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Nunyas

Nunyas

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Thank British Leyland For Rubber Bumpers...

<RANT>
Ok, I know that BL didn't put them on because they "wanted to", but I still gotta thank them for the design and the resiliancy of them even when they're 30yrs old. Driving around in typical LA traffic for lunch gave me the opportunity to "rear-end" someone while I wasn't even moving. Fricken yahoo backed into me at a stop sign! ~Thankfully~ the bumpers met and left me with no damage, at all. Aside, from screaming explicatives the instant the collision happened, and being irrate that there are people so inattentive allowed to drive on the roads legally, myself, my passenger, and my B are ok. The horn is stuck, but everything is ok.

I can't fathom how much ~more~ irrate I'd have been if I were in a CB B, where the bumpers would not have lined up and there would have most certainly been sheet metal damage. Incidents like this, make me glad I have RBs on my car, regardless of how ugly they may or maynot be. I had plans of maybe painting them sometime down the road, but after the bump today I think I'll be leaving them unpainted. Gives me less to be ticked about if there's no paint to scuff on the bumpers.

I don't care how much better my car may or may not handle without the heavy things, I just feel a bit less concerned about minor 'bumps' with them on the car in their "natural" state.

Ok, rant over...
</RANT>

Now let me eat my lunch and calm the nerves a bit...


I'm gonna need a smoke and a beer after I finish eatin' ...
 
Yeah...on my web-page about converting Spridgets to chrome-bumpers, I warn about this.

The rubber bumpers are *very good* at saving an old classic...the chrome units look much better, but offer zero protection.

If I drove in a lot of urban traffic, I'd stay with rubber bumpers.
 
Doesn't sound like a rant to me!

Sounds like some good justification for the RB.

(I have two MGs with, two without...I even kept them on the V8 conversion...painted body colour.)
 
The rubber bumpers will take a big hit without damage. Thank god the idiot who hit you wasn't in a suv and have a hitch with the ball in.

Did the directionaly challenged let it roll back or did they actualy put it in reverse?
 
The quote in my sig reflects a similar incident. Elan. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
In the December issue of Hemmings Sports and Exotic Cars, Don Hayter is interviewed (while he was in Gatlinburg).

Don give a pretty good explanation as to the toughness of the bumpers on the 1975-80 MGB.
 
[ QUOTE ]
... Thank god the idiot who hit you wasn't in a suv and have a hitch with the ball in.

Did the directionaly challenged let it roll back or did they actualy put it in reverse?

[/ QUOTE ]

It wasn't quite an SUV, it was a "Mini Van". Most of those have "low" bumpers which is probably what allowed the bumpers between our cars meet up. The guy was apologetic, knew it was his fault, and didn't try to make up any excuses for backing into me. That helped cool me down a bit. The situation was like this:

We're at a T intersection. He was lined up for a right-hand turn with indicators on. I pull in behind, turn indicators going. Traffic clears, and he sits there, then I see reverse lights come on. I jump on the horn (causing the button to stick), but by the time I reacted, it was too late, he'd already hit me. It wasn't what I'd call a "light tap"... a "light tap" wouldn't have bothered me... this was hard enough to straight up tick me off, and hard enough to have me getting out of the car to make sure nothing got messed up.

I'm normallized now... thankfully... I really don't like walking around ticked off for days on end. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
I learned a valuable lesson in MGdom many moons ago, kind of a heads up for the CBers When in stop & go traffic or stopped at a light, stay far behind the car in front of you. Even if the guy in front of you checks the rear view, he might not see you. (in your case maybe just an inconsiderate idiot) In HS I had someone back into me whilst I was in my Midget. Broke the headlight & bent the fender. Claimed he did not see me. I got into his car and I could not believe it was true. Could not see a thing. His car was an 83 Honda Accord. Go figure. These days I'm driving a bigger MG but the other cars on the road today are also much bigger. I stay way back with hand on horn.
 
yeah, I'm normally far enough back that I can see the bottom of the tires on the car in front of me.

I just had one of those days I guess.
 
Glad you or car weren't hurt...though tomorrow morning you may have neck issues!
 
I don't mind the RB's at all....In my books any MGB is a great car, especially if they're big bumpers can help push your other LBC's up the driveway(yes I've done this, more than once, no there was never any damage /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
The rubber bumpers are a great help when the CHP has to push you out of the fastlane during rush hour. Dont ask how I know.

This thread almost makes me want to install a real train horn under the bonnet. They may not see you but they will hear you.
 
re: This thread almost makes me want to install a real train horn under the bonnet. They may not see you but they will hear you.
******************

I have Cadillac horns ready to install on the V8....if I like the sound of them, I have enough pairs to put on all four MGs.

Got them on a "treasure hunt" at a You-Pull-It junkyard that yielded several pair of Fiero seats, the mirrors and louvres I put on the GT, a space saver spare for the white MGB, and some odds and ends.
 
Air horns, kids... AIR HORNS!!

I set 'em to be as discordant as possible, too. If I could power the necessary compressor I'd have a freighttrain horn in there. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
& hang them horns out thar on the front fenders like big ole steer horns!
 
mehheh. an' a front license plate wot sez: "DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
heh... I have reproductions of the 'stock' horns... they're plenty loud... and sound a lot bigger than what the car is /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
heh /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

neck is ok today... I suppose that's a good sign /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Don give a pretty good explanation as to the toughness of the bumpers on the 1975-80 MGB.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, that's 1974.5-80, mister! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Glad to hear that there's no damage and you're okay.

I like the rubber bumpers, the rear one gives me a place to sit when i'm at cruise-ins with my ricer buddies. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
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