When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello I am currently thinking about buying a 75 corvette, But I really don't like the looks of the rear end. Is there any options to changing how they look? Could one be made to look like a 73 rear end with the chrome bumpers? Thanks Phil
Hi Phil,
Not very easily, or very inexpensively. There is a special bumper impact suspension system on the rear of the 75. This is all part of the rear frame structure. You would be way ahead of the game if you just shopped around for a nice 73. Here's a diagram of the 5mph impact system on 74-75 Corvettes. The same system was used on the front of the 73. Plus, you would still have true dual exhaust without a catalytic converter....
But then again anything is possible!
Jimmy
Hello I am currently thinking about buying a 75 corvette, But I really don't like the looks of the rear end. Is there any options to changing how they look? Could one be made to look like a 73 rear end with the chrome bumpers? Thanks Phil
It can, but it's a huge, huge amount of work. It would be far easier to just buy a 73 to start with.
Hi r,
There's a rear body 'cap' available that makes the rear of the car look sort of like a 68-73 rear end.
Some people seem very enamored with the look.
Not everyone is as smitten with it.
Since you haven't bought a car yet, perhaps you might consider looking until you find one with chrome bumpers.
Regards,
Alan
i passed up a deal on a 72 because the guy seemed a little off,only sent me pictures from 2005 and said no changes in the car since then.
I wouldn't be too put off by that, there are a few of us strange Corvette owners that have owned their car for decades and not made any significant changes. I could send you photos of my '71 from the '80's, 90's, etc. that would look the same today.
If you really want chrome bumpers then keep looking and good luck.
I wouldn't be too put off by that, there are a few of us strange Corvette owners that have owned their car for decades and not made any significant changes. I could send you photos of my '71 from the '80's, 90's, etc. that would look the same today.
If you really want chrome bumpers then keep looking and good luck.
Thanks I will consider that because it was a really good deal
I have a 74 and didn't like the looks of the rear either. However, had I had a chrome bumper car,I wouldn't have went nuts on my build either. My 74 was probably the worst moment in Corvette history with Ralph Nader up the tailpipe with a paltry Ford Escort territory 190 hp L48, so what better starting point than over? I grabbed a high spoiler tail end
with morphed tail light pockets and un-morphed them.
I have a 74 and didn't like the looks of the rear either. However, had I had a chrome bumper car,I wouldn't have went nuts on my build either. My 74 was probably the worst moment in Corvette history with Ralph Nader up the tailpipe with a paltry Ford Escort territory 190 hp L48, so what better starting point than over? I grabbed a high spoiler tail end
with morphed tail light pockets and un-morphed them.
Now that looks alot better,what would I look for to buy one of these rear panels? Thanks Phil
I replaced both, front and back, bumpers with Tru-flex pieces which are fiberglass enforced. I did this with the car stripped down and preparing for a full paint job.
Installing them is not an easy job and getting them to line up perfect was the hardest part. Since they are fiberglass, I was able to sand them together with the body.
Questions I would ask.
1. Are you doing all this work or will you take it to a body shop?
2. Are you going to be painting the entire car at the same time?
A. If yes, are you doing a color change?
B. If no, what color is the car now and can it be blended to match?
The bumper covers are only $300-$400 plus an installation kit. Making it look like it belongs there is another story.
In a similar vein to Patro46's rear bumper cover some of the vendors carry a 1980-82 style rear bumper cover that bolts up in place of the '75 bumper cover. The spoiler isn't a stall as the one above, but it may be less work to fit.
BCF010 - '80-'82 Style Rear Bumper (Fits '74-'82)
You could contact ACI and talk to them about how much work is involved and see what they recommend, also which vendors carry this product. http://www.acivette.com/
I replaced both, front and back, bumpers with Tru-flex pieces which are fiberglass enforced. I did this with the car stripped down and preparing for a full paint job.
Installing them is not an easy job and getting them to line up perfect was the hardest part. Since they are fiberglass, I was able to sand them together with the body.
Questions I would ask.
1. Are you doing all this work or will you take it to a body shop?
2. Are you going to be painting the entire car at the same time?
A. If yes, are you doing a color change?
B. If no, what color is the car now and can it be blended to match?
The bumper covers are only $300-$400 plus an installation kit. Making it look like it belongs there is another story.
When I bought my '74 coupe, it had an 80-82 bumper cover. But it was original urethane and was trashed. I'm (meaning the body guy; I'm not touching that myself. I dont have the time to figure out how to line it up correctly nor how to do fiberglass work.) Here it is in progress. If you loom at left side, you can see a ridge where it still has to be fitted correctly.
I will ask the otherwise bonehead question of the day. On the 75 you're looking at, is the rear bumper cover stock? You could be looking at something aftermarket installed by a PO.
Now that looks alot better,what would I look for to buy one of these rear panels? Thanks Phil
The short answer? You cant buy one. Sort of anyway.
The one I have originally had the high spoiler, just like you see it, however...
As far as the tail light buckets go, a LOT if work went into them. Originally, they had one horozontal cutout that held two tail light lenses instead of a seperate bucket for each lens. I took fiberglass and made individual buckets for each lens
I will ask the otherwise bonehead question of the day. On the 75 you're looking at, is the rear bumper cover stock? You could be looking at something aftermarket installed by a PO.
Yes it is the stock rear. I have changed my mind about buying it,I'm going to look at a couple of 73's
1975 question
Here's a diagram of the 5mph impact system on 74-75 Corvettes. The same system was used on the front of the 73. Plus, you would still have true dual exhaust without a catalytic converter....
