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Sans bumpers

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Baz

Baz

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68Sprite (and others in the past) had me thinking.
I think I'll do this, but need a bit of advice from those who have done it.
The rear bumpers are not a problem, the plate frame and lights for it are independent, but I will be left with holes.
Front....Am I right in thinking that the only way to do this is to cut the two protrusions off?
In Illinois, front plates are required, any hints on where to put the plate?

I've never done any body work or filling before and am not familiar with products used for filling in the bumper bolts holes, again, advice needed there also....TIA
 
In the UK if you get one without the bumpers the number plate is a big decal, but I've never seen that on a US car. What about a dinky one, like some of the italian ones?
 
I've seen some bumperless Spridgets that used a light bar between the 2 bumper posts. Put 2 nice spots on the post, and there's room for a plate in between. Put a nice leather strap across the hood and you've got a very racerly little car.

I must admit, I've thought about going that way myself if the right Spridget came my way some day.
 
Pete, there are Federal regs about the size of plates, and each state has own laws about the size and shape of letters etc...besides, my sticker won't come off.
Drew, my lamps are being donated to the BGT, with the 74 year, it appears to be all or nothing because of the (proposed) changes in the bumper height. I think the all.
The leather strap, maybe across the boot too, is a novel idea.
 
I put 2 Bugeye Bumperettes mounted upside down on Bugsy my '68 Sprite. They bolt right up to the regular bumper brackets. Looks really nice as well. Now to get rid of those backup lights.
 
I can't remember who has the drop dead gorgeous red Midget with the bugeye bonnet? Ring any bells?
 
drooartz said:
I've seen some bumperless Spridgets that used a light bar between the 2 bumper posts.
Click to expand...
I took the bumper off the street car and just have a light / badge bar on it. MA requires front plates as well but I just zip tie one to the bar when I go through inspection. You could bolt the plate to the bar or the front valance I suppose. This is a picture of the car. On the track car I welded the holes up and filled them. The valance looks like this up close and this on the car. It requires body filler so if you have a nice clean valance / car I would not recommend it.
 
Here is a car I owned in the early 70s (very early!!) w/o bumpers. NJ required front plates. I just used two self-tapping screws through drilled (and painted) holes just under the grill. Worked fine!
 

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I really like that look, Mike.
 
Alright! I like that look too. I think I'll raid my father-in-laws closet, there's some neat period clothes in there.
Chris, that badge bar looks the business, did you make it yourself?
Yeah, I think I'll whip em off....Thanks guys.
 
Drew:

The look of Mike in 70's?

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
Pat
 
GB1 said:
Drew:

The look of Mike in 70's?

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
Pat
Click to expand...

C'mon guys...The car!, the car!... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/blush.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif
(at least I had more hair back then! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif )
 
I am fairly sure that the two front bumper mounts just come off with two bolts each (just inside, behind the valence).
Bill
 
You are right Bill, and if one does not want to do the bodywork to fill the holes, rubber body plugs don't look bad at all either! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
GB1 said:
Drew:

The look of Mike in 70's?

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
Pat
Click to expand...

The car, Pat, the car. Geesh. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
Jim_Gruber said:
I put 2 Bugeye Bumperettes mounted upside down on Bugsy my '68 Sprite. They bolt right up to the regular bumper brackets. Looks really nice as well. Now to get rid of those backup lights.
Click to expand...

Jim, you got any pictures of the front of your car? I was considering doing this or bumperless...

Thanks
Tony
 
There's a lot of good suggestions here, now I'm spoilt for choice. Bugeye bumperettes are favourite, followed by ChrisS style bar, follwed by nothing at all and the holes filled, followed by bathtub hair catchers.

Pics are encouraged!!!
 
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