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restoring 79' midget's bumpers

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Rudy

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My father and I just bought a 1979 mg midget. The body is in good shape but the bumpers look a little dry. Does anyone know what I can put on the bumpers to bring them back to life. Or do I have to replace them.

Rudy
 
I think there might have been a thread on this subject here last year somewhere... In any event, there are a few products out there that can help "restore" the look of the bumpers. Any number of long-lasting tire gel can help them look good, for awhile anyway (not an ideal solution I admit).

There are also a few products on the market that resemble shoe polish applicators that are supposed to restore the appearance of some plastic/rubber bumpers, and several specialized materials designed to permanently restore the bumper material (https://www.foreverblack.net/products.htm is one).

Eastwood also sells "Forever Black", but I'm not sure if it's the same thing.

Lastly, you can always carefully sand and smooth the bumpers, then paint them to match the car. Lots of people are doing that to MGBs these days, but I can't recall seeing a Midget with painted bumpers.

Good luck!
 
I don't think they were ever shiny, in the same way as paint is shiny, even new. Pictures seem to show that the rubber bumpers had a matte finish, with maybe a little shine to them. I've seen restored B's and Midgets with shiny waxed rubber bumpers, but I seem to recall that getting them that way is a lot of work, with sanding, buffing, and waxing. Not to say what those products might do to the rubber itself. The bumpers were never painted in period (althought BL toyed with the idea), because there were no paints available that would remain pliable enough on soft bumpers without peeling or cracking, especially in the cold. I seem to recall that the only one they found had a toxicity level that was unacceptable for use on passenger cars.
-William
 
Fortunately today there are plenty of paints available that work with the bumpers. I get literally dozens of people asking questions about how they can paint their bumpers like mine at every car show I go to. Obviously if your goal is a true as-original restoration that's not the way to go.

I could be wrong, but I don't think the "forever black" stuff gives a shiny finish but rather restores the original finish (again, could be wrong - if anyone's used that product I'd be curious how it works)
 
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