Baby seat

Post by **sassy3** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:27 pm

Does anyone know if i can put a baby seat into a 1956 morris minor?
Any suggestions? Thanx

Post by **webbnuts** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:41 pm

Hi,

We are able to fit a Mammas and Pappas base and seat in our 62 traveller. The seatbelt is only just long enough but once clipped in its fine. Out 8 month daughter loves riding around in it!

Most of the big shops will let you try them to ensure a decent fit before purchasing.

hope this helps!

Post by **webbnuts** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 4:47 pm

Here she is!<br>

<br>

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 6:08 pm

It's likely that you'll need an inertia reel belt in the front for it to be long enough for a baby seat. What do you have in the front of your 56? If you've got static belts then it 'should' be possible to change over to inertia belts without too much work.
When you move up to a child seat, then an inertia reel rear seat belt will do the trick for the back seat.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:05 pm

I would fix the seat down at the rear so it cannot tip before doing this !

Post by **sassy3** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:28 am

Thanx can you tell me if you have hinged seats or not? Have a problem, I have hinged seats and have been told that i can't put a baby seat into my beautiful car. My car is 3 door.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:23 am

As I said - fix the seat down at the rear so it cannot hinge up!

Post by **alex_holden** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:37 am

sassy3 wrote:Thanx can you tell me if you have hinged seats or not? Have a problem, I have hinged seats and have been told that i can't put a baby seat into my beautiful car. My car is 3 door.

There are no 3 door Minors. Do you mean a 2 door saloon? If your problem is that the seat back is hinged (for easier access to the back seat), you could swap it for one that doesn't have the hinge. Some do and some don't.

Post by **LouiseM** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:02 am

Regardless of whether the actual seat back is hinged or not, the passenger seat should still really be fixed to the floor at the rear if a baby seat is fixed, as Roy has suggested. This is because in a crash the whole passenger seat has the potential to tilt forward towards the dash, although an inertia belt would help stop this better than a static belt.

Post by **ASL642** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:18 am

This can be done using 2 more of the metals fitting that are used to hold the seat to the floor (look like metal hump-backed bridges)

Fit 1 each side over the metal tubing of the seats (where they meet the floor) Drill holes to the floor. This will anchor the whole seat both front and back to the floor of the car. (It will mean that this seat cannot be tipped up for access to the rear)

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:57 am

I admit I hadn't though of the possibility of the set back hingeing forward - never had a Minor like like that - but I suppose they are out there! Yes - in that case -better fit a fix seat - and secure it to the floor. I would put it as far back as possible too!

Post by **sassy3** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:13 pm

Thanx for all your replies, Could you tell is it legal to fix the seat to the floor. It sounds like a fab idea.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:55 pm

It's a REQUIREMENT on later cars. After about 1980 I think.

Post by **mike.perry** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:08 pm

If you have some spare cash you could also try the seats supplied by that well known firm of upholsterers.

Post by **PSL184** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:30 pm

bmcecosse wrote:It's a REQUIREMENT on later cars. After about 1980 I think.

But on a 2 door there has to be a locking tip feature to allow rear seat occupants egress from the vehicle....

Post by **ASL642** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:32 pm

But does that mean both front seats have to tip up. This would only secure one, meaning the other front one i.e. drivers could still tip up for rear seat passengers to exit.

Post by **Sidney'61** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:43 pm

Though it could easily be fitted to a simple latch (like the back of a traveller rear seat) so it can still be tipped if need be but can't possibly move when driving.

Post by **PSL184** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:48 am

regaliaqueen wrote:But does that mean both front seats have to tip up. This would only secure one, meaning the other front one i.e. drivers could still tip up for rear seat passengers to exit.

On new vehicles the rule applies to both seats, however, I doubt they would be retrospectively applied to older vehicles. I still have the "discussion" with my MOT guy each year about my seats not been fixed at the back but it still passes each year..... It comes down to a matter of sense in reality - If you are carrying a baby seat it would be sensible to secure the seat as well as is possible but without any undue hinderance to any other occupants.....