Chrome Bumpers

[healey147]

How do you tell the difference between BJ7 original chrome bumpers and reproductions?

 

[SideShifter Tri-Carb]

The easiest way is to hold it. The metal is much thinner on the repops, thus its also lighter.

 

[Healey_Z]

Yea, originals are much heavier and don't have the made in China sticker on them.

 

[bob hughes]

The easiest way is to hold it. The metal is much thinner on the repops, thus its also lighter.

Surely, that must mean that you have to have one of each to start with ! :uncomfortableness:





Bob

 

[bighealeysource]

Not sure about this but think the original BJ7/BJ8 bumpers or guess most of the six cylinder cars had a heavy bumper as described but also had (for lack of a better term) an interior finish that had small waves in it which guess added strength ? In other words, interior finish was not perfectly smooth but slightly uneven. Just recalling this from some of the six cylinder cars I have had over the years and their bumpers versus the new, light weight imported bumpers with their perfectly smooth interior finish.

 

[HealeyRick]

The weight, super-thin chrome (and the "Made in China" stickers :highly_amused are all tell-tales. In the original six cylinder bumpers there is an indentation along the lower edge in the middle that IIRC isn't there on the repros. Below is a pic of my original BJ7 front bumper taken from the top in the license plate area. Anyone with a repro want to confirm the absence of the indentation on the repro?

 

[Johnny]

You'll have to locate a fellow Healey owner nearby that has original bumpers to really tell. Original bumpers and over riders all have a sharper crisper look to them. Repo's appear to have been made by wrapping over an original and thus comeout looking larger and more bulbous. The semi-circle indentation as stated is another indicator but than can be duplicated by just grinding. Originals have the semi-circle ground before chroming. BTW that semi-circle needs to be on the bottom when installed.

 

[BigGreen]

The chinese guy who copied mine was aware of the semi-circle ;-))

 

[Keith_M]

My repro bumper definitely has that semi-circle. In fact, I assumed it was defect associated with the repro! I'm relieved to hear it's actually a "feature".

As for the overriders, there is a subtle but noticeable difference between originals and repros. However, unless you've seen them next to each other, I think it would be hard to tell if an overrider is original or repro just from a description.

Keith

 

[Jeepster]

I bought a nice set of repro bumpers and overiders from eBay and managed to sell my very poor condition originals for more than I paid for the repros!
i will probably regret it in years to come but at the time it solved a problem.

 

[Richard Dickinson]

Do all venders sell the same quality reproductions or are some better than others? There seems to be quite a bit of variation in price.