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The ends at the wheel well are different also.
The earlier bumpers are a bit rounded at the ends, the later ones more follow the wheel well opening with a slant.
Doug
The ends at teh wheel well are different also. The earlier bumpers are rounded at the ends, the later ones more follow the wheel well opening with a slant.
Doug
I didn't know that. Do you have comparative pictures?
I don't have the comparative pics but they have been posted here before. The '61-'62 end are flat on the ends, but angled down towards the front of the car at about 20*, the earlier bumper doesn't seem to have as great an angle towards the front.. I sold the earlier bumper i had a few years ago.
Here is thread with some pics, there is better pic showing the ends from the sides but i can't find it.
I don't have the comparative pics but they have been posted here before. The '61-'62 end are flat on the ends, but angled down towards the front of the car at about 20*, the earlier bumper doesn't seem to have as great an angle towards the front.. I sold the earlier bumper i had a few years ago.
Here is thread with some pics, there is better pic showing the ends from the sides but i can't find it.
The welded on bracket for attaching the grill bar is located about 3/4" more forward on the '61/'62 bumpers.
If one were to install '61/'62 bumpers on a '58-'60, the grill bar and teeth would stick out of the surrounding chrome rather prominently.
This is correct. There is NO difference in the side angle. The bumpers came from the same molds, with the difference being the welding of the cross bar brace. The wheel wells on a 58-60 are exactly the same
I accidently posted to the old thread while reading this thread. I posted that the 58-60 tapered edge profile is the quickest way to recognize the difference. I have one of each and no way they came from the same mold to me? And, yes, the offset is about 3/4".
Last edited by tgtexas02; Jan 14, 2020 at 02:48 PM.
I accidently posted to the old thread while reading this thread. I posted that the 58-60 tapered edge profile is the quickest way to recognize the difference. I have one of each and no way they came from the same mold to me? And, yes, the offset is about 3/4".
First, I am not going to argue with Mike who is always right. So, it might have been same mold but they maybe machined top edge out to the end resulting in the 58-60 being a little more tapered. But, this very slight taper will identify an original 58-60 bumper very quickly. And, the only other difference would have been where GM welded the grille bar support bracket. which turns out to be about 3/4" different between the 58-60 and 61-62. Like all other part changes, it might be possible that some very early 60 cars were built with 58-60 bumpers or some very late 60 cars were built with 61-62 style bumpers. Doubt that they ever mixed having one of each them though!
I think what Doug is talking about is the angle of the end of the bumper when you look at the car from the side following the wheel well. The wheel well on a 58 through 60 car is exactly the same size dimensionally as a 61 through 62 car. The circumference is the same, therefore the bumper end would have the same finish, or angle. I just went through all of my judging manuals, all of my restoration books, and I did a search on the NCRS site for C1 Bumpers and can’t find any differences other than the weld position of the license bar. I think it’s a myth.
Originally Posted by tgtexas02
First, I am not going to argue with Mike who is always right. So, it might have been same mold but they maybe machined top edge out to the end resulting in the 58-60 being a little more tapered. But, this very slight taper will identify an original 58-60 bumper very quickly. And, the only other difference would have been where GM welded the grille bar support bracket. which turns out to be about 3/4" different between the 58-60 and 61-62. Like all other part changes, it might be possible that some very early 60 cars were built with 58-60 bumpers or some very late 60 cars were built with 61-62 style bumpers. Doubt that they ever mixed having one of each them though!
Last edited by mike coletta; Jan 14, 2020 at 05:36 PM.
A sideways view of the first pic would show the bulge quite distinctly. You can see it's there in the pic you showed, by the light reflection, but i know what i am looking for. I got my old LF bumper off a wrecked '58 car in 1974, and never paid much attention to the diffs until I went to put center cross bar on circa 2005 and noticed the diffs, then saw the end diffs as others pointed them out to me at that time. I can spot an ORIGINAL '58-'60 bumper from 30 feet at a car show. There are LOT of early cars with service replacement bumpers that have teh later profile that are touted as original.
Edit, that flat angled edge is not flat on original early bumpers, it has a curve in it. You can see it in the light reflection in the pic above. Maybe it was '58 only, maybe it was all '58-'60, but it is different.
Doug
Originally Posted by tgtexas02
First, I am not going to argue with Mike who is always right. So, it might have been same mold but they maybe machined top edge out to the end resulting in the 58-60 being a little more tapered. But, this very slight taper will identify an original 58-60 bumper very quickly. And, the only other difference would have been where GM welded the grille bar support bracket. which turns out to be about 3/4" different between the 58-60 and 61-62. Like all other part changes, it might be possible that some very early 60 cars were built with 58-60 bumpers or some very late 60 cars were built with 61-62 style bumpers. Doubt that they ever mixed having one of each them though!
Thanks for the info. I knew there was a difference where the center bar was bolted but didnt know which was which. I will start looking more closely at the ends to see if i can see a difference myself. Now another question can any one tell me how much one bumper weights ? I would like to know incase i find a pair and need shipped.
