts, if at all?

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2016/4/6 20:54:35

Ford made a big thing out of safety in their advertising in 1955. Things like improved door locks, impact absorbing steering wheel, padded dash, and optional seat belts.

The rest of the industry followed. I know Studebaker offered seat belts in 1956 if not earlier.

Incidentally while Ford was emphasizing safety Chevrolet was emphasizing speed, power and performance with their new V8. Chevrolet beat Ford's brains out in sales. For 1957 Ford dropped the safety pitch and pushed their new longer, lower wider styling and bigger more powerful engines. Ford beat Chev in sales for the first time since the Model T days.That put an end to safety as a car selling feature.

I think seat belt mountings became mandatory in 1963 and seat belts themselves in 1966.

The picture of the Packard door with seat belt attached reminds me of old road tests of the 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk with door mounted belts. I guess it was a Studebaker - Packard thing. Not very safe looking especially in an accident that popped the doors open.

Preston Tucker wanted to equip his car with seat belts in 1948 but was talked out of it. I think if the car had made production they would have at least been offered as an accessory.

They were available from the early fifties but I can't tell you exactly when. I think Volvo was one of the first to offer them.

From time to time the auto industry tried to sell safety going back to the 1926 Safety Stutz if not earlier. But safety was a hard sell and not something the public was interested in especially if it cost money.