Why did chevy use urethane?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: San Francisco CA
St. Jude Donor '07
Why did chevy use urethane?
Why did chevy use urethane bumpers on the '73-('96?) vettes? Mine fell apart and ended up replacing using fiberglass. Why didn't they just start off with fiberglass? And are c5 bumpers urethane too?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Fair Oaks, OK
Re: Why did chevy use urethane? (Buffalo Dude)
Warning: The contents of this post are 100% speculated. I do not know this for a fact.
I have always wondered about this. I am thinking durability. You can bump into things with a urethane bumper and it will give slightly. OTOH, with a fiberglass (not talking about "true-flex" or whatever that is called) bumper, it will shatter.
My vette was bumped into by an old guy once... it scratched the back right corner a little, but thats about it.
Again, I really have no idea what I am talking about. :seeya
I have always wondered about this. I am thinking durability. You can bump into things with a urethane bumper and it will give slightly. OTOH, with a fiberglass (not talking about "true-flex" or whatever that is called) bumper, it will shatter.
My vette was bumped into by an old guy once... it scratched the back right corner a little, but thats about it.
Again, I really have no idea what I am talking about. :seeya
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: New Hill NC
Re: Why did chevy use urethane? (Buffalo Dude)
Five MPM rules went into place. Thats the way that they could put a good looking bumper on the car and meet the specifications. Remember what the bumper looks like on a mid 70s Cheverolet. Want that hung on your corvette?
Thread Starter
Race Director
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From: San Francisco CA
St. Jude Donor '07
Re: Why did chevy use urethane? (wombvette)
Sorry, not old enough to really know what mid 70s chevy bumpers looked like, except for my '75 vette. I've probably seen them, but can't recall. Pics would be much appreciated.
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From: Exiled to Richmond, VA - Finally sold my house in Murfreesboro, TN ?? Corner of "Bumf*&k and 'You've got a purdy mouth'."
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St. Jude Donor '06-'10, '13
Re: Why did chevy use urethane? (Buffalo Dude)
Sorry, not old enough to really know what mid 70s chevy bumpers looked like, except for my '75 vette. I've probably seen them, but can't recall. Pics would be much appreciated.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,616
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From: Round Rock, Texas, USA Texas
Re: Why did chevy use urethane? (Buffalo Dude)
'72 was the last year for good looking bumpers (check camaros, chevelle, basically any car) - in '73 had to have (government mandated) a 5MPH with no or very minimal damage on the front - in '74 both front and back. When you look at the big sqare aluminum battering rams Chevy put on the Camaro in '74 you can see why Chevy was scrambling to keep the Vette looking as good as it did.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: St. Louis, Missouri
Re: Why did chevy use urethane? (Buffalo Dude)
For better or worse, everyone started moving towards urethane in the '70s, not just Chevrolet or the Corvette.
At least 5 reasons are:
Aerodynamics
Styling
Weight
Cost savings
Crash Absorption (they don't build cars to fight off collisions anymore, they build them to absorb the energy - throughout the vehicle :(
At least 5 reasons are:
Aerodynamics
Styling
Weight
Cost savings
Crash Absorption (they don't build cars to fight off collisions anymore, they build them to absorb the energy - throughout the vehicle :(
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Why did chevy use urethane? (Buffalo Dude)
The problem you describe appears to be from the cold in northern climates. Mine are fine, of course I don't use them either. :cool:
Modern bumpers give the Vette better aerodynamics. Sophistication with an understated elegance. A nice blend of art, design and technology.
Modern bumpers give the Vette better aerodynamics. Sophistication with an understated elegance. A nice blend of art, design and technology.
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