ConcoursMustang Forums

1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1967 Mustang => Topic started by: Ralf on December 31, 2017, 06:32:10 AM

Title: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Ralf on December 31, 2017, 06:32:10 AM
Hello,
I'm looking for a pair of new bumpers 67.

Would be great to receive some information about the best manufacturer and supplier source.

ACP, Scott Drake....

I know, rechroming might be an alternative, but really expensive. Therefor I'm considering a repop.

Thanks alot.

Ralf
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: ruppstang on December 31, 2017, 10:27:36 AM
I consider them all junk. If you are building a concours car you need to rechrome. Yes it is expensive but it is more expensive to buy a repop then to replace it with a proper fitting rechromed date coded original. JMHOP
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: 427Fastback on December 31, 2017, 01:57:45 PM
I bought repo bumpers for my 67 T/A coupe.I would not consider them junk but it is a all day event to fit them.The back bumper is straight and it should not be.They look nice but not correct.The car is a replica of a race car so it doesn't matter.My 68 fastback has oem bumpers and all oem brackets.

A sign of the times when you can buy a set of bumpers for half the price of rechroming one oem bumper.Unless its a daily driver I would not recommend the repo's..JMO
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: CharlesTurner on December 31, 2017, 03:17:10 PM
The older Nordan bumpers were ok, but for concours level, best to have original rechrome or NOS.
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: OldMustangGuy on December 31, 2017, 07:52:04 PM
Quote
I consider them all junk

+1
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Bob Gaines on December 31, 2017, 08:59:34 PM
Hello,
I'm looking for a pair of new bumpers 67.

Would be great to receive some information about the best manufacturer and supplier source.

ACP, Scott Drake....

I know, rechroming might be an alternative, but really expensive. Therefor I'm considering a repop.

Thanks alot.

Ralf
Considering the other nuance detail parts and their cost that you have tried to get for other areas of your car, the repro bumper question seems out of character for you and your build relative to the cost involved . A bumper is a extremely visible item. A poorly fitting repro sticks out like a sore thumb on a other wise nice exterior.  If you are going to save money save it on less visible items  IMO. 400.00-600.00 is a fairly common range of price for re chroming a bumper here. How much more is it where you are at?   
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Ralf on January 01, 2018, 05:19:42 AM
Thanks for your comments, highly appreciated.
All of you are perfectly right and if OEM parts are available to rechrome or even NOS parts. I'm not certain if my bumpers are OEM or have been replaced to NOS in a certain moment of time.

Re-chroming in Germany will be very difficult.

1. price which is about your range, but in €.
2. companies are refusing to rechrome such big parts

However, if to consider a repro part, which manufacturer/supplier would fit best, best as possible?

Thank you and a "Happy New Year".
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: JohnRB on January 01, 2018, 07:34:10 AM
Thanks for your comments, highly appreciated.
All of you are perfectly right and if OEM parts are available to rechrome or even NOS parts. I'm not certain if my bumpers are OEM or have been replaced to NOS in a certain moment of time.

Re-chroming in Germany will be very difficult.

1. price which is about your range, but in €.
2. companies are refusing to rechrome such big parts

However, if to consider a repro part, which manufacturer/supplier would fit best, best as possible?

Thank you and a "Happy New Year".

Do know that there are a number of good companies in Poland and even in Sweden!

Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: ruppstang on January 01, 2018, 10:44:59 AM
You might consider buying NOS or replated  bumpers in the US and shipping them to Germany.
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Ralf on January 01, 2018, 11:47:30 AM
You might consider buying NOS or replated  bumpers in the US and shipping them to Germany.

What would be a "fair" price for a pair of NOS (or nice/replated OEM)?
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: 67gtasanjose on January 01, 2018, 12:47:39 PM
What would be a "fair" price for a pair of NOS (or nice/replated OEM)?

Typical "good enough to use" NOS bumpers as little as $250 each if lucky, (I just saw a pair sell last week on ebay for this little) but they also sell as high as $500 each, all PLUS shipping and shipping is a huge cost too.
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: ruppstang on January 01, 2018, 12:49:25 PM
$800 for pair US for plating. Usually you can find original cores for $100 each. NOS often cost more and still need replating to be show quality.
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Ralf on January 01, 2018, 01:40:25 PM
Ok, so I'll do some more search.

Btw.
Saw NPD's bumpers and description. They argue to sell the best quality (chrome and fitment) available, around $ 140 pp.

NOS often cost more and still need replating to be show quality.

This is what I heard from some guys here in GER as well that NOS parts even worse in chrome than repops.
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: J_Speegle on January 01, 2018, 06:06:35 PM
Saw NPD's bumpers and description. They argue to sell the best quality (chrome and fitment) available, around $ 140 pp.

Not knocking the guys at NPD but considering that is a comparative measurement it may nor mean much. Sort of like describing a baseball player as being the best of the worst



This is what I heard from some guys here in GER as well that NOS parts even worse in chrome than repops.

Original chrome was not the show chrome we are use to today but most of the comments/complaints are about the reproductions are focused on fit and form.  Also consider we're judging the plating with 2018 eyes and these things have been stored in all kinds of conditions, moved hundreds of times, dropped, chaffed and so on for over 50 years.
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: stangerdude on January 02, 2018, 08:06:36 PM
To answer the reproduction question as well as I can, I offer my experience. My customers refuse to pay re-chrome prices on street driven restorations, so we go with the best quality reproductions we can find. Dynacorn used to have the best bumper for the money but lately they no longer make their own and are relabeling a companies bumper (we will just use the initials B.O.I.) that are just awful! Horrible! On the current project (68 Sprint "B" coupe)in our shop, we tried Scott Drake bumper and they fit perfectly, have very nice chrome compared to NOS bumpers that I have seen and the rear has that slight curvature that follows the rear panel that others lack. I am very happy with it. The customer is very satisfied with the finish. I do not know if Drake actually makes the bumpers ( they are hush hush about certain items) or has a specific supplier but they are very nice. The front can give a bit of trouble unless you leave the frame brackets loose and tighten them to the frame rails last. hope this helps.  Paul
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Ralf on January 03, 2018, 03:41:55 AM
Thank you for sharing your experience, Paul.

I would love to get OEM parts (even they have to be replated), or NOS (which might to be replated as well).
Nevertheless, as stated many times, freight ($200), 19% taxes and 3,5% fees are killing those efforts to buy in the US such parts
It ends up paying around $1000 + replating $800 for a pair. In GER I pay for a pair repops around $250. And I was told by german restorers that those parts are fitting not that bad.
I will think about what I gonna do....
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Bossbill on May 31, 2018, 12:39:52 AM
This may be late for you, but I just dug out my stock of rear bumpers.
I laid a 30 year old NOS C7 bumper that's been in storage.
Next to it I placed an original factory bumper, very well beaten up by the weather, but original.
The difference was remarkable.

The NOS bumper was made by an apparently well worn die as as the edges on the peak of the bumper (the furthest to the rear, installed) were rather soft.
The original bumper had a defined crispness -- like this square bracket symbol "[".
Even the NOS  bumper lacked this important detail.

I can only imagine how soft the peak has gotten with even further stamping.
It's something you can't unsee. And you can even feel it.

Re-chromed originals first, NOS (rechromed as well) next, repop if you must.
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Deuce on June 02, 2018, 10:48:24 AM
On the topic of 1967 bumpers:

From what I've read here in CMF; e.g., Decoding Date Codes and a few threads with photos about bumper stampings, the stamping numbers are hidden from external view and cannot be seen unless the bumper is removed.  Is that generally correct, the bumpers must be removed to locate the stampings?  I've looked on my car (bumpers always mounted) and haven't located any numbers.

Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Bossbill on June 02, 2018, 12:22:51 PM
On my date coded 67 bumpers:
Front -- the date code is on the bottom lip near the 'V' in the middle. It would require a mirror to see it (I think).
Rear -- it's mostly under the license plate light. However you might be able to see the letters but it would be very difficult to decode.

A question for the judges on how to 'show' hidden original features.

[on edit] Bob Gaines in this thread:
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=16419.msg102832#msg102832
noted that if you have a notebook containing pictures you can prove the details that are almost impossible to see otherwise.

I'll let them speak to whether or not this improves your points total or just generally makes a more favorable impression of the car based upon these hidden details.
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: J_Speegle on June 02, 2018, 02:15:25 PM
Having the dates correct or in the range makes for a more complete and original restoration - the focus here. 

For judging some organizations allow for the use of mirrors and lights (one day possibly remote cameras or extended lens) to search out the less visible details if your worrying about what someone else thinks of your car or your efforts
Title: Re: Best repro Front /Rear bumpers 1967
Post by: Deuce on June 02, 2018, 02:57:14 PM
Good information here, thank you.

In my case, just interested in the lineage of the bumpers on this one-family unrestored car.  I don’t think the bumpers have ever been removed and they still have a good luster with some expected surface rust on the inner surfaces. I’ll try the mirror technique now that it’s known where the location original stampings would be.