Classic Friendly Child Seats? or vice versa

Dirty-Old-Man

I've got the following requirements for a 'new' car;

4 seater, convertible (full not targa) over 30 years old, able to take rear seat belts to fit a child seat - good parts availability.

My shortlist in rough order is;
1) Triumph Herald 1200 convertible
2) Morris Minor convertible
3) Hillman Minx ("Audax") convertible.

The first 2 at least only provided for lap belts in the rear and I don't think the last had any (but it has more metal). Has anyone a classic convertible with rear 3 point belts fitted OR know a child seat which attaches using lap strap only?

milod

How about a BMW 2002 Baur Convertible

It's not a full targa in that the back comes off...

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/BMW/2002/Baur-ConvertibleAuto/600688/

--amadeus--

Mine are nearly 5 and nearly 7 now so baby seats are a wee bit behind us but - IIRC - most of them could be secured with a lap belt. Certainly the seats they use in our modern car are lap belt compatible, if required. Which reminds me I must get lap belts fitted in the back of teh Lotus...

What about a Triumph Stag, by the way?

Dades

This is a topic about to be close to my heart (like this September close)!

I'm still living the illusion that I'll be able to get a child seat into the back of my 350 SL. Need to get belts though, as currently the rear seats have none.

However, as of this moment, I cannot confirm one will fit...

DaveCol

You might get the belts here and fittings here, but it sounds like you might have to work out the mounting locations:

http://www.securon.co.uk/applications/app_list/ttoz/seat_belts_triumph.htm

ds20prefecture

I've put the maxi-cosi seats into both the DS and the GS. The DS has inertia reel in the back but the seats are very squishy. The GS has static belts. In both cases it's difficult to get enough tension into the belt by hand. The Maxi cosi has a belt clamp/lever that help here.

The cheapy €40 in Dunnes seats are absolutely awful.

On a serious note - a classic car is not a good place to be in an accident. 30 years + means no crumple zones, lots of rust around seatbelt anchor points, even non-safety glass. In my opinion, car technology has barely budged since 1955 except in the area of passive safety. Carry your kids in a Renault Laguna.

MercMad

On a serious note - a classic car is not a good place to be in an accident. 30 years + means no crumple zones, lots of rust around seatbelt anchor points, even non-safety glass. In my opinion, car technology has barely budged since 1955 except in the area of passive safety. Carry your kids in a Renault Laguna

Excuse me !!

My cars both have crumple zones, side impact protection, deformable steering column, safety glass and 3 point inertia reel seat belts with factory mounting points, designed in the late 50's and built in the 60's.

andreas_220D

MercMad wrote: »

Excuse me !!

My cars both have crumple zones, side impact protection, deformable steering column, safety glass and 3 point inertia reel seat belts with factory mounting points, designed in the late 50's and built in the 60's.

You wouldn't want to be involved in an accident with your beauties anyway

--amadeus--

It is a valid point though. When mine were babies I made a point of finding the safest classic I could (W108 Merc) with a safety cell, crumple zones, etc. Even so the only trips the kids made in it - or in any of my other classics - are usually short hops. Regardless of the classic in question it will never be as safe as the majority of modern cars. That probably goes double for a convertible.

Dades

Methinks if you are looking for a convertible classic like the OP (or indeed have one!), we are really only talking short trips anyhow. Sunday crawls, supermarket etc.

I suspect for longer, motorway, trips the practicalities of a family car would win out... i.e. the longer the trip - the most crap you need to pack! At faster speeds safety is a consideration, though I'd take my chances in an old Merc most of the time regardless.

MercMad

andreas_220D wrote: »

You wouldn't want to be involved in an accident with your beauties anyway

...........you got that right !!:cool:

Yeah I doubt young kids would endure any kind of a long trip, or even a brief motorway jaunt, in an open car. there is a lot of buffeting in the back.

Of course modern cars are safer, but I dont think anyone who is into Classic cars would doubt that, 'nor would they dream of owning a new Laguna !

Blue850

If you ever come across a book called Karambolage, it'll put you of classics for life, its a series of photographs of car crashes from 60's to 80's in Switzerland, Beetles took an awful hammering over there:rolleyes:

cormac_byrne

Most modern child seats are designed to need 3 point rather than lap bet.
If a family member has an older seat, then check if it may also be connected by lap belt.

though here's a modern one

Eclipse Si Car Seat by Britax

http://www.olivers-baby-care.co.uk/Eclipse-Si-Car-Seat/56pol1036p.asp

unkel

As others, I only ever take the kids on very short runs in the 928. The fact that it technically seats 4 (me plus 2 kids in the back with the lap belts plus the new one (due June) in a rear facing baby seat in the front was the killer argument used to convince Mrs Unkel that I needed a Porsche

cormac_byrne wrote: »

though here's a modern one

Eclipse Si Car Seat by Britax

http://www.olivers-baby-care.co.uk/Eclipse-Si-Car-Seat/56pol1036p.asp

Thanks, Cormac. I didn't know lap belt car seats existed. I've no plans to ferry the kids about more, but if things change, I'll sure look into that

And for my last point - Atheist is about to become a father! Most of us in that situation sign up for 5 year loans to buy new MPVs. Luckily some of us say to hell with that!

--amadeus--

Actually I was getting child and baby seats mixed up - the child seats can use lap belts, baby seats not. And I would assume that a 3 point harness is far safer in any case.

I gave serious consideration to a touring holiday around the Isle of Man in the MK II last summer. The car was reliable enough and certainly comfortable enough. Being a big brute it always seemed safe enough but we decided against it in the end and rear doors that didn't have child locks was one of the factors in that decision. The Lotus has rear seats that are effectively child seats anyway and no rear doors so (once I get the belts in) it'll be safe enough for emergency braking and the like. I dread to think what would happen if a low-slung fiberglass car was side impacted though which is why no touring hols are planned in it!

Dades

unkel wrote: »

And for my last point - Atheist is about to become a father! Most of us in that situation sign up for 5 year loans to buy new MPVs. Luckily some of us say to hell with that!

Yes, the first of my spawn army is due beginning of September...

Fortunately the Mrs has a Nissan Primera. I'm just determined to drive that soul-destroying box as little as possible!

Kudos, Unkel for living the dream with the Porsche and kids.

Blue850

I know they weren't launched until 1980 but how about a Reliant Scimitar GTC?

Dirty-Old-Man

BMW 2002 Baur and Stag are both targas, in my view, as is Lanci Beta Spyder.
Another contraint I forgot to mention is original RHD car - so no Peugeot 504 cabrio or US imports.

I know a Merc R107 can take a rear bench and lap belts but didn't think there was a 3 point option.

Dirty-Old-Man

cormac_byrne wrote: »

Most modern child seats are designed to need 3 point rather than lap bet.
If a family member has an older seat, then check if it may also be connected by lap belt.

though here's a modern one

Eclipse Si Car Seat by Britax

http://www.olivers-baby-care.co.uk/Eclipse-Si-Car-Seat/56pol1036p.asp

Thanks - that's exactly what I was looking for, I'd read some existed but couldn't find any. As for safety, I wouldn't use the classic for motorway cruising but don't feel there is real risk in 50kph round town jaunts

Hifive

unkel;55574023]As others, I only ever take the kids on very short runs in the 928. The fact that it technically seats 4 (me plus 2 kids in the back with the lap belts plus the new one (due June) in a rear facing baby seat in the front was the killer argument used to convince Mrs Unkel that I needed a Porsche

Anythings possible,

Stag


BMW 635


Now when No. 4 arrives in June, I'm screwed:rolleyes:

Atheist is about to become a father!

Congratulations and welcome to the club.

unkel

Class pictures there, Hifive. The girls seem to like your classic cars

Eric318

Hello all, for safety, you may also want to replace your seat belts with new ones. Fabric and mechanics DO wear.

Hifive

unkel wrote: »

Class pictures there, Hifive. The girls seem to like your classic cars

Thanks,
Yeah they love it, "Daddy put the roof down" and it minus 2 and snowing:)

I actually started a thread on this subject about a year ago. Here is a link to it, if anyone's interested.

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055078728

unkel

Hifive wrote: »

Yeah they love it, "Daddy put the roof down" and it minus 2 and snowing:)

LOL, yeah my girls love to climb about inside the 928 as if it were an adventure. They were never like that with any other car

Hifive wrote: »

I actually started a thread on this subject about a year ago. Here is a link to it, if anyone's interested

Thanks for the link. Some of us are very interested

MercMad

Whilst you may get 3 point belts into a 107 Merc, they only have two factory mounting holes in the rear. Its very very tight back there and I doubt you would actually get two modern child seats into that space !

Dades

MercMad wrote: »

Whilst you may get 3 point belts into a 107 Merc, they only have two factory mounting holes in the rear. Its very very tight back there and I doubt you would actually get two modern child seats into that space !

Well I only need the one!
Ever seen it done in real life™, MM?

MercMad

Dades wrote: »

Well I only need the one!
Ever seen it done in real life™, MM?

..........yes I saw a Club member who had a single seat somehow bolted into the rear area. He had to miodify the seat frame though.

Also some of the 107 SL's have factory rear seats which are really only suitable for children, maybe with the aid of a booster seat. Obviously no use for babies.

I used to ferry my daughter around in her baby chair in the front of the Pagoda................simply left the wife at home ! :eek:

Dades

Yeah I have the rear seats, alright. Have ferried two adults in back at one point too.

Hmmm - wife in back - youngling in front... :pac: