Ford was the first company to offer seat belts...as an option...guess what year that was Brian?

Did you say 1956?

Correctamundo.

The belts were the old "aircraft style" = metal to webbing. There were no buckles till 1961.

The first time Ford installed seat belts (lap belts) as standard equipment on F100/350's was for the 1967 model year. Cars got them on 1/1/1966.

The belts were mandated as part of the new US Gov't Safety Standards (along with a heater/defroster, backup lights and a left hand outside mirror) enacted on 1/1/1966 (for cars), 9/1966 for trucks.

 

I purchased a pair of three point and one lap belt from Juliano's for my bench seat F1. I got the regular push button latches, but if you're wanting more of an original look, they have an old style chrome latch too. I used their mounting kit for the floor portion of the belts, and made my own upper mounts. I welded 1/8" crs, left over from boxing the frame, between the braces above and below the rear window. The upper mount is tucked inside the door opening, plug welded, and the welded to the braces. I also welded the spot welded seams of the cab in that area. Overkill perhaps, but I feel it safe. Btw, racing seatbelts are a pita in a street car. They don't have inertia reels so you wind up leaving them alittle loose so you can reach the radio and heater. On a street car, go with street belts.

 

Ford once offered a separate seat belt retractor for the old style belts which did not retract.

This retractor has been reproduced, and is available from dearbornclassics.com / page 66 in their catalog / DC's # OBR64 / $39.95 each.