I am looking at buying an original 850, with sliding windows and i think (hope) matching numbers.

It does not have seat belts in the rear and I would like to keep it as original as possible.

Is it legal to carry passengers in the rear if they aren't wearing a seat belt since it came from the factory that way?

(If this is a stupid question, refrain from flaming me, thank you)

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

Yes, there is no need to have seatbelts in the rear, you can still carry passengers no problem, provided it is an early car. My 62 has no rear seatbelts!

A friend of mine has a 53 Ford with no seatbelts in the front and that is legal too.

That said, have been in two serious smashes in a 69 Corolla with no seatbelts in the back (I was in the back). I would not recommend an everyday driver without them.

What state are you in?
Does this hold true for NSW? They seem stricter than other states..

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

seatbelts were not legal in the rear until 1970/71 (somewhere there) so if it didnt come with it its not required in NSW.

Its totally legal to drive with people in the back and no seatbelts, my mates cooper s has no seatbelts and the roundies my brothers own all have no seatbelts. if its how it came its legal.

Just like comparing the safty features of a 61 850 compared to a 1978 LS the ADR's they complied to will be differernt, the 78 one will be safer, but you dont have to meet new ones just because they made new laws (hope that makes sense?)

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Sounds good, thanks for all your responses.

Now all i need to do is sell my clubby so i can buy an 850.
Someone buy it!

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You're so square
Baby I don't care

My '69 doesn't have rear seatbelts and it is borderline wether it needs front ones by the date of the ADR's. My missus isn't too happy when I take the kids to school but I reckon these days having no seatbelts in the back will be the least of our worries if we get hit in a mini! If it aint got 'em you can't be booked for not having them on! Seriously though, if was driving the kids around long distances at any speed I would get them put in.

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Flute - 68 MK I Cooper S
Member: VMCI #2474
Member: International Mini Model Collectors Club

All good - my '62 has none in the front either.

how does that work? are the holes there and just nothing in them?

my original '62 has them in the front but none in the back, but the 850 i'm fixing up for my first car will. i got the mount thingos from a leyland mini...

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Saxon Green 850: http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=62641
Nightfire Red 850: http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=66555

I believe the ADR mandating seatbelts came into force on Jan 1st, 1971. My 6/1970 K has no rear belts, no mounts for rear belts, and is legal to carry 4 adults.

Like Flute, I won't carry anyone back there outside the local back streets. One day a week my eldest boy sits back there for the run to school, but that's it.. I won't take anyone back there on anything approaching a main road.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

They've recently changed Seatbelt laws regarding children....

So you don't have to have seatbelts if not originally fitted but can't carry children under 7 (as I read it)
Children:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/children/childrestraints/index.html

Info on older car exemption:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/seatbelts/index.html

As i understand it, they were an option on the early cars, not standard equipment. The hole for the bolt in the pillar is there though, covered by a little cap.

Really?? i didnt know this i would be interested in knowing if this can be confirmed??

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Total bollocks. What do you mean not legal? Did that mean you could get booked for wearing them?

Seatbelts in the rear were an option from at least 65 (I have the brochures.)
They may not have been fitted at the factory but they were available from a dealer.



The earliest Minis didn't come with belts. Not unusual at the time. BMC was one of the first manufacturers to actually fit belt mounts to the front seats of all models as standard.
A while later they became one of the first to actually fit the belts as standard in the front instead of being optional.

Sorry bad use of words what i meant was: not a legal requirement to have them fitted. so they were not bothered with. where as 1970ish it was the law they had to be fitted.

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my 850 has sash belts only (no lap portion) they've been there from new apparently - I'm not sure if they'll be going back when she's recommissioned

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'62 Morris 850 (Marion)
'65 Mini Delux - sleeper 1275/S discs (Ms Plum)
'69 Vanden Plas Princess 1300
'71 Wolseley 1300
'74 Austin 1300 Countryman
'94 XJ6 Sport 3.2
'04 Rover 75 CDTi