<VV> Headrests 68/69

Mark Corbin airvair at earthlink.net
Tue May 6 23:45:31 EDT 2008


I think the issue is being confused by the crossover with sholder belts.
They became mandatory in January '68, while headrests weren't mandatory
until the following year. Ignition/steering locks followed in January of
'70. The Corvair wasn't given any federal loophole, rather it was GM policy
that brought such equipment online when it did. That is why every GM car
but the Corvair had the ignition/steering lock in '69. GM was simply trying
to bring some of those things to market sooner than the feds had mandated
them, ramping up their appearance.

Simply put: GM/corporate-wide, sholder belts in January '68, headrests at
the model intro of the '69's, as well as ignition/steering locks (with the
exception of Corvair). Whereas the Feds mandated sholder belts in January
'68, headrests in January '69, and ignition/steering locks in January '70.

-Mark


> [Original Message]
> Subject: Re: <VV> Headrests 68/69
>
> I think the confusion comes from the law that made this happen went into 
> effect Jan 1, 1968... as did most of its requirements.
>
> I find it interesting that the Corvair was apparently given waivers in 
> some areas covered by the 1968 law (such as a locking steering column) 
> but not in others... the hoops that some European manufacturers went 
> through to make those locking columns work were significant in some
cases...
>
>
> Bill
>
> Dave Keillor wrote:
>
> >>From the NHTSA website: "Since January 1, 1969, passenger cars have been
> >required by Standard 202 to have head restraints in the front outboard
> >seating positions."
> >
> >Dave Keillor
> > 
> >  




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