hi, I want to swap out my 40yo... inertia reel seatbelts for something that looks cooler. I might want to do a trackday in the car at some point, but it would be rare.
I'm planning on buying a 4 point FIA harness off of ebay for £25 each, and some FIA eyelet bolts and using the thing like a 3 point harness. Is that it? have I gone too cheap? I don't want to cheap out on safety.

Thanks,

Given that normal harnesses are around 5 to 6 times that price I would suggest those 'FIA' harnesses are more suitable for a pram or buggy than anything with an engine attached.

I stayed with inertia belts, but had I gone for a harness I'd have made sure the harness had the correct markings in place. Even though a trackday doesn't have a typical race scrutineer present, I'd still want to make sure my level of protection is comparable to a full race day.

Stop been cheep seat belts are to save you and your passenger
Buy a good make
G

1.. I wouldn't trust £25 ebay harness.
2.. do you have mounts on your chassis for 4point?
3.. only using one shoulder strap isn't safe.
4.. they're not to look cool; they're to save your life

An inertia reel seatbelt saved my life when I was in a van crash. Van upside down, all glass gone, I'd have been spread across the road if the inertia reel hadn't held me in place.

Seatbelts/harnesses aren't fashion; they're lifesavers - do it properly!

I suspect these are 'time expired' race harnesses.
probably fine...
but new ain't too expensive
edit
updating 40 year inertia real belts is probably a good idea.

[Edited on 19/8/26 by gremlin1234]

This could well be an unpopular opinion, but if you're intending mainly road use with only very occasional track use, I'd personally be inclined to stick with inertia reels (albeit new ones, not 40 year old ones).

'Racecar' safety mods are designed to work in racecars. Unless you make sure fixed harnesses are done up almost uncomfortably tight (in which case they'll restrict your over-the-shoulder vision, which is probably the more critical factor in road use), they'll potentially allow more body movement than inertia reels in a crash.

I hold the same opinion of roll cages: in a road car, you're more likely to smash your unhelmeted skull like an egg by bashing it into the roll cage in an accident than the roll cage is likely to save you in a (very rare) rollover.

Each to their own, of course - and if we are really worried about safety, we probably shouldn't be driving Locaterfield-type cars in the first place!

My Sylva striker has two four point harness with two loops each side welded on the bar behind the bench seats.

It was built by the last owner then used for a few track day then I brought it off him.

I have only used the striker for road use myself at the moment but intend to do a few track days.

The harness really do hold you in place just takes a bit of getting used on to start with.

But I would never put a internal reel seat belt in the striker.

When I finally get one of the Jesters finished & Mot on it that going to have a four pint harness as well.

both kit cars have rear roll bars and that's where they are staying.

I was watching a video for a family member of a Mk3 Mazda MX5 review (wanted to buy one) last night.

The guy had a standard behind the head loop bar each side

he was following a friend in a small sports car he looked to clip something and rolled the car.

All on film.

After that the guy who done the video had a uprated roll bar fitted to his car at the back.

nothing else was said about his friend

[Edited on 21/8/26 by jester]

There are things you should save money on and things you definitely should not, this is the latter.