1972 rear bumpers
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,678
Likes: 3,129
From: Shamong, NJ
There have been a few different sources over the years for foreign made bumpers, some decent and some pure junk.
There was a company out of Alabama that made some overseas that were terrible. They were two piece with grinding marks and an obvious seam where they were welded together, and they also fit poorly. Keystone (the old mag wheel company) was making front and rear bumpers, the rears looked and fit pretty good but the fronts were junk. Two Corvette companies previously shared exclusive rights to distribute the Keystone bumpers, but they may now only be coming through one after ownership changes at the other. Fargo, a California company that only does wholesale was making bumpers overseas also that looked pretty good, but I don't have any experience with how they fit.
The above isn't a lot of help, because most places won't tell you where they're sourcing them from, so you really have no idea whose bumpers you may be getting. Beyond that, if your car is in a paint shop I would say go ahead and order your bumpers now, but if your car is already painted I wouldn't recommend buying any bumpers, US or foreign made. If your car is painted and done, and you like the fit of the bumpers you have now, get them rechromed. I don't care where the bumpers are made or how well made they are, there are just too many variables that can effect the fit of bumpers and it just doesn't pay to take a chance on buying new ones. It just makes way more sense to have yours chromed if the car is already painted. That's my opinion anyway.
There was a company out of Alabama that made some overseas that were terrible. They were two piece with grinding marks and an obvious seam where they were welded together, and they also fit poorly. Keystone (the old mag wheel company) was making front and rear bumpers, the rears looked and fit pretty good but the fronts were junk. Two Corvette companies previously shared exclusive rights to distribute the Keystone bumpers, but they may now only be coming through one after ownership changes at the other. Fargo, a California company that only does wholesale was making bumpers overseas also that looked pretty good, but I don't have any experience with how they fit.
The above isn't a lot of help, because most places won't tell you where they're sourcing them from, so you really have no idea whose bumpers you may be getting. Beyond that, if your car is in a paint shop I would say go ahead and order your bumpers now, but if your car is already painted I wouldn't recommend buying any bumpers, US or foreign made. If your car is painted and done, and you like the fit of the bumpers you have now, get them rechromed. I don't care where the bumpers are made or how well made they are, there are just too many variables that can effect the fit of bumpers and it just doesn't pay to take a chance on buying new ones. It just makes way more sense to have yours chromed if the car is already painted. That's my opinion anyway.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,253
Likes: 768
From: Waterford WI
There have been a few different sources over the years for foreign made bumpers, some decent and some pure junk.
There was a company out of Alabama that made some overseas that were terrible. They were two piece with grinding marks and an obvious seam where they were welded together, and they also fit poorly. Keystone (the old mag wheel company) was making front and rear bumpers, the rears looked and fit pretty good but the fronts were junk. Two Corvette companies previously shared exclusive rights to distribute the Keystone bumpers, but they may now only be coming through one after ownership changes at the other. Fargo, a California company that only does wholesale was making bumpers overseas also that looked pretty good, but I don't have any experience with how they fit.
The above isn't a lot of help, because most places won't tell you where they're sourcing them from, so you really have no idea whose bumpers you may be getting. Beyond that, if your car is in a paint shop I would say go ahead and order your bumpers now, but if your car is already painted I wouldn't recommend buying any bumpers, US or foreign made. If your car is painted and done, and you like the fit of the bumpers you have now, get them rechromed. I don't care where the bumpers are made or how well made they are, there are just too many variables that can effect the fit of bumpers and it just doesn't pay to take a chance on buying new ones. It just makes way more sense to have yours chromed if the car is already painted. That's my opinion anyway.
There was a company out of Alabama that made some overseas that were terrible. They were two piece with grinding marks and an obvious seam where they were welded together, and they also fit poorly. Keystone (the old mag wheel company) was making front and rear bumpers, the rears looked and fit pretty good but the fronts were junk. Two Corvette companies previously shared exclusive rights to distribute the Keystone bumpers, but they may now only be coming through one after ownership changes at the other. Fargo, a California company that only does wholesale was making bumpers overseas also that looked pretty good, but I don't have any experience with how they fit.
The above isn't a lot of help, because most places won't tell you where they're sourcing them from, so you really have no idea whose bumpers you may be getting. Beyond that, if your car is in a paint shop I would say go ahead and order your bumpers now, but if your car is already painted I wouldn't recommend buying any bumpers, US or foreign made. If your car is painted and done, and you like the fit of the bumpers you have now, get them rechromed. I don't care where the bumpers are made or how well made they are, there are just too many variables that can effect the fit of bumpers and it just doesn't pay to take a chance on buying new ones. It just makes way more sense to have yours chromed if the car is already painted. That's my opinion anyway.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,267
Likes: 4,361
From: Westminster Maryland
Hello,
I agree with being leary about reproduction bumpers.
In almost all cases the chrome plating from a good re-plater will be superior to the plating on a reproduction bumper.
In addition the finished product will likely reflect (PUN) that the PREPERATION before and during the 3 layers of plating will very likely be superior too.
Regards.....
I agree with being leary about reproduction bumpers.
In almost all cases the chrome plating from a good re-plater will be superior to the plating on a reproduction bumper.
In addition the finished product will likely reflect (PUN) that the PREPERATION before and during the 3 layers of plating will very likely be superior too.
Regards.....
Last edited by Alan 71; Nov 2, 2025 at 06:00 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,780
Likes: 1,934
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
DON"T BUY CHINESE JUNK.................... Rechrome yours if they are in decent shape !
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,409
Likes: 1,821
From: Apple Valley, MN
Unfortunately, the cost of chrome plating these days is astronomical. As others have pointed out, triple plating (copper/nickel/chrome) is vastly superior to the original (and likely repro) bumpers as the copper layer affords the ability for the plater to work out all imperfections before the nickel and chrome.
If your bumpers are original, if you can afford it, having them replaced will produce the best results. Every other option is a crapshoot.
If your bumpers are original, if you can afford it, having them replaced will produce the best results. Every other option is a crapshoot.
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