View Poll Results: Would you buy a chrome conversion kit for your rubber bumper car?
Voters: 166. You may not vote on this poll
POLL: Chrome Bumper Conversion Kit for Rubber Bumper 'Vettes
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: End of the Ike IL
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
POLL: Chrome Bumper Conversion Kit for Rubber Bumper 'Vettes
After keeping up with Sevensteps original thread, I still find no poll on who with rubber bumpers would buy a chrome bumper conversion kit if one was offered. I have no dog in this hunt but also don't consider myself a "chrome bumper elitist" as a couple of posts in the original thread have called those of us who own a '68-'73. It's your car, do what you want.
So, vote if you wish and let's see what the verdict is...
So, vote if you wish and let's see what the verdict is...
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 93
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From: Crossville Tennessee
One more time...
It is not "major surgery at best". You need to go back a re-read the original thread. We are talking about a bolt-on kit that replaces the front nose piece only. There is no "surgery" except what is entailed in ubolting the original nose piece and bolting the new one on.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 93
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From: Crossville Tennessee
Not enough specifics...
Without pictures of a completed prototype and all of the negative posts in my last thread and "poo=poos" of the idea, I completely expect more "no" votes than yes..
It is fashionable and trendy to "like what ya got" and not wish it was something else and I understand that...However, if this kit was done right, it would be successful and people would want it.
You would have to see a completed car and compare all angles to a "before" shot to really be able to grasp what the kit consisted of and how much more desireable it would look.
Voting now "NO" based on not enough specifics of the completed model, what labor is involved, the quality, and most importantly what it LOOKS like, is uninformed at best.
It is fashionable and trendy to "like what ya got" and not wish it was something else and I understand that...However, if this kit was done right, it would be successful and people would want it.
You would have to see a completed car and compare all angles to a "before" shot to really be able to grasp what the kit consisted of and how much more desireable it would look.
Voting now "NO" based on not enough specifics of the completed model, what labor is involved, the quality, and most importantly what it LOOKS like, is uninformed at best.
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Michael S. Palmer
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 188
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From: Victoria Texas
I am a huge fan of chrome bumper cars and my dream car is a 1970 (my birth year) big block 4-speed, red of course. I am, however, happy with my red '77 l-48. Someday I will get my dream car but until then, I'm satisfied with what I have. I'm all for modifying cars too but there are certain things I feel shouldn't be done like putting a big block hood and emblems on a small block car...for that matter putting l-82 badging on an l-48. Another thing that really gets my goat is people who put z-71 4x4 stickers on 2 wheel drive trucks. I guess these people don't think a person can tell the difference???
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,152
Likes: 477
From: NM
It is not "major surgery at best". You need to go back a re-read the original thread. We are talking about a bolt-on kit that replaces the front nose piece only. There is no "surgery" except what is entailed in ubolting the original nose piece and bolting the new one on.
But I guess that a reasonable cost steel bumper setup could be designed to replace the rubber bumper caps if you did not care if it did not look like the original steel bumper cars. Would be more of a custom car look.
Last edited by Tom73; May 31, 2007 at 11:51 AM.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Sealy TX
St. Jude Donor 06-'07
Without pictures of a completed prototype and all of the negative posts in my last thread and "poo=poos" of the idea, I completely expect more "no" votes than yes..
It is fashionable and trendy to "like what ya got" and not wish it was something else and I understand that...However, if this kit was done right, it would be successful and people would want it.
You would have to see a completed car and compare all angles to a "before" shot to really be able to grasp what the kit consisted of and how much more desireable it would look.
Voting now "NO" based on not enough specifics of the completed model, what labor is involved, the quality, and most importantly what it LOOKS like, is uninformed at best.
It is fashionable and trendy to "like what ya got" and not wish it was something else and I understand that...However, if this kit was done right, it would be successful and people would want it.
You would have to see a completed car and compare all angles to a "before" shot to really be able to grasp what the kit consisted of and how much more desireable it would look.
Voting now "NO" based on not enough specifics of the completed model, what labor is involved, the quality, and most importantly what it LOOKS like, is uninformed at best.
Seven, you need to understand that not everyone likes what you like. If you want this "bolt on" faux pre 73 bumper thing, then go for it, get with several companies and convince them they'll make big bucks on this deal.
My dos centavos.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,654
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From: Chandler Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
I did not vote because I don't have rubber bumpers. That said, I am not an elitist, and I am certainly not against someone doing this. I am only thinking that the price to do it may be prohibitive. The direction this poll is taking is part of the positive next steps I mentioned in the other thread. Get good data to create a sound business case and you might convince someone to take on the R&D.
BTW: My '69 will not be stock, so I too have made multiple mods including wheels, steeroids, killer lights conversion, hydroboost brakes, fiberglass spring, sidepipes, the list goes on. I won't likely use the stock paint color either. I enjoy well done modified cars. IMHO, I still think there is not a great enough return on investment for a company to undertake this product but if I'm wrong it wouldn't be the first time.
BTW: My '69 will not be stock, so I too have made multiple mods including wheels, steeroids, killer lights conversion, hydroboost brakes, fiberglass spring, sidepipes, the list goes on. I won't likely use the stock paint color either. I enjoy well done modified cars. IMHO, I still think there is not a great enough return on investment for a company to undertake this product but if I'm wrong it wouldn't be the first time.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 93
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From: Crossville Tennessee
Exactly
The nose is different so would not be a bolt on. Only way to do a bolt on would be to create a "different" front bumper assembly that would fit the different nose. But that would not look like the original steel bumper cars. The rear chrome bumpers would be even more surgery as the quarters and deck are different. Would require a major grafting operation.
But I guess that a reasonable cost steel bumper setup could be designed to replace the rubber bumper caps if you did not care if it did not look like the original steel bumper cars. Would be more of a custom car look.
But I guess that a reasonable cost steel bumper setup could be designed to replace the rubber bumper caps if you did not care if it did not look like the original steel bumper cars. Would be more of a custom car look.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,049
Likes: 675
From: FL
It looks OK but IMHO, this idea would NOT "sell like hot cakes" like was said in the other thread. Most of us with rubber bumpers are perfectly happy with our cars.
Last edited by SteveG75; May 31, 2007 at 12:25 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Crossville Tennessee
rear bumper...
I looked very closely at my rear bumper....It could be custom designed the same exact way. Give it the 80-82 style spoiler, (reminiscent of the 68-72 rear spoilers), but pull the contour in to a more concave style and don't recess the tailights. The whole rear bumper cover could be remolded to resemble a 1972 style along with a chrome "bumper" that attached to via specialized brackets and hardware that came with the kit.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,049
Likes: 675
From: FL
I looked very closely at my rear bumper....It could be custom designed the same exact way. Give it the 80-82 style spoiler, (reminiscent of the 68-72 rear spoilers), but pull the contour in to a more concave style and don't recess the tailights. The whole rear bumper cover could be remolded to resemble a 1972 style along with a chrome "bumper" that attached to via specialized brackets and hardware that came with the kit.
That said, you could probably do the mod for about $1500 per an end. That is assuming mass production which I do not see the demand for.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,152
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From: NM
Here is a statement regarding comments from Larry Shinoda:
"Larry Shinoda, the famous Corvette designer, once commented in an interview that the 1973 was his favorite of the post-1967 era because the front and rear styling were closest to what the stylists originally had in mind when this series was first designed."
(Illustrated Corvette Buyer's Guide by Michael Antonick).
tom...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
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From: Boca Raton Florida
I voted no because I happen to like the rubber bumpers. The chrome bumpers are ok, but not as much to my personal taste. I think some kits would sell, doubt there would be enough though to make any $ on them.
Kind of a neat idea tho
Kind of a neat idea tho