C2 Front Bumpers

[Doug L.]

Can someone post a photo of the rear tip of a C2 (or specifically a 1964) front bumper. Mine were judged to be aftermarket ("NTP"-not typical production) with a note indicating "...edges and corners not sharp". I am looking for replacements but I am not certain how to tell a re-pro from an original. Mine are 2-piece- the weld is present on both bumpers, but the rear tip that I am asking about is squared off. I don't know which edges the note refers to.

Thanks in advance for any help out there.
Doug

[John M.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

Doug,
I wouldn't jump the gun without a couple more opinions. Most "originals" nowadays have been re-chromed and have therefor been modified, however slightly. If it's blatantly obvious that's one thing but opinions vary.
John

[Joe R.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

Can someone post a photo of the rear tip of a C2 (or specifically a 1964) front bumper. Mine were judged to be aftermarket ("NTP"-not typical production) with a note indicating "...edges and corners not sharp". I am looking for replacements but I am not certain how to tell a re-pro from an original. Mine are 2-piece- the weld is present on both bumpers, but the rear tip that I am asking about is squared off. I don't know which edges the note refers to.

Thanks in advance for any help out there.
Doug

Hi Doug,

Scroll down to page 2 of this newsletter for an article on this very topic:

http://stlouisncrs.org/news_files/St_LouisNCRS_ChapterNewsletter1stQuarter2014.pdf

Joe

[Jim D.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

Hi Doug,

Scroll down to page 2 of this newsletter for an article on this very topic:

http://stlouisncrs.org/news_files/St_LouisNCRS_ChapterNewsletter1stQuarter2014.pdf

Joe

As far as the chroming process, that article is wrong.

[Jim S.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

Doug,

Here are a few pics of my front corner. I offer them up only for comparison.

I think the bumpers are originals , though I can't be sure , and they had been re-chromed at one time . Therefore I don't know if they look correct or even worse then yours to a judge . Perhaps someone who knows for sure that they have originals can post a pic or chime in .

All that said , here they are ,

Jim

[Doug L.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

Thanks Guys.

In regard to the article, perhaps the thickness could be an indicator, but that wasn't mentioned on the judging sheet and I don't think a judge is allowed to take such measurements. I'm certain mine were not measured.

The second method mentioned in the article (the "finish") is useless. If a bumper has been re-plated at any point in its life, the chrome won't indicate its origin. A bad plating job on a re-production bumper would probably look like an original if that's the only criteria. Before I had mine re-plated they had many of the characteristics of the chrome in the article. Now they have none of them (because of new plating) and didn't when they were judged.

In regard to Jims photos, the ends of my bumpers are almost identical.

I will check their thickness with a micrometer and when I take the car for judging again someone is going to have to show me examples of an original and how mine differ before I will believe it.
Doug

[Mike E.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

As far as the chroming process, that article is wrong.

No offense indented to the writer of the article also but this statement seemed a little bazar.

Another area that will distinguish an original from reproduction are the weld seams, some of the weld seams will show evidence of cracking on the surface due to these bumpers being 45-50 years old. The reproduction bumpers will not show any cracking since they are newer.

By this way of thinking there would be no way to not get deduction for bumpers. No cracking means repops so loose originally points or have cracks in get hit on condition. How would you win?

I'm facing the same issue with a pitted air cleaner for my L76. Do I have it rechromed and loose some points for originally or take a whack on condition points?

Mike

[John D.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

Doug, You don't need a mic to tell the difference although it helps. One can use their fingers to tell the difference in thickness.
So you have the thickness, the seams and the ends to compare with originals.
If you buy NOS bumpers for your 1964 they are not the same as originals as they are service replacements. My 63 has NOS rear bumpers on it. Not rechromed. They get a deduct.
As it should be. John

[John M.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

I have two C2 cars with re-chromed original bumpers. They look great. If a judge wants to nick them because they look too good then go ahead.
They are restored cars. Restored original bumpers. I did get a comment at a regional but no deduct.

[Gary B.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

As far as the chroming process, that article is wrong.

Jim,

In what way is the article wrong about chroming? I'm not knowledgable enough about the chroming issue to know what's wrong without some help.

Gary

[Jim D.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

Jim,

In what way is the article wrong about chroming? I'm not knowledgable enough about the chroming issue to know what's wrong without some help.

Gary

This is the incorrect info. I was referring to - " The original bumpers wereflash chrome plated with no copper plating over the nickel plating. The reproduction bumpers have copperplating over the nickel to help give it the smooth shiny finish."

The original bumpers were polished, nickel plated and then chrome plated. In the re-chrome process, sometimes called triple plating, the metal is polished, then copper plated and polished again, then nickel plated and then chrome plated. The nickel is actually what we see as the silver shiny surface. Chrome only protects it. If the copper was over the nickel, everything would be copper colored.

[Gary B.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

Jim,

Thanks. I understand.

Gary

[John D.]

Re: C2 Front Bumpers

Having owned my share of new midyears when I was a kid let me tell you that the bumpers on those new cars were embarrassing to say the least. Wavy and crappy chrome. But we loved the cars anyhow. Today a chrome plater wouldn't dare duplicate the original appearance
.
But the first thing we did was remove the front bumper assembly anyhow. It wouldn't go back on to trade in time. JD