Hello!
currently working on the headlights right now, but I know bumpers are going to be coming up quickly. I have been looking around for a while now, and Vince says he hasn't had any come by lately, so I decided to come right to the experts!
I am planning on backdating my bumpers to the chrome ones, and I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions on who to talk to to find them?
also if any of you have already backdated your bumpers, leave any tips or things you wish you did here!

@914ltd

Inquire at Group Harrington
for Stainless Steel Bumpers..

Buy from the Manufacturer….

Click to view attachment

I know the SS bumpers seem pricey, but in reality, the cost to buy bumpers, have them straightened and chromed, you would be better off with SS. We really need some update photos of the car with you working on it.

Thanks for the referral but I am out and I am not going to restock. Brad

These are the way to go. If you are on a budget, find some non chrome ones and freshen up the paint. If they need some bodywork, it can be done diy. There’s no way to do the chrome ones cheap unless you can find a good deal on some used ones.

If I were doing it again and on a budget I would start with the cheapest I could find, body work them (straighten with hammer and dolly, finish with filler) get them looking good and then wrap them with chrome film

Real chrome or even SS is not Quick or cheap

That is a GOOD idea!

Gaining the skill set of doing wrap yourself will pay benefits on most of your future projects.

Doesn't have to be "Chrome" either.

Whatever your imagination can dream up is a possibility...

Inquire at Group Harrington
for Stainless Steel Bumpers..

Buy from the Manufacturer….



---------------------------------

You have to buy these from George at AA as he has the distribution deal in the USA
His price is a number of $100s more that shown on Harringtons site. Look at AA for the price. He has them in stock

So that is out as far as the price shown from Harringtons site. Ask Oscar what he knows, he is a super nice 914 Buddy and has been a source for chrome bumpers for a while

Best Bob B

I believe Harrington still sells them direct.

As I remember, a number of years ago there was a vendor that
had exclusive rights to sell them in the U.S. but I believe that has ended.

Mark, I sent them an email and they said not in the USA as they have a deal with AA George

Dear Robert,



Thank you very much for your interest in our products.



I am afraid that the bumpers we supply are the same as Auto Alanta.



Also, we have given exclusivity of US market to Auto Atlanta http://autoatlanta.com.



Saying this, we can only supply you when the bumpers is sent outside of the US.



Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.



Best Regards,

Thao



Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: Harrington-Group-on-White

Harrington Group Ltd

Nguyen Huong Thao (Ms.)

Sales & Marketing Executive

_________________________

T +44 121 288 1250

E info@groupharrington.com

W groupharrington.com

For the backdate:

- You will have to fill the holes where the bumper shocks were.
- The reinforcements for the mounting holes should still exist in the front wheel wells. You will have to locate and drill the mounting holes yourself, though.
- The sides of the rubber bumper cover hook over metal lips on the outside of the fenders. You will need to cut those off and treat (paint) the metal.
- The top of the front bumper cover hooks onto an extended part of the front seal channel. You will have to cut that part of the channel down to size, and treat it.

I'm not sure about locating the rear mounting points. I believe the upper ones are inside the rear trunk, and the lower ones are under the rear trunk. Again, you will have to drill them yourself.

You can put some sticks of chalk, or some studs with sharpened ends, into the bolt holes in the bumper, then line up the bumper where you think it needs to go and push it in toward the body. The sharpened studs will leave punch-style dimples if you push hard enough, or at least scratches. Chalk can make marks but often not that precise and will likely be messy.

Early bumpers were not all chrome. Those were generally the extra-cost option. In 70-73, the non chrome bumpers were body colored. It looks pretty nice in many cases, you might consider that as well. In 74 the non-chrome option was satin black.

Good luck!

--DD

Tink,

When we restore our old cars, the tendency is to pack as many ‘options’ in to the finished car as possible, forgetting that most of these cars didn’t come all optioned out. I am guilty of this myself. Consider the painted option? Done right, they look great! I like the flat black look.
As others have pointed out, sourcing, chroming, is expensive. Here’s mine, I think these cost me $2000 or so by the time I bolted them on. That, was 20 years ago!

Do not ruin your 75 76 by removing the factory bumpers and cutting it up for the earlier bumpers

Chrome bumpers are commonly available, however and we actually make stainless from our own tooling from harrington in vietnam. The look good and are much stronger than the original chrome

I have to disagree with the good Dr. on this issue; dump those BUB's (Big Ugly Bumpers) and convert to the beautiful, much lighter, early bumpers. Probably drop 100 pounds (give or take) of weight in the process.

I back dated mine and I love it! It's not that hard to do, and I didn't butcher anything! I did mine in one day, just before it went to the paint shop! The difference in handling was instantly amazing! It's all about what you want from YOUR car!

I had weighed the bumpers and shock mounts years ago. IIRC, the front totaled 38 and the rear 42 while the early bumpers are about 12lbs each.

Francis is doing an electric conversion on her car so originality might not be a big concern. Either way, it's her car to do whatever she wants.

I totally agree with Dr. 914. When I bought my '75 in 2015, I was also planning to backdate the bumpers. I'm very glad I didn't. Instead I lightened up the bumpers by removing as much stuff as possible : 13 lbs on the front and 13 lbs on the back and they are still very rigid. And outside they look original. IIRC it was Mepstein who gave me the idea.

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wow that is some excellent looking CAREFUL work!!!

Backdate if you like - it's your car but if it were me, I'd do it.

But - instead of chrome, I'd suggest going with the black versions.
My 73 Olympic had chrome and I always thought those were the best but then I bought my 74 Olympic and I've now come to prefer the black. Just an option to consider!

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Thanks everyone! This is a good complication of tips and will be sure to do these when it comes time for bumpers! Just for reference, the old bumper were really odd and heavy (check out my bumper removal episode) and the front bumper was definitely not stock. Super excited to do this!

I would say send them to my house in Mexico and Ill bring them up on my next trip but I am so far off the grid down there I do not have an address
-Andrew