Paragon anyone?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 845
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From: LAKE BARRINGTON IL
Paragon anyone?
HI all!,
looking into bumpers...debating the quality of Paragon vs re-chroming mine with triple chrome plate...
there is obviously a cost difference...which is nice...but I am wondering how much quality I am giving up...??
Paragon is about 800 for all repros...triple chrome is about 1500...
Thanks!
Ron
looking into bumpers...debating the quality of Paragon vs re-chroming mine with triple chrome plate...
there is obviously a cost difference...which is nice...but I am wondering how much quality I am giving up...??
Paragon is about 800 for all repros...triple chrome is about 1500...
Thanks!
Ron
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In general I prefer re-chroming to buying new/repro bumpers. For the first time, I bought new ones from Paragon for a 69 last year. They fit perfectly and the quality of the chrome was excellent.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi F,
I agree that if your present bumpers fit well and are in good enough condition to re-plate it's the wise thing to do.
The bumpers from Paragon that I've looked at are very nice.
"Triple chrome" doesn't mean 3 layers of chrome… it refers to 3 plating layers… copper, nickel, and chrome.
The copper provides the surface for the plating shop to polish and perfect, the nickel provides the silver color, and the chrome provides the very hard blueish tint that a chrome plated part has.
Regards,
Alan
I agree that if your present bumpers fit well and are in good enough condition to re-plate it's the wise thing to do.
The bumpers from Paragon that I've looked at are very nice.
"Triple chrome" doesn't mean 3 layers of chrome… it refers to 3 plating layers… copper, nickel, and chrome.
The copper provides the surface for the plating shop to polish and perfect, the nickel provides the silver color, and the chrome provides the very hard blueish tint that a chrome plated part has.
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
If you like the way your bumpers fit, and your car is already painted, don't even think about buying new bumpers! Get yours replated.
Corvette bumpers are integrated into the design of the body, and as such have rather tight tolerances. To maintain those tolerances, any time you change the bumpers on a Corvette, they should be fitted to the body. Obviously this often requires body work, so they really need to be fitted, before painting the car. Every car varies some, especially after 40 or 50 years. Everyone likes to blame the repro bumpers for their fit issues, but GM ones didn't always fit well either.
The Paragon bumpers are the best on the market. They're still being made by the same company, that made them for GM. Unfortunately, after 40+ years of stamping out bumpers, there is some wear and variation in the stamping equipment used. Paragon makes a beautiful bumper, but I still wouldn't rely on them fitting perfectly, to a car that was previously restored and/or fitted to a different set of bumpers.
Corvette bumpers are integrated into the design of the body, and as such have rather tight tolerances. To maintain those tolerances, any time you change the bumpers on a Corvette, they should be fitted to the body. Obviously this often requires body work, so they really need to be fitted, before painting the car. Every car varies some, especially after 40 or 50 years. Everyone likes to blame the repro bumpers for their fit issues, but GM ones didn't always fit well either.
The Paragon bumpers are the best on the market. They're still being made by the same company, that made them for GM. Unfortunately, after 40+ years of stamping out bumpers, there is some wear and variation in the stamping equipment used. Paragon makes a beautiful bumper, but I still wouldn't rely on them fitting perfectly, to a car that was previously restored and/or fitted to a different set of bumpers.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
That's not how I read it:
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 104
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From: Bennington VT
I replaced my chrome bumpers 2 years ago. (My original 1970 bumpers were just too far gone to re-chrome.) Long story short, Paragon was the only company that has a front and rear bumper that fits perfectly. I think I returned 4 or 5 sets that were just aweful. I won't name the vendors, but buyer beware!
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 83
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From: So Cal California
Not trying to hijack anyone's thread here, but other than fit how do you tell if you have factory original bumpers or really good Paragon reproductionss? I have owned my 1969 for two years and can't tell from looking if these are originals or repops. Trying to learn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
The Paragon reproductions have "PR" stamped into the mounting bracket.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 104
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From: Bennington VT
You will have to remove the bumper and look for the label on the reverse. Paragon stamps their bumpers with a P so you can't return a bumper to them that was not sold by them. Paragon holds the GM patent on the part and and any other seller will not fit, period. They can't legally sell a part that is as exact as the original. That's why the other parts might look right, but there is slight variance to avoid the patent issue, and it won't fit correctly.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 83
Likes: 1
From: So Cal California
So I understand how Paragon would mark the parts, but would GM have placed a part number or mark indicating orginal factory install or replacment? Just wondering... Sorry to original poster and I will step aside and stop hijacking this thread 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
Repro parts don't vary from original, because they have to be different for patent reasons. They vary because the company making them, did a poor job of producing the repro.
Thousands of aftermarket parts are made identical to OEM, without being licensed. Parts labeled as GM Restoration Parts, are usually either parts being made using GM's tooling, or parts that have GM markings on them somewhere.
No. Sometimes GM service replacement bumpers, came with the typical blue and white GM Parts label on the back side of them, but not always. Factory installed bumpers didn't get the label, or have any kind of part number or identifying mark(s) on them.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Factor, the bumpers at this link are the Paragon bumper. The best reproduction bumper in the business hands down. http://willcoxcorvette.com/advanced_...eywords=bumper and you can use the 10 off code in this section.
I have not had any issues with the paragon bumpers of late, they always fit great on the rear and the fronts can be a bit of a task at times.
Not to push the imports, but we just installed a set in our shop and I was a bit surprised. The imported seemed to fit pretty darn good, I was expecting problems and issues. What I saw was the chrome on the imported bumpers was not as nice as what you get on the Paragon bumpers, but I have to be honest they were pretty darn nice looking.
I have not had any issues with the paragon bumpers of late, they always fit great on the rear and the fronts can be a bit of a task at times.
Not to push the imports, but we just installed a set in our shop and I was a bit surprised. The imported seemed to fit pretty darn good, I was expecting problems and issues. What I saw was the chrome on the imported bumpers was not as nice as what you get on the Paragon bumpers, but I have to be honest they were pretty darn nice looking.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I thinnk he explained that quite clearly:
"The imported seemed to fit pretty darn good, I was expecting problems and issues. What I saw was the chrome on the imported bumpers was not as nice as what you get on the Paragon bumpers, but I have to be honest they were pretty darn nice looking."
"The imported seemed to fit pretty darn good, I was expecting problems and issues. What I saw was the chrome on the imported bumpers was not as nice as what you get on the Paragon bumpers, but I have to be honest they were pretty darn nice looking."
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,149
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From: cary Il
I thinnk he explained that quite clearly:
"The imported seemed to fit pretty darn good, I was expecting problems and issues. What I saw was the chrome on the imported bumpers was not as nice as what you get on the Paragon bumpers, but I have to be honest they were pretty darn nice looking."
"The imported seemed to fit pretty darn good, I was expecting problems and issues. What I saw was the chrome on the imported bumpers was not as nice as what you get on the Paragon bumpers, but I have to be honest they were pretty darn nice looking."