I am currently in the planning stages of a drive along Route 66 in my 68 Mustang. Does anybody knowif I might run into problems with the law on seatbelts or loud exhaust (I have a Flowmaster Super 44 system) or anything else I should be aware of. Thanks.
Most states have seatbelt laws. If you get any trouble it would probably be in CA or IL (everything is illegal in those states - CO2 emissions from exhaling in CA will probably be next). Since they came on 68 cars as standard, you probably could get a ticket if you don't have them. Seatbelts are a good idea anyway . Most probably won't bother you on mufflers.
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I cannot see mufflers an issue. I don't understand the seatbelt question unless you don't have any? Are you maybe asking about the lack of a shoulder harness which I believe you are expempt from since 68 don't come with them? As far as I know, all states have seat belt laws. In 18 of the 50 states, the seat belt law is considered a secondary offense, which means that a police officer cannot stop and ticket a driver for the sole offense of not wearing a seatbelt.
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Front 235/45/17 tire on a 17x8 rim. 4.75 BS
Rear 275/40/17 tire on a 17x9.5 rim 5.0 BS
The rear end is narrowed 1 inch on each side so for a stock mustang that would be 6.0 BS in the rear.
you only have to oibide by the laws if your car is reg in that pert state.
so if youre just passin thru there not much they can do about the issues you menioned.
if you car dont have seat belst they can make you put them in if you dotn live there
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1970 Mach 1 San Jose built Dec 23 1969. Marti says 1 of 7. Purchased in 1987. Original family owner of the powertrain 351C 2v FMX.
1993 GT 11,000 miles, Built 2-12-93 Auto, 3:27 Axle, cloth, sunroof. Untouched except for rubber and battery, Purchased new 8-3-93. still has the factory windshield fluid and new car smell.
Missouri has a seatbelt law. Route 66 runs right by my house and I drive it all the time. You won't have any issues not having shoulder straps and as long as you're not doing anything crazy (other than driving without seatbelts) you shouldn't have any problems here.
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Tom
65 convertible, 289 C code, C4 automatic, Wimbledon white, red interior.
In Wisconsin your car must conform to what it came with. For example 68 had side markers. Many think it looks cool without. 68 had seat belts better wear them. As I recall it was much earlier that seat belts were standard. IIRC 68 was the first year with shoulder belt requirement...verts had some sort of exemption. Our current enforcement is secondary, you won't be stopped for the sole reason of not wearing the belt. Be sure there's no other small thing like dim license plate lite.
IMO,hope I don't overstep the "rules" here, it's stupid not to wear the safety belt. When I bought my 46 Ford in 57 first thing I did on the car was install safety belts. JMO, lotta wierd stories and reasons not to.
Most states have seatbelt laws. If you get any trouble it would probably be in CA or IL (everything is illegal in those states - CO2 emissions from exhaling in CA will probably be next). Since they came on 68 cars as standard, you probably could get a ticket if you don't have them. Seatbelts are a good idea anyway . Most probably won't bother you on mufflers.
the 68 mustang is exempt from smog requirements in california. they will not check you car. i live in california. as for exhaust if its too loud for the 66 its too loud to be on the road anywhere.
Seat belts weren't std until 66. In 64-65, you even got a credit if you deleted belts. Most state laws start belt use at 68, but it's kinda like riding a motorcycle without a helmet. It's personal freedom, but a really stupid idea when there's an accident!
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Thanks for all your advice guys. I guess if I wear the lap belt (I always do anyway), keep it in a straight line and stick to the speed limits, I shouldn't have any problems.
Seat belts weren't std until 66. In 64-65, you even got a credit if you deleted belts. Most state laws start belt use at 68, but it's kinda like riding a motorcycle without a helmet. It's personal freedom, but a really stupid idea when there's an accident!
Funny thing about safety. For 56 model year Ford introduced their "Lifeguard Design" cars.
They featured new door tatch/pillar post design that kept doors from popping open in an accident. X frame (vert type) on all cars to resist side impact. Dished steering wheel to reduce chest injuries. Padded dash of a special energy absorbing foam and safety belts was a low cost safety option. Marketing teams found that promoting safety features even if free actually seemed to lose sales.
I'm a social and fiscal conservative BUT. When a person becomes a vegetable because or likely because of free choice we all pay in Medicare, insurance etc. I firmly believe in free enterprize. Freedom of choice. I've personally whitnessed gory accidents. A relatively minor low speed accident became a death or life support thing for the person who made the free choice. The other participant gets to live with this image...you don't forget!
Some years you are not required to use the seat belts, I'm not sure what the cutoff year is on CA, but it was on a CDL test I took years ago.
I don't use the 'lap belt' on my 66 because I think it's dangerous. If you get hit in the front, you'll be held by the belt and your head goes straight into the non-collapsible non-padded steering wheel. Not to mention the seats don't lock in place.
66 wasn't a very safe car, and I'd rather get hit in the midsection than have my head smashed into the steering wheel.
Notice on the 67 up they put the pad in the center of the steering wheel.
If the car didn't come with shoulder belts, they really can't tell if you're wearing the belt or not.
Federal Law requires lap belts front and rear, and lap/shoulder belts in front outboard positions effective 1-1-68. About half the states required front seat lap belts for the '64 model year.
Most States will recognize the sovereignty of other States with regard to motor vehicle laws. However, some thing you won't be able to get away with are laws such as those that require seat belts to be worn, lights to be on with wipers, etc. AAA used to have a good summary of such laws available.
Some of us old guys recall the old days of Smokey and the Bandit. That's a big 10-4. The day of the CB radio later the radar detector. Like avoiding the law was a fun game.
While travelling thru Texas a numer of years ago, I saw the best "radar" detector ever- Naturally, on I-10, the slow speed was 100+ and this van passed us, going a LOT faster. The passenger was sitting with his elbows on the dash with a pair of binoculars, looking for cops! Went by way too fast for grabbing the camera!
__________________
64 9/10 Convertible- 371,000 miles & counting (2nd owner)
65 GT Convertible
65 K GT Fastback- 59,000 original miles
69 GT Convertible- 73,000 miles
08 Coupe
200 F-250 Lariat, 2010 F-250 King Ranch
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State and County Laws Route 66
. Most probably won't bother you on mufflers.
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radar detectors
