Erine Derr's , Driver seat from his 66 Charger

[tan top]

     I know ebay Ad , but thought would be good to post here 





http://www.ebay.com/itm/426-HEMI-RAY-NICHELS-RACING-SEAT-DODGE-PLYMOUTH-PETTY-64-65-66-67-68-ERNIE-DERR-/161054252453?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item257f94dda5&vxp=mtr




mods feel free to move or delete or 

[Aero426]

That is the standard late 60's Mopar stock car seat with extra padding added left and right.   Seller has had it on Ebay for a couple of years.   

[Mike DC]

               
Weren't those things just the typical fixed-back A100 van bucket, with added side bolstering? 

[Aero426]

             
Weren't those things just the typical fixed-back A100 van bucket, with added side bolstering?  

Yes.  This one appears to be from a 1964-65 car because of the low door bars.  The cable operated inertia reel behind the seat is what tightened up the shoulder belts.   Full factory carpet in place too.

[Aero426]

1966 stock versus race.   The left side bolstering is not typical.   Probably for Riverside. 

Nichels Engineering photo.

[Mike DC]

  

That inertia reel & cable rig is interesting.  I thought they were just running full-time-tight 4pt harnesses in that era.  Got any more info on that thing?  Inventor, timeframe, regulations, etc?  



Those are some seriously low door bars.  I was under the impression that door bar rules had already gotten higher than that by the beginning of that decade.  

The prevalence of full-framed cars w/o much rollbar tubing under the hood probably kept the door bars from getting higher for a while.  The advent of unibody-based cars, and cages being used to stiffen the chassis & protect the engines, not just for safety alone . . . all that would have moved the brunt of the average impact higher on the car than before. 



The lack of headrests in older racecars never ceases to amaze me.  It takes such a minor rear-ender to jerk your head back, especially with the extra weight of the helmet on  . . . any weekend amateur with half a dozen races under his belt has experienced the need for one.    

[Aero426]

More driver side door bars were mandated after the 1965 deaths of Buren Skeen at Darlington and Harold Kite at Charlotte.   

1964 and 65 were particularly bad years for losing drivers.

[Aero426]

The inertia reel is aircraft surplus.   Connected by a small bolt to the shoulder belt web, it looks weak, but it was used forever.       There is a cable operated lever the driver uses to tighten the belts.   You can release it with the lever and have freedom of movement with the belts attached.  

[tan top]

 intresting  pictures & info !!  thanks for sharing