280SL Anchor nuts on the floor

[Thierry du Laos]

Thierry

[mbzse]

Thierry,
I would say (guess)  these nuts were put there by some previous owner, to serve as anchoring points for some type of seat belt installation
/Hans in Sweden

[hkollan]

Thierry,

They are factory anchor points for two point lap seat belts, but were rarely used. They are found on some early US models, possibly others as well.
I have the exact same anchor points on my two 1968 280 SL's, but not on the '71.

Hans

[mbzse]

../...factory anchor points for two point lap seat belts, but were rarely used.../...

Since the factory fitted anchor points into the floor frame support beams and the B pillar since 1965 for the lap belts, under the carpets, why would they fit such [crude] fittings in the floor? I have not found such added plate anchoring points mentioned in the parts book.
/Hans in Sweden
.

[hkollan]

Hans,

There is no doubt that they are factory installed. I'm in the process of cleaning the underside of my current project car 280 SL #1022 and
the anchors are mounted after the PVC protection layer was put on,  but before the application of the brownish protective wax.
Actually on this car they are not in use, the manual three point Kangol belts found in this car uses the other factory less crudely :-) fitted anchor points.
I am guessing that these parts were installed to accommodate other seat belt types required by some state or country law or some owners special wishes to have two point lap belts only.

No mention in the parts book about any such added plate anchoring points.
/Hans in Sweden

 
 I haven't checked the parts book, but they are listed in the EPC, and they are still available according the MB Classic Parts Search website.

Attached a few pictures of showing the anchors from the outside and the inside.

Hans

[66andBlue]

Hans (in Spain),
where was your 280SL delivered?
As far as I know the anchor plates were part of the lap belt kit for dealer installation in the USA.
My 230SL had them also and the undercoating was applied after the anchor plate was installed by the dealer who sold the car in San Francisco.

[stickandrudderman]

The shell that I've taken photos of and posted on here as a reference has the holes where these anchor nuts USED to be. It appears that someone in the past has elected to remove them but left the open holes in the floor.

[mbzse]

.../... these parts were installed to accommodate other seat belt types required by some state or country law or some owners special wishes.../...

This is plausible and interesting. We are learning here, along with comments from Colin, Alfred and others. Great.

Kollandsrud, the chassis underside of your SL looks great with the original factory finish greybrown primer showing, as well as the factory PVC undercoating and wax residue. Was your car dry ice blasted on its underside?
/Hans in Sweden

[hkollan]

Hans (in Spain),
where was your 280SL delivered? 

It's a California black plates car, I believe its been most of its life in the SF Bay area.

I cleaned the underside with a high pressure washer.

Hans

[Thierry du Laos]

My car came from New York area.
Looking to your comments, its fitted depending on some requirements, not basic design or for some tooling, what so ever.
Then, I am not going to fit them again after refurbishing the floor panels.
It'll be cleaner too!
Thanks

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Seat belts would be my guess as well