Has anybody got retractables in their roundnose?
Do they get in the way of access to the backseat?

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Mini K, 1310, Jet Red/Crystal White Roof, Rover Interior

75 Clubman

Yes, and No, but I've got a Rover.

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1970 Mini Deluxe - 1275, Weber, Clive 346 cam, MS 4-pot slotted discs, Megajolt ignition Now with new improved Mambas... almost on the road
1966 Van with Traveller rear seat conversion
2008 Prado GXL
All in various states of repair...

I have them in my '61, the reel and bottom mount go into the same large screw in the bottom by the door sill.
Access isn't restricted at all.

This is aquestion - not a criticism
I had heard that retractables in an early mini leaves the "b" pilar likely to collapse in a big hit.
I would be interested in an engineers opinion on this

In a big hit, all pillars are likely to collapse!

How would retractables make this any more likely than regular seatbelts?

if you want safety, dont drive a mini

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1962 Morris 850.....with a 1310

1998 Toyota starlet.....161.1hp atw

With a static belt there is a direct 1:1 pull against the top mount in a frontal accident.
With a retractable, the belt locks in the reel at the bottom, and then the load on the top mount is doubled as the belt sliding anchor acts as a pulley `snatch block'.

From about 1968 on the B pillar was made stronger and is effectively same as a Clubby one (which had retractables), so should stand this load OK.

Earlier cars, I'm not sure how well they would cope with retractables- but they are probably safer for you than loose fitting static belts.

I run retractables in our 1970 Matic and they are great.

I had them in our 67 Pretend S, but took them out as they fouled the (early Clubby) seats fitted. Bah I hate static belts....

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I know in NSW for a long time with older cars if you wanted to fit retractable belts RTA did require an engineers report on the mounting points because of what doc said about the change of loads, I think it is still pretty much the same for early cars to be legal

Jon

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

Well, the Klippan website listed the K1214? retractable belt for ALL Minis last time I looked.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I've looked into this for my 1960 roundnose and the thing with retractables is it can be done, but there's no provisional drilling holes under the body for the belts given they weren't factory fitted.

I believe you'll need to get the retractable thing engineered as where it's bolted on has to be strengthened with a plate.

For the hassle I found the best route to go was non retractables, which i'll be getting done sometime in the next few months.

Shard

My 68 Mini Matic still has the old style seat belts up front with the lap style one's in the back.

Minis didn't get rear belts standard until Jan 1971 I think.
My 3/1970 Mini Matic had standard static lap/sash belts in front but there are no rear seat belt mounting points, even for lap belts.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

just pull the **** tight...

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^ or just "fill out" until the seatbelt gets tight

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Too many cars, and too little time.

So retractables in a mini K should be safe?
However once fitted clubman seats are no longer an option!? (not sure if that is a statement or a question)

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Mini K, 1310, Jet Red/Crystal White Roof, Rover Interior

75 Clubman