urgent question backdating bumpers Options

[dax1969]

Hi,

Just saw a chrome bumper locally advertised here. Before I buy, do they just bolt on my 1973 or is some modification required ? Does the below panel and bumpertop of my car fit the early bumpers ?

Thks in advance
Rgds
Dax

[Dave_Darling]

An early rear bumper (1970, possibly part of 71) has angles on the ends of the recess for the license plate. The late-71 through 74 rear bumpers have a curve on the end of that recess.

The 1973 and 1974 front bumper would have holes for the "bumper tits".

The 1974 rear bumper would have holes for the rear "bumper tits".

The 1975-76 bumpers were large rubber things. The US models had crash beams inside the bumper, with shock absorbers mounting those to the car's body. I believe the RoW cars had simpler and lighter beams without the bumper shocks.

All of the bumpers from 70-74 were interchangeable just by bolting on the new parts. The early bumpers can be put on a 75+ car by drilling out the mounting holes, cutting off the lips that the rubber covers hooked to, and covering up the holes for the bumper shocks. I don't know of anyone who put the late bumpers onto an earlier car, so I'm not sure how easy that is.

--DD