Hi,

I am thinking of getting a between-the-front-seats
armrest for my 1980 242 Volvo. I have seen Husco
mentioned here and checked out their website.
They have a "Model V2" armrest for 1975-1993 Volvo
240 cars, which is what they call a "TracTop"
design. According to a drawing on their website
(http://www.husco.com/isroot/ePages4/Images/125682/NPImages/schematic1-tt_l),
this type of armrest is installed using a special
mounting directly above the handbrake lever. As
far as I can see, this would interfere with access
to the seatbelt anchors and release buttons, which
are right behind the handbrake lever. I e-mailed
Husco asking about this and received a prompt
next-day reply. Dick of Engineering at Husco
wrote, in part, as follows:

Of the over 10,000 Model V2 models we have sold
we have not ever had a comment or complaint on
this issue. Naturally, we have to be very aware
of safety belt use in all of our designs. The
only "modification" you might require is in how
you hold your hand while hooking up and this is
usually an easily acquired habit change.

In other words, I think, he's saying that one can
learn to snake one's hand around the armrest
mounting to fasten and release one's seatbelt. I
don't want something that's awkward and
cumbersome, either for myself or passengers.

Have any of you installed the Husco "Model V2"
armrest in a 240 Volvo, and if so how awkward is
it for the driver and passenger to fasten and
release their seatbelts? Some additional
questions: (1) Can Husco's special mounting be
fastened to the rear area of the plastic seatbelt
anchor housing (there is a short flat surface just
aft of the anchoring slots), so as not to obstruct
access to the seatbelt slots? (2) Can the Husco
armrest be pushed (slid) back toward the rear to
allow easy seatbelt-fastening and releasing
access? Finally, (3) Are there other armrest
designs that would permit easier seatbelt
fastening and releasing?

URL for Husco drawing:
http://www.husco.com/isroot/ePages4/Images/125682/NPImages/schematic1-tt_lrg.gif

Thanks, Ted