I have a rubber bumper 'vette. Now, I'm not looking to open the argument about chrome v rubber, but I'm considering my options. I think my ideal 'vette would be a '73 with a rubber front and chrome rear.

Now, I have a '77 and although I love it, I always feel a pang of envy when I see the rear of a chrome bumper 'vette, I think they must have one of the best looking rears of any car ever produced.

What I was wondering is why has no one (or that I can find anywhere) released a kit that would allow this look on a later model car? I know the whole back end comes as one piece on early cars and changing that would be major work, if at all possible with different frames and mounts etc. But what about the replacement bumpers you get for later model cars? I guess it wouldn't be too much work to put an '80+ bumper on with the lip spoiler. Why not one that's more smoothed with a flatter back panel to resemble the chrome bumper cars? Maybe some brackets for the mounting of chrome bumpers?

Surely I'm not the only person to want something like this?

So...is it available and I'm just not aware or are there technical reasons that prevent it?

PS. I know people's standard response will be "body work is expensive, it would make more sense to sell the car and buy a '73", but I'm in the UK and it's not as easy to find cars over here. Plus I like my car and don't want to get rid of it...especially after spending money on other areas of it that I wouldn't get back if I was to sell...

 

Reason for no retro kit is the cars after 73 had to pass the 5 mph crash test so the kits would prolly be illegal for street us. I would imagine a skilled fiberglass body person along with a skilled bracket maker could do up a chrome rear end but would be pretty pricey.

Good luck and report back if you figure out a game plan.

BTW I have a 73 and love it!

 

That was my thought, but I don't know about US laws. Would it be illegal to take car sold after the date of introduction of the laws, sold with the correct 5mph bumpers and to remove them? There seems to be a lot of custom cars and hot rods out there that would never pass those tests.

I should be ok in the UK though. I think I may have a work with a friend that does a lot of body work. See about getting a '77 replacement and exploring the possibility of using fibreglass to recreate the look of the early cars and make some kind of bumper mounts/brackets.

Then just need some square exhaust tips

 

It's have to be a pretty extensive kit, as the gas tank is differrent, as well as the entire rear deck and fenders. But I like the way you think. Joe

 

NHVette is putting his 74 front on a 72 rear. His project is two partial cars make a whole car. I would like to see a 72 rear on a C-6.

 

Nothing like a good looking rearend!