SIXPACK... If you have really good originals... and you have a good chrome shop that is capable of doing a show quality chrome job, I would rechrome the originals. It is however becoming increasingly hard to find a chrome shop that does high quality work. Not impossible, but hard.

If your originals are good enough to be rechromed, someone will pay good money for them. Heck, even if they're not good enough to be rechromed, someone will buy them at Carlisle regardless...

I've gone both ways and have been happy with the results both times. I rechromed the rear bumpers for my '73, but bought all four bumpers for my '63 from Paragon and was stunned by the quality.

Good luck, tough decision... GUSTO

 

by new from paragon and sell your old originals, no down time waiting months while in the chrome shop and you will probably pay the same in the end.

 

Thanks to know. I bought a front bumper on ebay. It looked mint and was a really great price. Unfortunately it was a repro bumper that didn't fit. Glad to hear Paragon is selling ones that fit.

 

I have been dealing with Paragon for nearly 30 years and never a problem, good people.

 

I have recently made a few orders with Paragon and am enrolled in their program where I qualify for discounts no matter how much my order is. I appreciate this and now buy from just them unless they don't have the part I'm looking for. It isn't worth knocking myself out going to other vendors since their prices are on the mark. Plus, they have the best catalog/index on the market for quickly finding stuff. Good job in considering the customer Paragon.

 

I'm fortunate enough to have Paragon located right up the road from me. About a 20 minute ride. When I was restoring my '68 I was up there all the time. Whenever I couldn't find a good reproduction "whatever" for my '68 (which was quite often), I'd go back in the vintage warehouse to see what they had in the way of used parts. Richard, the original owner, got to where if he saw me walk in he'd say, "what can I find you for your '68 today?". Then he'd take me back in the warehouse where he had more old Corvette parts than you could imagine. He'd never let me leave until he found me what I needed. He wasn't embarrassed to ask a good price for what he had, but he always made sure that it was a good part and that I was happy with it. He sold the business as I neared completion of my '68, but from what I can tell, the new owners have carried on the tradition of the business quite well and have kept on most of the old guard that worked there when Richard owned the business. I have NEVER been disappointed with Paragon's quality or service.

I've heard that Richard had a family connection within GM that enabled him to buy much of the old Corvette tooling to make his reproductions from. Richard himself told me that he was collecting Corvette, as well as other Chevy parts, long before they became so desirable. Obviously a man with foresight as well as a love for Corvettes.

BTW: He also owned a few Corvettes that were GM prototypes that he would occasionally put on display in his showroom...some really rare and interesting stuff.

 

I used many items from Paragon and they are excellent, Maybe I've had good luck but, I think it's the company. However at the rate the EPA is going it'll be both financially and legally impossible to get anything re-chromed or any other finish damn soon. You used to be able to get Zinc plating here in SE Pennsylvania, but that really almost history. Frankford Plating does fantastic re-chroming but he has a hell of a time and waits till he's got enough of the load to run to do it. They have been doing it for a very long time, I've had many parts done by them. But the environmental issues and pressures the feds put on that whole industry is every increasing. Nothing wrong with buying a perfect set and keeping yours or waiting and selling them your self at some point in the future.

 

I bought a Paragon front bumper last month the fit is perfect and the chrome looks great>

 

Thank you Paragon for another great Customer Appreciation Day this September. They have always treated me well and support our Corvette Club.

 

No chance of something not fitting as before...