Hello there. I stumbled upon some pictures of what seemed to be a 68' 442 with headrests. Where these available from the factory? Also while on the subject where 3 point seatbelts available from the factory and or worth installing? They are both safety features that I've been on the fence about installing on my restoration. What are your thoughts? Thank you and have a good day!

 

Headrests were a factory available option starting with the 1966 model year. For 1969 they were federally mandated. Note RPO A81 and A82 in the 1968 SPECS booklet:

 

My recollection is that the mandate didn’t come into effect until January of 1969 but I've never seen any '69 without headrests.

 

Thanks Joe!

 

Hey Joe, you are saying in 1966 there was a headrest option ? I have never seen one on the cutlass in 66 ? interesting..WAS that for bench seats too or just buckets? I cant read your option sheet on my computer sorry.

 

I just pulled these out of a 1968 Buick Skylark.... Build sheet to prove option A-81... I am recovering these for my 68 Olds.

 

Nice looking seats, what a great find.

 

I'm pretty sure that's what this says:

By the way, my 1966 442 convertible has factory bucket seats the headrest option.

 

I just noticed A81 was for the strato bucket seat. Is that just the normal bucket? Also do you know i should go about putting them in if i decide to?

 

Yes, all the bucket seats were called "Strato Bucket" seats. The Toronado and some full size cars also had a "Strato Bench" option that used the seatbacks from the buckets with a normal bench seat bottom and a special fold-down arm rest. There are headrest conversion kits available for the 1966-67 style headrests. Not so much for the 68s since they are virtually the same as the 1969-72 headrests (yeah, I am aware of the subtle differences).

 

What are the differences between the 68 and 69. Based on what your saying if I cant gat the 68s I should get the 69 ones, right?

 

The differences are optical only, like the bases on the top of the seatback that the two headrest rods fit into and where the notches are in the rods

 

Build sheet from a 1966 that came from factory with head rests installed.

 

Headrests AND reclining seat! Very cool.

 

Very nice that you have this. I had to chuckle at the engine displacement being called 399.5 rather than 400!

 

I saw that and thought what the heck?

 

Here is a pic of the seats in the above build sheet I posted.