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I have been looking at numerous 68-73 photos where the rear chrome bumpers were removed and the lower valance has been molded into the rear tail panel.
I really like the clean lines without the chrome bumpers and the absence of the seams between the two panels.
My questions are:
1. When this is done, are the bumper support brackets removed as well, if not how are the brackets connected to the valance so the bolts are hidden?
2. If the bumper brackets are eliminated, does the license plate to frame bracket supply enough support to the lower valance to prevent any vibration or movement that would cause cracking over time?
If you have any pictures, please post.
Thanks
Last edited by OldCarBum; Oct 11, 2021 at 04:42 PM.
Not everybody believes chrome bumper C3 Corvettes look better.. Some of us see the beauty in the rubber bumper cars. Its just not "cool" to say it, so most don't.
I have been looking at numerous 68-73 photos where the rear chrome bumpers were removed and the lower valance has been molded into the rear tail panel.
I really like the clean lines without the chrome bumpers and the absence of the seams between the two panels.
My question are:
1. When this is done, are the bumper support brackets removed as well, if not how are the brackets connected to the valance so the bolts are hidden?
2. If the bumper brackets are eliminated, does the license plate to frame bracket supply enough support to the lower valance to prevent any vibration or movement that would cause cracking over time?
If you have any pictures, please post.
Thanks
I don't have any advice, but do you already own the car in question? If not, get a rubber bumper and save yourself a butt-load of cash. If you have a chrome bumper, sell it, buy a rubber bumper, and have a ton of cash for any upgrades you want to make.
Maybe just black-out the offending chrome? Most of the bumper-delete C3s I've seen have been vintage race cars. I don't know what size you need, but something like 3M vinyl wrap might work, and be reversible. It should work on window trim, too.
This is a 78 or 79 with a chrome-style bumper, so ignore the bubble-glass.
I don't have any advice, but do you already own the car in question? If not, get a rubber bumper and save yourself a butt-load of cash. If you have a chrome bumper, sell it, buy a rubber bumper, and have a ton of cash for any upgrades you want to make.
Z
I already own a 73 which has the chrome rear bumpers and the rubber front.
I personally believe the 73 model year looks better with the 68-72 duck tail rear end minus the chrome bumpers.
I will be starting a body off restomod soon so the work involved is no big deal.
Maybe just black-out the offending chrome? Most of the bumper-delete C3s I've seen have been vintage race cars. I don't know what size you need, but something like 3M vinyl wrap might work, and be reversible. It should work on window trim, too.
This is a 78 or 79 with a chrome-style bumper, so ignore the bubble-glass.
I have considered painting the bumpers to match the body color, especially since I’m planning to paint it black.
This is the best one I have seen with stock fenders- fellow forum member "Kid Vette"- I'd PM him.
Then there is Brent319- with massive rear flares- his started life as a 76-
Here's a chrome bumper gone wrong!!
Thanks Richard454, Kid Vette has several posts in Priya’s thread and Doorgunner has done a lot of work to his rear tail section as well.
Brent319’s has the exact look I’m thinking about but without the flares.
If I had a 68-72 I would not even consider this mod, but with no chrome front bumper, I think the rear chrome bumpers offset the balance.
If I stick with black paint I might just paint them, but any other color I will consider removing them.
What about using vinyl wrap to match the paint? If you ever sold it, you could just remove the vinyl and hopefully recover the value without a lot of work.
What about using vinyl wrap to match the paint? If you ever sold it, you could just remove the vinyl and hopefully recover the value without a lot of work.
Regards,
Simon
My 73 will be highly modified so having the original bumpers wrapped to preserve any value is something I’m not too worried about.
I’ve also considered buying a set of fiberglass reproduction bumpers, shaving off some of the material to make them slimmer and painting them.
every one except the maroon straight bumper car are 75-up. so the duck tail and tail panel are different than your 73 and as such not viable reference cars. my 75 is getting a stock 71 tail panel and real chrome bumpers. so i can't see going the other way. but i can barely afford mine. i can't afford them all. so i get no say in anybody else's...
Not everybody believes chrome bumper C3 Corvettes look better.. Some of us see the beauty in the rubber bumper cars. Its just not "cool" to say it, so most don't.
Last edited by Shovels and Vettes; Oct 11, 2021 at 05:54 PM.
I have been looking at numerous 68-73 photos where the rear chrome bumpers were removed and the lower valance has been molded into the rear tail panel.
I really like the clean lines without the chrome bumpers and the absence of the seams between the two panels.
My questions are:
1. When this is done, are the bumper support brackets removed as well, if not how are the brackets connected to the valance so the bolts are hidden?
2. If the bumper brackets are eliminated, does the license plate to frame bracket supply enough support to the lower valance to prevent any vibration or movement that would cause cracking over time?
If you have any pictures, please post.
Thanks
The license plate brackets are thin stamped steel and are designed to support the valence panel, not the whole rear deck. Attached is a pic of the main bracket pair on my 69 and you can see they are beefy as they support carrying the load from the bumper to the rear frame crossmember. Don’t forget that you also have lateral brackets that tie into the bumpers at the forward most point on the side. Again, they carry the load from the bumper to the frame but all-in-all, the bumper brackets do double duty of supporting the rear deck.
Keep in mind also that if you do this mod, you’ll not be able to remove the body from the frame. Even with the rear valence removed, it’s a tight squeeze to get the body to clear the frame.
If you must, you could do some creative glasswork and embed some nut plates to tie the deck to the bumper-less configuration but that would likely entail some modification of the brackets.
I'm no expert on this chrome bumper delete plan. But I will say this about the situation. Those that are giving you a hard time. Tell them to stuff it! It's your car and you should do what makes you happy. Not everyone wants chrome bumpers. Wish I could help more. However I wish you the best with your restomod.
@AllVettes4Me's 72 road race replica may also have the look you are after, at least the rear half. I'm sure his build thread explains how the bumper was removed.
Rear Chrome Bumper Delete
