Hi All - Stewart at Python Restoration is making a set of Y-Belts for me and I'm looking for what the appropriate date code should be on a car that was completed by Ford and SAI in in October of 66. This prompted a few other curiosity questions.
1. What would be an appropriate date code (week or week range) for a car completed by Ford and SAI by October of 66.
2. Did SAI receive large batches of the retractors/ belts every few months or was it much more frequently? For example, did Hammill build 100's of these inertia belts within a week or two then ship to SAI every so many months or did 50 belts come in at a time, making it more of a rolling production?
I've seen several belts for sale over the last 10 years with the date code of 47-66 (47th week of 1966, which would have been the Nov 21-27, 1966). This makes me think it was a week of high production but it's odd because Thanksgiving's that week and because the odds of seeing 3-4 belts over the last 10 years with those dates seems rare. This said, I remember someone on the old forum was selling labels with that date code as well, so I could have seen reproduction labels.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Nick
Hi
I think you have kinda answered your own question. Common sense tells us the belts must be dated prior to car build, so if the car was an October build (weeks 40-43) the belts are earlier. I really doubt that anyone would be able to accurately know how seat belts or shoulder harnesses were ordered so how much earlier would be the best question.Ford had BIG concerns over how Shelby ran the company and as such sent more people than ever to work with him to stay organized...still the target launch date was missed. Much of this because they really did not know how many cars they could sell so the parts needed to assemble them were yet to be in stock consistently--it was after the New Year when things were able get productive.
Now a question for you what color is your October car?
R.R.
Quote from: Road Reptile on September 14, 2025, 07:21:05 PMNow a question for you what color is your October car?
R.R.
I'm gonna guess - red67fastback - owns a red car.........
Just so you know they did not build any Red cars in October. Thus my question. If it is Red it would not matter to anyone about details like date codes. Maybe a better question is what happened to the original labels?
R.R.
It's possible the car is a "tribute" so referencing color isn't a good reference in this instance ;-)
This is an answer, I hope it's the answer. My October built 67 GT350 is number 0036.
I had the shoulder belts rewebbed a while ago. Not going to look through the receipts. Included in the new webbing was repop labels. The top line what you are looking for ways SA-H1 on the left. The on the right it says 41-66. That might be close enough for you. Made by Hamill
Week 41 of 1966 was October 10, 1966 to October 16, 1966
Lets continue for a bit. Were the belts put in at San Jose or at SA?
At Shelby after the roll bar? Remember the photo of that photo of the assembly line pit and the rear seats removed and set on the roofs of the cars, also photo of car(s) delivered to LA from SJ waiting to be completed, Parchment interior makes it easy to see the roll bar is not yet installed.
JD is entitled to an "atta'boy!" on this one. ;)
Quote from: roddster on September 16, 2025, 11:13:44 AMLets continue for a bit. Were the belts put in at San Jose or at SA?
I believe the front and rear regular seat belts (with Shelby silk screened on button insert) were installed a SJ and the shoulder harness at SA along with the roll bar.
Thanks for everyone's replies! I didn't have my notification settings correct and didn't see them until now (all fixed!) so thank you!
Quote from: Road Reptile on September 14, 2025, 07:21:05 PMNow a question for you what color is your October car?
R.R.
Road Reptile - My car is an October and red car, but JD is correct and deserves two "Atta Boys!" as it is an early tribute (slanted grille, USL, flat gas cap and taillight panel, exhaust trim, metal trunk, etc.). No shelby vin plate so you can easily tell its not a K-code. My approach has been that when I have the option to make something correct, especially when its as easily as letting Stewart know a date code, I'll try to make it correct. I've had great conversations at car shows from curious minds asking about the upper scoop lights and learning quite a bit about Shelby production.
Quote from: JD on September 16, 2025, 11:39:22 AMAt Shelby after the roll bar? Remember the photo of that photo of the assembly line pit and the rear seats removed and set on the roofs of the cars, also photo of car(s) delivered to LA from SJ waiting to be completed, Parchment interior makes it easy to see the roll bar is not yet installed.
Thanks for pointing that out in those photo's, JD. A detail I didn't notice with those in the past. But makes sense. Lap belts came from San Jose, but rollbar and inertia belts at SAI.
Quote from: roddster on September 15, 2025, 10:50:24 AMThis is an answer, I hope it's the answer. My October built 67 GT350 is number 0036.
I had the shoulder belts rewebbed a while ago. Not going to look through the receipts. Included in the new webbing was repop labels. The top line what you are looking for ways SA-H1 on the left. The on the right it says 41-66. That might be close enough for you. Made by Hamill
This is very helpful Roddster, thank you! Was this a copy of your original date on the belt or a date Stewart chose? I wasn't sure if a car received and completed at SAI in October (I realize yours was completed early November) would have an October date on the shoulder belts, versus, say a September date or earlier.
What I was curious on, regarding production, is how many belts did Hammill make within a week? Which could mean roughly so many cars would have the same date code. If, for example, Hammill could make 100 belts in a week, then the first 80ish cars completed at SAI before the end of November may all have the same date codes on the Y-Belts.
It's likely that production was much slower on the y-belts and maybe, say, 20 belts came in a week. I realize we may never know without the SAI/ Hammill order paperwork and verifying originals... it just makes me curious.
Thanks all!
- Nick
Hi Nick and all,
Thanks for letting us know about your car.
R.R.
I think the person who made the repop labels wisely chose to copy what was on what I sent in.
Quote from: roddster on September 19, 2025, 10:54:42 AMI think the person who made the repop labels wisely chose to copy what was on what I sent in.
Glad to hear it! Never know if the labels were missing. Thanks again!