Bumpers is something that I rarely pay much attention to, Ryan pointed out that the Glenn Springer chevy was sporting '55 Chevy bumpers, not being a Chevy nut I don't really know the difference in any of the early chevy bumpers. I do like customs and can appreciate using what works for maximum effect. As I was studying the front bumper I realized it looks very similar to the '52-'54 Ford bumpers. How often do the custom guys use different make bumpers on their customs? HRP
I don't follow the custom builds that closely. But I suspect that bumpers get upgraded more frequently than most of us realize. If they're done tastefully and with some forethought, you're not so likely to even notice the obvious changes. And those kind of customs hold my attention longer than others.
Yes sir, the guys that build customs have a way with pulling off simple changes that sometimes goes unnoticed. HRP
That’s what I like, the subtle differences that you see and know that something is different, but you just can’t figure out what. Much harder to pull off than adding goofy headlights and ugly tails. Smooth, flowing lines, not over chopped, out of proportion clown cars.
pretty common on customs to swap bumpers. On say a tri five Chevy sedan or hardtop it was (and still is) very common to swap the stock rear bumper for a station wagon bumper as the wagon had a spot for the license plate so you deck the trunk lid. Bumper swaps are a pretty simple way to modernize the look of the car without going to crazy in bodywork. On Taboo the bumpers were swapped early in its custom life. I think as soon as the 59 cars came out Ron was at the parts counter buying the bumpers and roll pans to fit to the car. I think they were added after the first wreck. They really made a difference on the car on the rear. Only good pics that are similar enough for a before and after.
My 57 in high school 1971, my creative juices were just starting to flow, apparently I felt the need to tell people what year my car was.
I've also seen a number of customs where owners simply turned the bumpers upside down, and people often think they're custom instead of just flipped. Most of my cars have been sans bumpers at all, as I just like the look better. I get a lot of comments about, "Aren't you worried about getting hit?" But in many decades of running no bumpers it hasn't been an issue. I'd be just as worried about getting hit with or without bumpers.
I've had a lot of cars in the past without bumpers, as seen in my avatar, I also had a mild custom '39 Ford convertible that was bumperless as well as the g***er styled '54 Ford. I will admit that the bumper saved my 1940 Ford sedan when I was rear ended by a teenage girl on a cell phone. HRP
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