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No Front Bumper - What do you think?

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Since the bumpers really don't align to any other bumpers these days they seem pretty useless and that is why my '65 won't have any. My '69 needs the back bumper for the trailer hitch.
Bill
 
Watch out - last week someone backed into my Sprite, their trailer hitch hit my bumper and that's when they noticed my car was there.
Yes I had to remove the bumper.

Good thing for me that was a repro skinny bumper and I had a same year parts car with a fat bumper and an AMCO bar on it in the back yard.
I cleaned up the chrome and installed the fat bumper.

If I had no bumper I don't want to think about how much damage would have been done. Maybe just a little - who knows? The bumper did it's job, and I was pretty happy about it!
 
I vote for with - many cars look great without - however, yours in particular needs the bumper. The car is a time capsule - paint color, wing mirrors etc. just looking at it transports me back. I think you need the bumper to complete the factory fresh look. In an odd way, bumperless updates square bodies - which I don't think you should do

my 2 cents
 
JPSmit said:
I vote for with - many cars look great without - however, yours in particular needs the bumper. The car is a time capsule - paint color, wing mirrors etc. just looking at it transports me back. I think you need the bumper to complete the factory fresh look. In an odd way, bumperless updates square bodies - which I don't think you should do

my 2 cents
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I'm going to keep a look out for a nice replacement bumper. Even though it was just slightly bent, it really started getting on my nerves. Nice thing is, it takes 15 minutes and two bolts to put it back on.
 
I say "off"
 
Down here in sunny South Africa

Can someone please explain how no bumpers are allowed in the USA but the rubbers were added in the 70s for safety in the USA.
 
Actually Mark, most states have bumper laws that state in short, if the vehicle originally came with bumpers, the car has to have them. It is a law that is seldom enforced in some states, especially the ones that do not have required periodical vehicle inspections. Many people here have been running their old hotrods without bumpers for 30 or more years. Usually, the only time they are messed with is if they are stopped for some other violation. If you choose to run without, you take the chance of getting stopped and cited for the violation.

Now, the rubber bumpers - That was a classic case of US Government
over-regulation. Fat polititions who can't even check their own oil telling the experts how to make cars.
 
Bumpers on a Bugeye were an option.
 
How did you attach the front license plate?
I love the bumper less look. My 66 will be bumper less after it is painted.
Phil
 
I took a piece of 1 inch angle aluminum, painted it black and attached it between the mounts. I attached the original plate mount to that. I put little chrome caps over the ends of the mount bolts to hide them. It looks pretty good, but would look even better with frogeye overriders.
 
I love the streamlined without-bumper look. But with the bumper fit, the car looks so classy! Take your pick; both are great! Beautiful car!
 
Naked up front but covered on the rear for me and my ol' beater :sick: I use a genuine UK plate to cover the bumber holes...well that plus the fact the bumper was pranged when I bought the car 20 years ago... :crazyeyes:

MidgetLeftFrnt.jpg

MidgetRtRr.jpg
 
I have always thought Bugeye rear bumperettes (over-riders?) look cool, and have even thought that a pair of them mounted horizontally on the front would look pretty neat (fat end towards center!) and provide a little protection at the corners.
 
took a piece of 1 inch angle aluminum, painted it black and attached it between the mounts. I attached the original plate mount to that. I put little chrome caps over the ends of the mount bolts to hide them. It looks pretty good, but would look even better with frogeye overriders.
_________________________


Thanks Bryan, it looks good, I may do the same
Phil
 
I changed my trans oil tonight and went for a 5-minute drive. My bumpers are still on, good thing. I hit a big raccoon, sorry he is done, and my bumper saved my front end. Bent my license plate and scratched the primer where the bumper momentarily compressed against my fender. So now I am not sure which way to go, so many raccoons around, I have hit one with my BMW mini cooper s and I did more damage to the mini. I love the bumper less look, but maybe a necessity in my country subdivision.
Cheers Phil
 
Racoon or not, I vote bumper-less. I ditched mine in about '76. I never hit any critters but I did tag an '81 Pontiac Bonneville that ran a stop sign. I seriously doubt the "bumper" would have helped me then.

Sprite77.jpg
 
Arkly, you might also mention the rear bumper on your car. If I recall correctly, you raised it to follow the lines of the wheel arches.
Rocke
 
Rockea said:
Arkly, you might also mention the rear bumper on your car. If I recall correctly, you raised it to follow the lines of the wheel arches.
Rocke
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Oh yeah, Great memory. Here is a pic done during the first re-do in 1976! I built some brackets to raise the bumper to just below the tail lights. I think it really improved the looks of the rear end.

Sprite76d.jpg
 
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